History ComicBook / TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan

!![[{{Catchphrase}} So yeah... these tropes, right]]?:

** In the very first issue, Boomerang states that a diamond shipment he planned on robbing was delayed thanks to the Origin Bombs that were hurled at Earth during Jonathan Hickman's opening ''[[Comicbook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'' arc.

* CowardlyLion: The Shocker gets regularly [[ButtMonkey poked fun at for being a coward.]] However he is also the most competent and experienced fighter on the team; and fared the best against ComicBook/LukeCage and Comicbook/IronFist in issue #4. He also states that he has no problem with being seen as a coward since he only cares about getting the job done and getting paid. [[spoiler:Silvermane]] even points out that despite more capable than he thinks, Herman's lack of confidence and his unwillingness to take risks is holding him back.

* ILetGwenStacyDie: Invoked. In issue #9, Boomerang makes a [[DirtyCoward cowardly]] attempt to get Bullseye to spare him by commenting how [[BriarPatching terrible for him]] (and awesome for Bullseye) it would be if Bullseye killed his girlfriend and left Fred dealing with the guilt and motivated by it in future face-offs (this alludes to Bullseye's murders of Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} love interests Elektra and Karen Page).

* NeverTrustATrailer: The book's title, promo materials, and even the cover of issue #1 heavily suggest the presence of the Comicbook/SuperiorSpiderMan, who so far hasn't shown up or indeed really played any role in the plot.

* NotWhatItLooksLike: When Comicbook/TheIncredibleHercules walks in on the Six holding up a bar full of BoundAndGagged employees, he wonders aloud if he's just entered the scene of a robbery or a kinky bondage parlor.

** One is made to the ''[[Comicbook/TheDeathOfSuperman Death of Superman]]'' storyline, with Boomerang saying to Mach VII that there could be multiple people using the Boomerang name after he "[[BlatantLies retired]]", from a cyborg, to a [[ComicBook/{{Superboy}} teenager]] to a [[ComicBook/{{Steel}} black guy]].

Debuting in July 2013 as a part of the ''ComicBook/MarvelNOW'' initiative, ''The Superior Foes of Spider-Man'' is a spin-off to ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan''. Written by Creator/NickSpencer and drawn by Steve Lieber, it quickly became notable and acclaimed for its comedic style, use of obscure heroes and villains, and examination of the concept of supervillains.

The book ended with issue 17 in November 2014. Spencer's run on ''ComicBook/AntMan'', beginning in 2015, serves as a sequel of sorts to the book, picking up with several characters after the events of this series. Spencer's subsequent [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan2018 run]] on ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' also continues Boomerang's storyline and features the Superior Foes as supporting characters.

'''Bar Patron:''' [[spoiler: [[Franchise/SpiderMan Peter]].]]

The book ended with issue 17 in November 2014. Spencer's run on ''ComicBook/AntMan'', beginning in 2015, serves as a sequel of sorts to the book, picking up with several characters after the events of this series. Spencer's subsequent [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManNickSpencer run]] on ''Amazing Spider-Man'' also continues Boomerang's storyline and features the Superior Foes as supporting characters.

* BolivianArmyEnding: [[spoiler: The series ends with Beetle and Overdrive in some serious hot water, with their fates left unceartain. Overdrive and Beetle later showed up in Spencer's ''ComicBook/AntMan'' series, as well as [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManNickSpencer his run on ''The Amazing Spider-Man'']], indicating that they both survived]].

Debuting in July 2013 as a part of the ''ComicBook/MarvelNOW'' initiative, ''The Superior Foes of Spider-Man'' is a spin-off to ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan''. Written by Creator/NickSpencer and drawn by Steve Lieber, it quickly became notable and acclaimed for its comedic style, use of obscure heroes and villains, and examination of the concept of supervillains. The book ended with issue 17 in November 2014. Spencer's run on ''ComicBook/AntMan'', beginning in 2015, serves as a sequel of sorts to the book, picking up with several characters after the events of this series.

** Speed Demon is terrified to learn that [[spoiler: Tombstone is Beetle's father]] , [[OverprotectiveDad because of the possible repercussions if anything bad should happen to her]], and especially because he tried to sleep with her.

* BigDamnVillains: Tombstone to the rescue!

* OnlySaneMan: Woman, that is. Beetle is [[CloserToEarth the sole member of the team]] [[PositiveDiscrimination that is even remotely competent]] as a supervillain--or, at least, as a leader or mastermind. The rest of the team are {{Mooks}} at best: potentially effective with competent leadership, little more than thugs if left to their own devices. Overdrive in particular is little more than a super-powered [[TheDriver wheel man]]. At the same time, its repeatedly shown that this is just in comparison to the group; compared to other villains, Beetle is just as much of a loser as the rest of them.

* AuthorAppeal: This is a book that Nick Spencer wanted to write since he was a teenager.

** Truly taken UpToEleven in issue #16, in which [[spoiler: Fred lies to the reader about his own near-death]].

* BolivianArmyEnding: [[spoiler: The series ends with Beetle and Overdrive in some serious hot water, with their fates left unceartain. Overdrive and Beetle later showed up in Spencer's ''ComicBook/AntMan'' series, as well as [[ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan his run on ''The Amazing Spider-Man'']], indicating that they both survived]].

* StuffedIntoTheFridge: Invoked. In issue #9, Boomerang makes a [[DirtyCoward cowardly]] attempt to get Bullseye to spare him by commenting how [[BriarPatching terrible for him]] (and awesome for Bullseye) it would be if Bullseye killed his girlfriend and left Fred dealing with the guilt and motivated by it in future face-offs (this alludes to Bullseye's murders of Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} love interests Elektra and Karen Page).

* NonindicativeName: Discussed, Boomerang brings up the advantage to only having five members on the Sinister Six is that whomever they are facing would think that there are more of them. Later on, Luke Cage does indeed wonder if there's another member when he breaks into their headquarters.

* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: The Sinister Several. It's pretty much the whole point of the comic.

* LegacyCharacter: Janice is far from the first Beetle; she's the fourth or fifth person now to don the outfit.

* NoNameGiven: We never learn the name of Boomerang's girlfriend until the final issue. [[spoiler: Felicia Hardy (a.k.a. the Black Cat)]]

* LaserGuidedKarma: Boomerang is probably the worst of the Sinister not-Six, betraying his teammates and his girlfriend and generally being a jerk. [[spoiler: His girlfriend turns out to be Black Cat and steals the painting right from under his nose, and while he escapes most of his problems in the series, he's telling the story to the Superior Spider-Man and is probably about to get arrested or beaten up.]]

* KarmicJackpot:

** Right after [spoiler:Shocker]] shows him a touching amount of respect and loyalty, Boomerang tries to murder him by tries to murder him by putting him in the trunk of his car and pushing it off a bridge because HeKnowsTooMuch.

* LaserGuidedKarma: Boomerang tries to get Bullseye to kill his girlfriend instead of him. [[spoiler: Said girlfriend turns out to be the Black Cat and steals the MacGuffin of the plot right out from under his nose.]]

* MafiaPrincess: [[spoiler:The Beetle]]

* CowardlyLion: The Shocker gets regularly [[ButtMonkey poked fun at for being a coward.]] However he is also the most competent and experienced fighter on the team; and fared the best against ComicBook/LukeCage and [[Comicbook/ImmortalIronFist Iron Fist]] in issue #4. He also states that he has no problem with being seen as a coward since he only cares about getting the job done and getting paid. [[spoiler:Silvermane]] even points out that despite more capable than he thinks, Herman's lack of confidence and his unwillingness to take risks is holding him back.

* CowardlyLion: The Shocker gets regularly [[ButtMonkey poked fun at for being a coward.]] However he is also the most competent and experienced fighter on the team; and fared the best against ComicBook/{{Luke Cage|HeroForHire}} and [[Comicbook/ImmortalIronFist Iron Fist]] in issue #4. He also states that he has no problem with being seen as a coward since he only cares about getting the job done and getting paid. [[spoiler:Silvermane]] even points out that despite more capable than he thinks, Herman's lack of confidence and his unwillingness to take risks is holding him back.

* RealityEnsues: This comic is basically the life of C-List supervillains portrayed realistically. They're all complete failures in life and are considered jokes, the group is reduced to robbing convenience stores just to make money, Boomerang gets kicked out of the group the second he starts becoming TheLoad, and the group is constantly having to tiptoe around the mob.
** The Punisher finds out the hard way that an assault rifle isn't much use next to a guy toting sci-fi weaponry. His 'fight' with Shocker lasts a single panel before Herman blasts him into the horizon in one blast.
** Being a speedster, Speed Demon [[spoiler:runs off from the final fight to get some chicken the moment he can]].

** Beetle is one when she's not being a supervillain. She's shown in a flashback giving a lecture on how to help a client get away with premeditated murder, and during her legal career, she has provided her services to supervillain contacts.

** Boomerang tries to murder [[spoiler:Shocker]] by putting him in the trunk of his car and pushing it off a bridge because HeKnowsTooMuch right after [[spoiler:Shocker]] shows him a touching amount of respect and loyalty.

Debuting in July 2013 as a part of the ''ComicBook/MarvelNOW'' initiative, ''The Superior Foes of Spider-Man'' is a spin-off to ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan''. Written by Nick Spencer and drawn by Steve Lieber, it quickly became notable and acclaimed for its comedic style, use of obscure heroes and villains, and examination of the concept of supervillains. The book ended with issue 17 in November 2014. Spencer's run on ''ComicBook/AntMan'', beginning in 2015, serves as a sequel of sorts to the book, picking up with several characters after the events of this series.

** [[spoiler: Bullseye turns out to be a life model decoy employed by the Owl. The real Bullseye was [[AndIMustScream placed in a vegetative state with absolutely no working senses]] by Daredevil a few months prior.]]

** The Shocker for the most part seems to be the friendliest of the group and was the only one reluctant to vote out Boomerang as their leader. It doesn't save him from often taking a lot of crap from him, up to [[spoiler:being locked in the trunk of a car that Boomerang is pushing off a pier]]. Even when dealing with [[spoiler:a talking head]] he comes off as a total push-over.

** When Boomerang's girlfriend learns that Fred is a supervillain, she's largely horrified but admits that it's not a total turn-off. Later on, she even reluctantly gives him advice and tells him that [[DoWrongRight if he's a supervillain, he might as well be the best supervillain he can]]. [[spoiler:In the final issue it's revealed that she's really Black Cat and was simply using Fred to get the Doctor Doom painting]]

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: As Boomerang learns to his chagrin, even an [[spoiler:LMD of Bullseye]] is a better shot than him.

** Also Boomerang's bartender/love interest.
** Justified in the case of The Beetle (stated to be half-black and half-Dominican) since [[spoiler:she's the daughter of Tombstone.]]

** Beetle is one when she's not being a supervillain. She's shown in a flashback giving a lecture on how to help a client get away with premeditated murder, and during her legal career has provided her services to supervillain contacts.

* ArcWelding: The comic uses it's low-level focus to patch some plot holes and backstories, as well as reverse a lot of cases of ChuckCunninghamSyndrome. For example issue #7 fills in Beetle's origin and how it tied into the ''Captain America'' run she debuted in.