The Superior Foes of Spider-Man 3: Game Over

I honestly wish I could say that I was on board with this book from Day One, but that's unfortunately not the case. When it was first solicited, The Superior Foes of Spider-Man was not something I was looking forward to. Why would I want to read about Boomerang, Shocker, and whatever other C- or D-list Spidey villains that Marvel scraped the bottom of the barrel to throw together for this series? Besides, I had stopped reading the ongoing adventures of Spider-Man altogether years ago (One More Day will do that to you). Thinking that this was a tie-in or quick cash grab to the Superior Spider-Man status quo (it's not, in case you were wondering), I didn't give this book a second thought. Then, I saw some comic book reviewers raving about it. Then another and another and soon people were telling me directly that I would dig this series. I waited for the first trade to come out...and I fell in love.Superior Foes made me laugh harder than I ever had while reading a comic book. Nick Spencer's clever writing paired with Steve Lieber's spectacular art produces comedy gold. There are so many great and memorable moments throughout this run that Steve Lieber's art made even funnier - Shocker's junkyard getaway, the heist cutaways, the dream sequences, Mach VII's issues with leaving buildings, the secret history behind the portrait of Doctor Doom. His ability to draw physical comedy in the comic book medium as well as he did should be celebrated and applauded.Yes, Spider-Man doesn't really show up in this book. Sure, there are no "major" or "beloved" characters headlining this series. Forget all that and any other biases or misconceptions you have coming into this book. I will be so bold as to say that by the time you finish reading the entire run, at least one of these characters will become your new favorite. Personally, I never gave the Shocker more than a passing thought before this and he became my favorite character in the whole series. The freaking Shocker! The guy who thought it was a good idea to wear a goofy yellow and brown quilted outfit to rob banks! Now, I would read an entire series about him (especially given where the series leaves him). I was reminded of an important lesson here: don't judge a book by its cover or you just might miss out on something that is truly great.In the end, Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber pulled off a con bigger than anything the Foes could accomplish - they made me care about a group of nobody villains. With more laughs, twists, turns, reveals, surprises, and heart to shake a web at, this collection is a fantastically fitting end to a cult classic that's not to be missed. I eagerly await to read more from these guys in the future (and hopefully for the hardcover collection that collects all the issues of the run; please, Marvel?).

THE SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDERMEN ends with this volume in a way that is both enjoyable in many places as well as not quite as entertaining as the previous one. The Shocker keeps trying to prove himself to be an honorable thief and all it gets him is scorn as well as loathing from his fellow Sinister Six members.Boomerang is trying to steal the portrait of an unmasked Doctor Doom (worth 25 million), the head of Silvermane (which can make whoever owns it the head of the Maggia), get with a bartender he likes, and pull off a betrayal that will make him a professional baseball player. The Shocker has the head of Silvermane but really wants his partners respect more than anything. The rest of the Sinister Six just want to get paid and make sure EVERY OTHER MEMBER is screwed over. Hammerhead, a B-list criminal mastermind, wants them all taken care of.Sadly, Spencer makes the Sinister Six a little TOO unlikable. The decision to bury Shocker alive is treated as black comedy but I really just wanted them all dead after the end. I couldn't care less for anyone getting anything but punished at that point. Still, it's a not unbelievable given the way they were characterized. In another series, Spencer would downplay the fact they're a bunch of selfish socoiopaths and killers but they're hilarious even while remaining monsters. It also means the ending is one that's richly deserved.Honestly, I hope we do see more of the Beetle. She's pretty damn awesome.8/10

A mainstream comic so smart, funny and well done, with such loving attention to the margins of Marvel reality, that it easily rivals (and for me, often surpasses) Fraction's Hawkeye and the new Ms. Marvel for sheer audacious gleeful funnybook fun. This tale delves into the lives of second-tier Marvel baddies like Boomerang, who's now running a Secret Six that keeps the name despite having only five members. It's basically about lovable losers, some of whom get to triumph in the small ways that matter to them after all those years of taking it on the chin from the self-righteous heroes. If you occasionally enjoy rooting for the baddies, or you just enjoy mainstream comics that have an indie feel, give these underdogs a look.

Nick Spencer is the best thing that’s happened to Spider-man. This run proves why he was chosen to write Peter after Slotts run. This is run was funny, heartfelt, and just fun! It’s a must have for Spider-Man fans. It stands great on its own (you won’t need to read superior Spider-Man or amazing to enjoy this). All three volumes could be read in a day, but it can be reread thousands of times and not get old.

Great conclusion - especially now that the whole series can be binge-read. Took real collective talent to put together as good a story about B-rated - and lower - hoods and their motivations. The interplay is excellent, the pace of the reveal of motivations was well-done, not formulaic - i.e. no '1-reveal per issue' pattern, and what story patterns there were are very self-consciously turned on their heads - and (sometimes) back again before the end. And, no spoilers about Spidey's appearance, but it is awesome, and fits perfectly with the story.

A big thank you to Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber for this most excellent short series. The finale is just as funny and exciting as the first issues and now with even more twists and turns. The game might be over at the end of it all, but what a game it was. I haven't come across enough comics like this. Superior Foes was a change from the normal super hero comics, ventured into indie territory, and its a title I'll reread soon enough.

I was so engrossed in the final chapter of this saga that I missed my subway stop. Twice! This series is a terrific marriage of art and story. I'm sorry it's over.

It has been a wonderful, fun read, spread over 3 trade paperbacks. This, the 3rd edition, was not quite as enjoyable as the first 2 installments, so the series has ended at the right time.If you have ever wondered about some of the lesser villains faced by Spiderman (and others), this gives you a fun filled introduction into being bad. Read the earlier ones first (if you have not already), otherwise a disembodied ex Mafia Don's head bouncing around the story will make no sense at all... Full of surprises, fun and sub plots, one of the best new titles I have read in years.

El final casi me hizo llorar de emoción. Nick Spencer es un escritor fabuloso, consigue que amemos unos personajes que a priori no interesaban a nadie. Es gracioso sin ser cargante, es entrañable sin ser empalagoso, y respeta las convenciones del género de superhéroes pero al mismo tiempo se burla de ellas. Por supuesto, el dibujo de Lieber es soberbio, especialmente en el registro de expresiones faciales. Hay viñetas que te hacen partirte de risa sólo por la expresión de Boomerang.Si se quiere comprar en español hay que adquirir la colección de Spider-Man Superior, que lleva otras cosas. Pasará mucho tiempo antes de que Panini lo recoja en un tomo (si es que lo hace). Además, si tienes buen nivel de inglés te hará más gracia en su idioma original.

Nice round up the the story arch.