There are several reasons why Nick Spencer’s Superior Foes of Spider-Man is (or at least should be) a modern comic book classic. Chief among them is how the series pokes fun at superhero conventions without any mean-spiritedness. After all, everybody loves reading about costumed characters with superhuman powers no matter how old they are.
Nevertheless, even the most devoted superhero fan knows just how patently ridiculous the genre is. We are talking about men and women dressed in tights and fighting, or committing, crimes, don’t forget. No matter how serious it might be, there’s always something silly about people going about their day-to-day lives wearing what are essentially elaborate Halloween costumes.
Take for instance the key scene from Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man #26 (LGY #827). Janice Lincoln, the new Beetle, attempts to recruit Francine Frye, the new Electro, into the all-new, all-female Sinister Syndicate. As part of her pitch, Beetle offers Electro lucrative perks, including a 401K plan, non-traditionalist workspace, and childcare. She talks about the great strides women are making in the male-dominated culture of organized crime. The other four members stand around during a coffee break, complaining about the abundance of dairy in the fridge.
And the whole time I read this, and saw Electro look more confused and apprehensive, I kept telling myself, “But you’re super villains!” Hence the comedic genius of this comic. The more seriously the Sinister Syndicate try to make themselves, the less serious they are.
The one character who seems in on the joke is Peter Parker’s roommate and supposedly reformed crook, Fred Myers, a.k.a. Boomerang. It’s precisely because he seems patently ridiculous that everyone, including criminal masterminds like the Kingpin, almost always underestimate him. Not to mention that, under Spencer, Fred has become the charming rogue personified. Even Peter can’t help but like the guy despite knowing that Fred’s probably full of it.
As far as the actual story for Amazing Spider-Man #26 goes, there isn’t much of one. It’s primarily an update on Peter and Fred’s growing friendship, and the Sinister Syndicate plotting revenge against Fred for entirely personal reasons. It’s the first act of a longer story and a hilarious one at that.
Guest artist Kev Walker also does a capable job. I must confess that, in the opening pages, I mistook his work for that of Ryan Stegman given the similarity of styles. However, Walker gives his illustrations a softer touch, using his inks to strictly highlight. He also keeps his perspective angles to a minimum. There are no overly-exaggerated bird’s eye or worm’s eye views here. His is a comfortable style to look at, though he does seem to draw the twentysomething Peter with wrinkles and worry lines of fortysomething.
Those who are nostalgic for Superior Foes of Spider-Man will appreciate Amazing Spider-Man #26. Perhaps it may even make you long for a revival of that series. Or at least make you wonder why Spencer hasn’t pitched Marvel his idea for a Boomerang solo series yet.
Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks
- Warning: the cover is a total lie. The Superior Foes (sadly) do not reform, and only two of them appear in the issue. Peter doesn’t even put on his Spider-Man costume, much less play poker. (Now that I think of it, Peter’s spider-sense also give him an advantage if someone’s bluffing?)
- It’s interesting how the Kingpin still hasn’t figured out why Kindred wants Peter Parker left alone. After all, in Chip Zdarsky’s run on Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, the comic heavily implies that Fisk knows that there’s some connection between Peter and Spider-Man. Not to mention that “Spider-Man” was Peter’s “bodyguard” back when he still had Parker Industries.
- Also, Fred’s totally exploiting Peter being “the Captain America’s shield of human shields,” isn’t he?
- Lady Octopus’ new design is clearly based on the female Doctor Octopus from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, isn’t it? Though shouldn’t she have one less pair of tentacles?
- The compliment Scorpia gives Electro about stealing the original’s gimmick is quite ironic. Except for the White Rabbit, every member of the Sinister Syndicate stole a male super villain’s gimmick. Even the original Sinister Syndicate was an all-male group. Seems the White Rabbit’s the only one who’s exercising true female empowerment if you ask me.
- “I always did have a weakness for roguish men.” Believe it or not, what Aunt May said is true. Aside from almost marrying Doc Ock, she did go out with a crook named Johnny Jerome before marrying Ben Parker. And her boyfriend, Nathan Lubensky was a gambler in more ways than one. And the FF’s mailman, Willie Lumpkin is a definite bad boy.
- Hmm…so Randy Robertson leaves for his date with his mysterious new girlfriend right before the Sinister Syndicate attacks the F.E.A.S.T. center. And the only member of the Syndicate who isn’t there is Trapstr. Coincidence? Not when it comes to comic books, ladies and gentlemen.