Looking for a good superhero/villain novel

[kjn]

Two more possibilities:

To continue with Ryk Spoor's books, Princess Holy Aura is his take on the magical girl warrior genre, which has lots of similarities with the superhero genre. Has a good mix of superpowered action and character drama. (Though one of the best and most tense action scenes is nearly entirely mundane.)

Then you have The Annihilation Score by Charles Stross. This is more of a superhero story mixed with more than a fair bit of horror. It's part of his Laundry Files series, but it should be a decent intro point, and reasonably standalone. Mo O'Brien gets bureaucratically assigned to lead a team of newly emerged superheroically endowed individuals, newly sworn in as auxiliary police officers.

[kjn]

The Velveteen series by Seanan McGuire books are back, maybe not in print, but at least to order from stock (Seanan McGuire bought back the remaining stock and teamed up with Borderlands).

Or as Seanan puts it:

Do you like...

* Superheroes
* Bad choices
* Time-traveling lesbians with ray guns
* Irritated superheroines in bunny costumes
* Independent bookstores
* Getting books out of my house?

DO I HAVE THE SERIES FOR YOU.

[Spike-X]

This doesn't fit your criteria, but everyone who's a superhero comics fan should read Elliot S! Maggin's two brilliant Superman novels, Last Son Of Krypton and Miracle Monday.

[Scott Taylor]

Does a team of villains count? The Sinister Six series by Adam Castor is pretty good, and can be found cheap online.