365 Comics...294: The Superior Foes of Spider-Man #4 (2014)

With Breaking Bad coming to a close there's been a lot of talk and examination of the recent trend towards anti-heroes in television.  But comics have had a long history with anti-heroes, rising most prominently in the 70's with the arrival of The Punisher,  as well as numerous titles with villains as the lead (Secret Society of Super Villians, the Joker, Kobra, Super-Villain Team-Up).  There have been dozens upon dozens of villains-centric series and miini-series, but few have captured the zeitgeist like the Superior Foes of Spider-Man.   This quintet, forming the Sinister Six, aren't super-geniuses, nor criminal psychopaths, but hardened criminals  trying to keep out of jail and their pockets lined, both far more difficult than it should be for costumed and powered villains.  The book is funny, but it's not an outright comedy.  It uses its humour to show why these criminals remain so low on the totem.  They're kind of dumbasses, but generally likeable, which goes a surprisingly long way... like a superhero Ladykillers.  There's a lot of dialogue here and Steve Lieber nails the talking heads as well as everything else in the book, its really fun and unique reading.