22 Villains United (2005)

Recruited by the mysterious Mockingbird, six rogues must work together to thwart the machinations of the Secret Society of Supervillains.

Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Dale Eaglesham, Val Semeiks
Inker: Wade von Grawbadger, Prentiss Rollins
Colorist: SNO-CONE
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher, Pat Brousseau, Nick J. Napolitano

Plenty of terrific twists, turns, shocks and surprises in this sharply written celebration of DC’s colorful roster of rogues. Wonderful character work throughout as Gail Simone ensures all six of our anti-heroes get their moments. A riveting read.

23 “Getting the Band Back Together” (The Superior Foes of Spider-Man #1-7)

Out on bail and aiming to stay out of jail, Boomerang must get his cronies on target – but does Frank Castle, the one-man army known as the Punisher, have them targeted already? The Foes have a plan and the means to pull it off, but they’re about to learn the hard way that you can’t steal the head of Silvermane without severe repercussions!
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Steve Leiber
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Nick Spencer’s scripting and Steve Leiber’s artwork compliment each other beautifully in this delightfully lunatic take on some of Marvel’s D-list villains. It’s funny and fast-paced, yet amid the deceptions and double-crosses, humor and heads of mafia dons, there are some A-list character moments. I just wish this first arc had wrapped up a little more neatly.

24 JLA: Earth 2 (2000)

They are the world’s gravest super-villains: Ultraman, Owlman, Superwoman, Power Ring and Johnny Quick, the legendary Crime Syndicate of Amerika! Nothing has ever seriously threatened the global corruption they proudly enforce, but now a twisted mirror image of the CSA has arrived from the flip side of reality. Can anything stop this so-called “Justice League”, or will the stable, perfect evil of the Earth 2 fall victim to the tyranny of law, righteousness and freedom?

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Frank Quitely
Colorist: Laura DePuy and Wildstorm FX
Letter: Kenny Lopez

The big picture elements are intriguing and provocative, from Owlman’s nihilistic outlook to the notion that the (a) universe is predisposed to letting evil prevail, but the emotional stakes are sparse as there isn’t much depth to the Crime Society of America beyond their fairly two-dimensional villainy. The ending also feels like a bit of a deus ex machina.