Hello, and welcome to Saturday Morning Panels, your new favorite Multiversity column! It’s a very simple concept: since none of us are up to watching Saturday morning cartoons anymore, we are instead going to share with you our favorite panels from the week before. It’s a bit like Comics Should Be Cheap, except with more pictures and less reading.
And, of course, spoilers are probably abundant.
We encourage you to play along at home and let us know what your favorite moments of the week were in the comment section! In the meantime, our picks —
Matthew’s Pick: “Locke and Key: Omega” #4
“Locke and Key” is very consistently the book that a) whenever it comes out is the first book I read and b) is a book that never ceases to surprise and catch me off guard in one way or another. Always. Always.
This is one of those moments.
Alaskan David’s Pick: “Locke and Key: Omega” #4
Locke & Key is winding down as we’re just a few precious issues from the end, but in this week’s #4, shit hits the fan. There are a lot of panels – more like pages – I would have liked to share, but honestly, this little cross section speaks volumes as to what Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez do so well on this book. It’s a huge moment that could mean the end for two highly important characters, but instead we’re given a moment of levity that still has the same impact. This book is phenomenal at visual storytelling, and it’s panels like these that covertly underline just how great they are at it. Come for the big things, stay for the little moments.
Scottish David’s Pick: “Thanos Rising” #1
I was a little hesitant at first about the idea of a Thanos origin book, mostly because I didn’t see why he over certain other characters should be getting a spotlight, but with Jason Aaron on board I let my hesitation slip. And I guess I was right. These panels remind actually me a little of how Aaron writes Evan (aka my favourite mutant of all time) in “Wolverine And The X-Men”. Seeing how Thanos develops from this into a conqueror of worlds, which we see a little of in the first issue, is going to be an interesting ride.
Vince’s Pick: “Deadpool” #7
There are plenty of funny panels in comic books every week, but few of them actually get me to laugh out loud. I must admit that I “chortled” at the thought of karma vs. the future Flash Thompson, which is awful considering what will eventually happen to the man. Peter Parker in his 70’s turtleneck and Flash with a Johnny Bravo hairdo was really just icing on the cake. Oh, by the way, “Deadpool” #7 was a stand-alone retro flashback issue and it was really funny. Check it out, if you haven’t.
Michelle’s Pick: “Godzilla: Half-Century War” #5
So James Stokoe’s “Godzilla: Half Century War” is over and it’s sad, but at least we have panels like this one to look back on… in anger, because it’s stupidly good. Seriously, where does Stokoe get off, drawing every single scale? And what’s with him and lettering his own stuff, so that he can do things like make the SFX an integral part of this panel’s composition? Jerk.
Zach’s Pick: “Earth-2” #
Seeing Mr. Miracle and Big Barda return to the DCU is enough cause for celebration, but finding out that the Earth 2 version of Gotham City is overrun with giant Godzilla monsters is just too much fun. Take my money, Mr. Robinson.
Walt’s Pick: “All New X-Men” #10
It’s my first week participating in this and I’m already screwing up and submitting two panels. But, hey, 99 times out of 100, it takes two panels to make comics, so here we are. I’m not sure whether the complete disappearance of the students was specified in Bendis’s script or another example Immonen knowing exactly what to do in almost any given situation, but either way, the result is hilarious. Immonen’s finesse when it comes to facial expression heighten’s the sequence’s effect: with that kind of shift from a man who is known for his “berserker rage,” I’d disappear in the span of a single panel, too.
