Welcome one and all to our monthly installment of Panels of Purpose. POP is our way of celebrating the best comic book art and content of the month. These panels may be visually stunning, contain content that moves us, or is simply something we had to share. As you scroll down you’ll read our comments that range from reflective to comedic. Panels this month include books from Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics, IDW, and Dark Horse Comics. Enjoy!
Wakanda Forever Amazing Spider-Man #1
Writer: Nnedi Okorafor | Artist: Alberto Alburquerque
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: At least we know how he keeps his hair so stylish.
Dog: The dream of the ’90s is alive in Hydro-Man.
JJ: A Waterbender! I know I’ve seen this episode of Avatar before.
Thor #2
Writer: Jason Aaron | Artist: Mike Del Mundo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: I wonder how much Oprah Thori watches.
Dog: Hel sounds a lot like a college bar after homecoming.
JJ: Frankly Hel sounds awesome.
Star Wars: Poe Dameron #28
Writer: Charles Soule | Artist: Angel Unzueta
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: So Rey is getting on the right path after stealing Luke’s books, but can we just talk about that Porg who somehow knows how to read?
David H: Funny! I was thinking the same thing. That damn Porg probably understands every word in the book and is probably shaking his head that 3PO has it all wrong.
JJ: The key to unlocking the secrets of the Jedi Order from millenia past is C-3PO. Wait a minute what?!
Justice League #2
Writer: Scott Snyder | Artist: Jorge Jimenez
Publisher: DC Comics
Dave: Human or robot, that’s going to wreak havoc on her nails.
Eric: Slicing your friends’ faces off is a very effective strategy for finding out if they are, in fact, robots.
Alyssa: Minus 20 points for stealing from Harry Potter. #Snapeisstilladick.
Jason: Not the reaction to, “Do I have something on my face?” you are looking for.
David H: Yeah, you can get mad at me if you want. But I still can’t see Kristen Wiig playing Cheetah.
JJ: I soooo hope Kristen Wiig pulls a Heath Ledger a’la The Dark Knight and proves all your jabronis wrong. Mainly you Hildy.
Brian: This is how Westworld could solve all of its problems.
Gideon Falls #4
Writer: Jeff Lemire | Artist: Andrea Sorrentino
Publisher: Image Comics
Dave: Everything is infinite, even this page.
Eric: Wow. What can I even say about this? Geometric layouts like this are so difficult to perfect yet so pleasing to look at.
Alyssa: This is incredibly cool, especially that you can follow the story across the cubes.
Venom #2
Writer: Donny Cates | Artist: Ryan Stegman
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: So I guess Venom is tied even more into the cosmic universe than we ever expected?
Eric: This is much, much scarier than Cthulhu.
David H: I’m not a Venom fan but I might have to give this a look.
Brian: Is that Space Bat-Venom?
Thor #1
Writer: Jason Aaron | Artist: Mike Del Mundo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: He’s not the god of hammers, guys.
Alyssa: I’m going to try to work “By the blood-drenched fangs of the father” into more every day conversations.
Jason:What are the odds ol’ Jugghead there finds that hammer that gave him all those extra eyes back in “Fear itself?” What are the odds that I’m the only one who remembers that?
Brian: He chose…poorly.
Star Wars #49
Writer: Kieron Gillen | Artist: Salvador Larroca
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: Somebody just attacked a Star Destroyer with a sun.
Brian: Does that make it a “Star Destroyer Star?”
JJ: The Rebel Alliance finally found an answer for countering the Death Star. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Galactic Slingshot.
Ant-Man and the Wasp #1
Writer: Mark Waid | Artist: Javier Garron
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: Those middle panels are creepy as hell.
Alyssa: Love the color work here. Your eye is drawn exactly where the action is.
X-Men Red #5
Writer: Tom Taylor | Artist: Mahmud A. Asrar
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: Someone tell Asrar he can reuse this for a cover.
Jason: While you’re at it, tell Nightcrawler 1994 called and said the Goatee stopped being cool in 93.
Brian: He’s German. American beard rules don’t count.
Isola #3
Writer: Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl | Artist: Karl Kerschl, Msassyk
Publisher: Image Comics
Dave: Interesting use of dark space to make that fairy really brighten things.
Alyssa: I always love when artists play with color. The panel layout really suits this page.
JJ: This is a fantastic. The colors are gorgeous with nice detail and the use of negative space is superb.
Detective Comics #982
Writer: Michael Moreci | Artist: Sebastian Fiumara
Publisher: DC Comics
Dave: If Gotham needs anything it’s more blimps!
Dog: Never underestimate the helium lobby.
Brian: “How are things in Gotham?”
“It’s on fire currently.”
“Still better than Metropolis.”
JJ: Batman took a wrong turn at Gotham and ended up crossing the fifth circle of Hell to the scenic city of Dis.
Tony Stark: Iron Man #1
Writer: Dan Slott | Artist: Valerio Schiti
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: You might roll your eyes at this one, but it’s too cute not to love.
Jason: Why hasn’t RDJ punched any dragons in the MCU?
Brian: When did Tony start watching Voltron on Netflix? Does he get that beamed to his helmet for when things are slow?
Doctor Strange #1
Writer: Mark Waid | Artist: Jesus Saiz
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: Sometimes I wonder if Doctor Strange is just tripping.
Eric: This page legitimately looks like it’s crinkled in the middle. Jesus.
Alyssa: All I can think of is Weird Al. You’re welcome.
Jason: You guys have a much cleaner mind than I do…
David H: This ^^^^^^^^^
JJ: Jason’s a pervert. Also, space vagina!
Punks Not Dead #5
Writer: David Barnett | Artist: Martin Simmonds
Publisher: IDW
Dave: The 60s were wild man, wild!
Ether: Copper Golems #2
Writer: Matt Kindt | Artist: David Rubin
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Dave: Escher would be proud.
Alyssa: I relate to the “..huff..” throughout this page.
Proxima Centauri #1
Writer and Artist: Farel Dalrymple
Publisher: Image Comics
Dave: The use of the white space is wicked.
Eric: This image conveys a ton of physical space with almost no lines whatsoever. Wow.
Alyssa: I love the line work here too. It has a pen and ink quality to it, just gorgeous.
Man of Steel #4
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis | Artist: Kevin Maguire
Publisher: DC Comics
Dave: You gotta love Bendis’ ability to make casual conversation between bitter rivals.
Dog: Wait, are we sure this is Bendis? This conversation doesn’t take place at breakfast and the participants don’t repeat each other.
Brian: Awwww, son, you done messed up now.
Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #1
Writer: Chip Zdarsky | Artist: Michael Allred
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Dave: His sticky feet and legs don’t get enough credit.
Alyssa: Zdarsky always writes in great physical comedy moments for his scripts. I love how he gives his artists places to play.
Dog: Could’ve used Batman and Robin climbing a rope.
Man of Steel #5
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis | Artist: Adam Hughes
Publisher: DC Comics
Dave: The lighting on Superman is instantly iconic and gives off a sense of wonderment only a godlike figure could imbue. Great stuff.
JJ: Holy s--t can you say epic? Superman looks like a legit god. I don’t know who he’s fighting, but it doesn’t matter. This page inspires the sense of awe that’s unique to the man of steel. Practically gave me goosebumps.
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