Welcome to “Pages & Panels: The Best of Marvel Comics.” As the name suggests this column will feature a look at the best pages and panels of the week, as chosen by The Marvel Report staff. The selections, just like Marvel Comics as a whole, will run the gamut from heartfelt, to funny, and everything between. Not only will the biggest, and most important moments of the week be highlighted, but quieter moments as well.
As everyone was dealing with the aftermath of the holidays, and preparing to usher in the new year, readers may have noticed that Pages & Panels took a week off. The success of the column comes from you readers voting every week. With so many people busy over the past two weeks I felt it would be better off to hold off until after the new year.
That means this week’s column is special, as Pages & Panels will be double sized for the first time. That’s right, two weeks of entries, and two polls to vote in. The first part of the column will cover the best of Marvel Comics released on December 23rd, while the second half feature our favorite panels from the issues released on December 30th. Have fun, and enjoy this extra helping of awesome comic moments to usher in 2016 the right way!
First things first though. The winner of the vote, and your favorite is this premium fake id maker. Cards used in many of the comic images below puts these fake ids in a class of its own and will scan anywhere!
Now moving on to last week’s selections, followed by this week’s. Be advised, the very nature of this column could be considered one big spoiler. If you haven’t read through this week’s comics, and don’t want to be spoiled this is your warning.
DAREDEVIL #2
Written by Charles Soule
Art by Ron Garney
Why: Samuel’s pun game needs work, but daaaaaaaamn that Ron Garney art is mighty fine. – John
DARTH VADER #14
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Salvador Larocca
Why: It seems like Princess Leia unknowingly uses the force in this scene. Darth Vader thinks he is being ambushed even though there is nothing there. Maybe a mind trick used by Leia? – Kathryn
EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #4
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Humberto Ramos
Why: Ah Mr. Sinister messing around with the Summers bloodline. Everyone knows it’s his favorite past time. – John
Why: A girl that can make people do things with her mind befriends a reluctant older man in a jacket. They bond, and join up with a small group of like minded individuals to defeat a great evil. Star Wars: The Force Awakens or Extraordinary X-Men? Tell me that those two don’t remind you of a certain pair of Star Wars characters. – John
Why: Lemire writes a great Iceman. In fact, he may write Iceman better than just about anyone. With the year that the character has had it was important for this to be the case. Considering the history of the character that wasn’t going to be a sure thing. It’s also nice to see Lemire get out ahead of the issue at hand before fans on the Internet start getting creepy ideas. – John
MOON GIRL & DEVIL DINOSAUR #2
Written by Amy Reeder & Brandon Montclare
Art by Natacha Bustos
Why: Seeing the cavemen steal the clothes off people in the subway was pretty funny. – Kathryn
NEW AVENGERS #4
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Gerardo Sandoval
Why: Billy gets a new name! This name may be a little bit familiar to fans of Gillen & McKelvie’s Young Avengers. In both this title, and The Ultimates, Al Ewing has done a great job building upon some of the most popular titles of the past few years. The focus on Billy and Teddy has been welcomed as well. – John
PATSY WALKER: AKA HELLCAT #1
Written by Kate Leth
Art by Brittney L. Williams
Why: It doesn’t seem like Patsy is the best artist, but I love how Jen is obsessing over her horse feet. – Kathryn
Why: I really enjoyed Patsy Walker this week and one of my favorite things about this book was how it introduces a new chapter for Patsy, but at the same time doesn’t forget her past. This panel is a great example of that. Even though this series is pretty light, it’s not afraid to touch Patsy’s darker past. – Kathryn
Why: I love how Jen hulk’s out in this panel because Patsy drops coffee on her. This is actually not the only time this will happen in the issue. – Kathryn
Why: I can’t wait to see what this series does with Hedy’s character. This panel makes it pretty obvious that she will be a focus in the series. – Kathryn
SAM WILSON: CAPTAIN AMERICA #4
Written by Nick Spencer
Art by Paul Renaud
Why: Nick Spencer has produced the most classic feeling Captain America story in probably the past 25 years. What makes this series so successful is Spencer’s ability to put a fresh spin on these classic concepts. Serpent Solutions is the prime example of this, and even Cap realizes this isn’t Steve’s Serpent Squad. – John
Why: The golf course is where all the deals get done. – John
Why: D-Man is probably the most disrespected Marvel character, and it’s always hilarious to see. Also, sign me up for a one shot that shows Cap-Wolf and D-Man on an adventure together. – John
SPIDER-WOMAN #2
Written by Dennis Hopeless
Art by Javier Rodriguez
Why: Two guys in charge of the adventures of a pregnant superhero? This book shouldn’t work, but it does. Not only does it work, but it’s among the very best that Marvel has to offer. Sequences like this are a big reason why. Javier Rodriguez is the next superstar artist. – John
Why: This was just a great opening scene! Jessica is fighting her instincts from beating up the Skrulls raiding the hospital as her child is kicking her, which makes things even more tense. And those facial expressions are just perfect! – Kathryn
Why: This book is damn near perfect. This panel is a great example of the humor that Hopeless provides, and of the absolutely stunning art of Javier Rodriguez. – John
Now it’s time to move on to the latest batch of awesome moments from this past week’s new comics!
SPECIAL SPOILER WARNING! Keep in mind that Marvel had shipped out several comics a week early this past Wednesday. Retailers were asked to withhold selling these comics, but Marvel officially released them over the weekend. A few of these issues are featured here! So if you haven’t been able to pick-up The Amazing Spider-Man #6, Nova #3, Obi-Wan & Anakin #1, or Spidey #2 then tread carefully!
ALL NEW WOLVERINE #3
Written by Tom Taylor
Art by David Lopez and David Navarrot
Why: I love how this book has been using Laura’s claw in her foot during fighting scenes. She was able to trick Taskmaster with that move. – Kathryn
Why: Taskmaster is the rare character that can go between being played for laughs, and dead serious. This made him the perfect foil for Laura this issue. The beauty of the character is that he’s able to be taken seriously as a major threat when taunting Wolverine, and then be the butt of the joke at the turn of the dime. He’s such a great character, and I hope we haven’t seen the last of him in All New Wolverine. – John
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #6
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Matteo Buffagni
Why: Spidey’s wrecking ball scene was hilarious and for the rest of the issue Pete could not get the song out of his head. We have all been there. – Kathryn
CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #5
Written by Jeph Loeb
Art by Tim Sale
Why: Yes, this is part of the cover to this issue, but I love the image so much that I had to include it. I’m so happy that this series exists. For years it looked as if we would never get to see this chapter of the storied Loeb/Sale collaboration, but it was finished, and it was every bit as good as one could hope for. Whether it was Loeb taking time out of his busy TV schedule to finish the scripts, or Tim Sale pushing through the pages, thank you to this legendary creative team for another classic. – John
Why: Loeb writes a perfect young Bucky. This panel just made me smile. – John
DEADPOOL & CABLE: SPLIT SECOND #1
Written by Fabian Nicieza & Reilly Brown
Art by Reilly Brown
Why: I need to see more with Deadpool and his wife. – Kathryn
Why: Deadpool and his wife already feel like an old married couple in the best way possible. – Kathryn
Why: I really like the style of artwork in this panel showing Cable’s very complicated past. – Kathryn
Why: This is the best way to advertise an old Deadpool & Cable trade. Right in the middle of the story, with a huge panel. – Kathryn
Why: The band is back together! If you haven’t read the original series you should do yourself a favor, and pick it up. If you liked this issue then doing so is a no brainier. – John
Why: A mother with high expectations. – Kathryn
HOWLING COMMANDOS OF SHIELD #3
Written by Frank Barbiere
Art by Brent Schoonover
Why: Howling Commandos Of SHIELD is one of the most underrated comic books currently being published. This comic is pure insanity. It’s like Nextwave meets Marvel Monsters with Hit Monkey thrown in for good measure. – John
Why: I never imagined I’d like a comic featuring Zombie Jasper Sitwell as one of the main characters, let alone have it be one of my new favorite comics. – John
Why: Okay Orrgo, ghosts are the only happenings on this page that defy all logic. Did I mention how great Orrgo is? A perfect reinvention of an old school, underused Jack Kirby creation. Also, Schoonover captures the essence of the classic Marvel monster comics perfectly here. This is close to being a perfect panel – John
NOVA #3
Written by Sean Ryan
Art by Cory Smith
Why: As much as I am enjoying the Father/Son dynamic, I always felt the heart of the book was Sam’s relationship with his mother. – Kathryn
OBI-WAN & ANAKIN #1
Written by Charles Soule
Art by Marco Checchetto
Why: If lightsabers could talk that one right there would have some great stories to tell. – John
Why: Mace Windu! If I’m not mistaken this is his Marvel Comics debut right here. – John
Why: This might just be one of the most important moments in the Star Wars saga. Palpatine mentions in this issue that he knows Anakin from the events of The Phantom Menace, but it could be argued that this is the exact moment The Emperor took real interest in the boy that would grow up to be Darth Vader. – John
SPIDEY #2
Written by Robbie Thompson
Art by Nick Bradshaw
Why: I really like how Spidey characterizes Gwen. She is an interesting mix of classic Gwen Stacy and Spider-Gwen. Now I want to see Spider-Gwen guest in this book some how. – Kathryn
SQUADRON SUPREME #2
Written by James Robinson
Art by Leonard Kirk
Why: I loved Supreme Power by JMS and Gary Frank, and I’m happy to see a piece of that series live on through its version of Nighthawk. Even better, he is the leader of this new Squaron Supreme. I can easily see him being the breakout character of 2016, as this series looks to be important to the All New All Different Marvel Universe. – John