It’s time, once again, for the greatest scenes from this week’s comics to stand up and be counted. We’ve got some great stuff here, from the absurd to the surreal to the hyper violent. It’s time for Panel of the Week!
Shadowland: Ghost Rider #1
I knew full well that a Ghost Rider book drawn by Clayton Crain was going to be gorgeous. I knew we’d get some breath taking splash pages and probably some hints of angelic retribution. What I certainly didn’t expect from a story about the spirit of vengeance being summoned to Hell’s Kitchen NYC was the Ghost Rider mounted atop a whale in the middle of the Pacific screaming at the almighty about past debts. Not that I’m complaining.
Joe the Barbarian #7
Things are starting to get rather meta in the later issues of this series. The main thematic conflict in this issue was if Joe would drink the magic elixir (cola) and snap himself out of his diabetic delusion or soldier on with the forces of action figures. I don’t see how this is even an issue. This kid’s real life sucks. When will he ever get another chance to go to war with Lobo and Worf? At least not until he’s old enough to drive himself to conventions.
Mystery Society #3
Why didn’t anyone tell me that Secret Skull was going to be in Mystery Society? I had to find this out on my own by flipping through issue #3 at the racks. For those of you who missed the Secret Skull mini series back in 2005 the character is a young woman who did not know that she was actually undead. She punishes evil souls and these days with the help of a robot, who has the brain of Jules Verne, investigates mysteries. Time to track down issues #1 and #2.
Thor: For Asgard #2
Did you know there was a Thor movie coming out soon(ish)? Well if you didn’t all you have to do is look at the racks and all the new Thor titles they contain and you could guess. For Asgard is the story of how the great state has fallen on desolate times and its leader, Thor, doesn’t really know what to do about it. Ex Machina this is not but Simone Bianchi should draw Thor for the rest of time. This is Thor catching an arrow Leroy style, by the way.
Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #2
Does Brightest Day know that Emerald Warriors is stealing its gross out violence thunder? I read Green Lantern books generally for one chatacter, Kilowog. In this issue we got some great moments with the whopping ex drill instructor so in that regard it was a great installment. But those first few pages between Arisia and Sodam, wow. That was one trippy dream sequence culminating in the meltdown you see here.