Great Moments in Banter

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Self-aware? Just a touch, but still it works. I like a bit of banter between the good guys and bad guys in my mainstream super-hero books, y'know? Just a bit of a shared revelation of the inherent ridiculousness of the overall situation. Spider-Man is usually good for that. Then, it might explain the odd surge in popularity for Deadpool, who's basically a basket of banter dressed up as a supervillain.

I suppose that's why I've always had a soft spot for the more blue collar baddies. The guys for whom going to jail is tantamount to a vacation, and who don't actually have a mad-on for anyone in particular. Let the Jokers and the Luthors and the Fisks monologue and cackle. Gimme a Shocker or a Captain Cold, someone who can crack a joke or hold his own in an insult contest. I want a villain who knows the score and doesn't take it personal, but who'll settle for giving a bit of lip if the occasion warrants.

Even if it's not very funny (Captain Cold used to be fond of temperature-related puns, for instance), at least it shows that they have some autonomy from their opponents. They're thinking characters in their own right, and not just two-dimensional nemesis number five.