Out of Context - 12/4/24
A look at my favorite panels of the week.
If you go anywhere near Social Media on Wednesdays (lets be honest, they often start on Tuesdays), you’re bound to find a lot of comic fans posting panels out of context. It tends to go one of two ways…
Well, here on my page it’s going to be my way. Let’s take a look at some of the coolest panels I found in my reading this week. 😉
SPOILERS, OBVIOUSLY.
Absolute Superman #2
Writer: Jason Aaron | Artist: Rafa Sandoval | Colorist: Ulises Arreola | Letterer: Becca Carey
I thought this would be easy. I thought that there would be an obvious stand-out in every issue I read this week. Or at least a handful I could narrow down…
Absolute Superman #2 is a 10/10 comic. It just is. There is worldbuilding in every panel. But ultimately, the panel above is the one I want to highlight. For a world that is built on “Darkseid Energy” instead of “Superman Energy” this is the panel that shows you… well, Superman is still going to win.
The dust forming an almost heart-shape around Lois and Kal-El. The people safe in its embrace - in their arms, together, like they always will be. Gorgeous. You need to be reading this book!
Batgirl #2
Writer: Tate Brombal | Artist: Takeshi Miyazawa | Colorist: Mike Spencer | Letterer: Tom Napolitano
I am admittedly not the biggest fan of how Sandra Wu-San is often used in books… so I was very interested in an ongoing book that started off with her as a deuteragonist.
I love how Miyazawa and Spencer work together in this book. A trick I love is when the artists make sure the backgrounds matter. That when they drop away, there’s a reason. The red of Shiva’s laser focus as she watches her daughter train these young boys, we can see that she is really listening. Whether or not she takes these words to heart? We’ll just have to see.
Also: I’m just a sucker for subtle noise. Love that extra pop of texture.
Two-Face #1
Writer: Christian Ward | Artist: Fabio Veras | Colorist: Ivan Plascencia | Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
While I’m not sold on Two-Face’s story quite yet after this issue, I’m still glad I checked it out. It’s Christian Ward! And you know immediately that it’s Christian Ward.
Veras and Plascencia punctuate a twisted but visually drab Courtroom Drama with fantastic moments like the one above. Showing us how this half of Dent sees the world as a swirl of vibrant and maddening colors that all bleed together. Punctuated by the only letterer I would expect to see on a book about Two-Face: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
A perfect creative team that grabs you in the first few pages.
NYX #6
Writers: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly | Penciller: Michael Shelfer | Inker: Elisabetta D’Amico | Colorist: Raúl Angulo | Letterer: Joe Sabino
This is another issue that uses a change in art style to show us the world from one character’s perspective. A character we haven’t seen in fifteen years! I loved this issue, and this page, but these two panels in particular are the best in my opinion. The tears in Local’s eyes, the determination in Laura’s. Kiden’s narration being a perfect summation not only of her perspective, but theirs: Local losing sight of his goal and Laura always pushing others away.
I also just love Laura so much. And it’s so obvious from how Kiden sees her throughout the issue - how we see her through Kiden’s eyes - that she loves Laura too.
X-Force #6
Writer: Geoffrey Thorne | Artist: Jim Towe | Colorist: Erick Arciniega | Letterer: Joe Carmagna
Yes, yes, I’m going to include a Retsy panel… Sue me. 😜
I do really love this panel though. In between X-Force missions, we continue to see Rachel and Betsy meditating together. Just taking whatever time they can to recenter as a couple. This is the most intimate we’ve seen them in this book so far. Hands together, Betsy almost in Rachel’s lap. Their expressions are minimalistic but you can still read the concern/fatigue on Betsy’s face and the frustration on Rachel’s. They’re having a conversation we aren’t privy to.
I really appreciate that even though they are not the center of this story, the book still gives these glimpses into their world.
The Ultimates #7
Writer: Deniz Camp | Artist: Juan Frigeri | Colorist: Federico Blee
We’re gonna close it out with another 10 out of 10! Another issue where every scene is the best scene.
So… I’m still pretty convinced that this is our America Chavez. Right? These panels are what convinced me more that the story is headed in that direction. “The strangest accent I’ve never heard before.”
Using America as a symbol of the America that the 6160 Universe has lost is… still a little cheesy. A little silly. But also earnest. And as you can see from these panels, still absolutely beautiful.