Marvel Comics has created an expansive, incredible universe filled with some of the most iconic characters and beloved stories. There are countless pages of comics for fans to enjoy but every now and then, a single panel stands out in our memories. Whether it’s the incredible artwork, a major reveal or moment in a story or even just a really funny line from one of Marvel’s more comical characters, some comic panels just deserve to be recognized.
With that in mind, I want to take a look at some of my favorite comic panels. Each week, I will select one panel from a new Marvel comic as a “New Favorite” and one panel from an older comic as a “Classic Favorite” and provide some context as to why those two panels are so great. Sometimes I might get a little loose with what I consider a “panel,” because comics tend to play by their own rules. But at the end of the day, we’ll have two glimpses of two great Marvel comics, one old and one new.
So without further ado, here are my picks for this week’s top Marvel Comics panels:
Classic Favorite: “Siege #2” 2010
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Olivier Coipel
How many times in the history of Marvel Comics have things seemed completely hopeless, only to be turned around by the appearance of that red, white and blue shield? Whatever the number is, it’s higher than I can count, and this is one of my favorite examples of exactly that.
Norman Osborn has tricked the U.S. government into believing he is their hero and is now in control of his own Dark Avengers. The mystical city of Asgard is now located over the state of Oklahoma and Osborn wants to show off his newfound power by making an example of the Asgardians.
He seems to be doing exactly that, thanks to his team and mostly his big gun, the Sentry. Then, just when we need a miracle, that classic shield comes flying out of the sky to crack old Normy right in his knockoff shell head.
New Favorite: “Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black #5”
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Greg Land
“King in Black” and it’s various tie-ins have been absolutely ridiculous over the last few months. And “Symbiote Spider-Man” in particular has been extra crazy, thanks in large part to the collection of characters featured in the series. A collection that includes Rocket Racoon, Cosmo the Spacedog, Kang the Conqueror and a bizarre villain named Mr. E.
All of that has added up to one of Peter Parker’s strangest adventures. And that’s saying a lot for a guy who is wearing a suit that is literally made out of an alien being. So when Parker sums up everything we’ve seen in this series to this point, it sounds even more ridiculous than we realized. Hence him ending with that great “forget seriousness” line.
Spider-Man has given some of the best quips the Marvel Universe has ever seen. But sometimes, all it takes is a quick recap of all the crazy things you’ve gone through in the last few issues. Another win for Spidey.
You can check out “Symbiote Spider-Man: King in Black #5” now.
Be sure to check back next week for more of my favorite Marvel Comics panels.