Panel of the Week: Unsurprising Victor

It's time once again for the panel of the week! Last week, we didn't have much, I'm sorry to say. This week, we have several contenders for the dubious honor of being the panel of the week! Will it be the Spider-Man debut of television's Paul Shaffer?

(#4 - 10/09/2008)

Perhaps the beginning of Peter Parker's descent into madness?
(#3 - 10/06/2008)

Or another installment in Peter's shifting attitude towards that whole secret identity thing?
(#2 - 10/10/2008)

No. It is none of those. Instead, it's Maria Lopez, naked in a tub again.
(#1 - 10/05/2008)

Someone here is dropping the ball on the whole panel of the week thing, and it's either me or the people who draw this strip. I'm willing to pin this on them, really.

Panel of the Week 09/28/2008

There's really no point in me doing a countdown for this panel of the week, as there was really only one thing that could win once it showed up on the scene. This is because I'm shameless and recognize that Maria Lopez, naked in a tub, could potentially bring in more hits. Which is why many of the posts, from this point forward, will include the words "Maria Lopez naked in a tub". I need the hits, people. Well, here's the panel:Here's hoping next week has a good contender for the panel of the week, otherwise it'll be week two of Maria Lopez. Naked. In a tub.

Panel of the Week 09/21/2008

It's time again for the panel of the week! Regrettably, Spider-Man himself made a poor showing this week. He showed up a few times whining, which is really a big let-down. Instead, we got his current antagonists. Luckily, they're somewhat more interesting than pasty white Simon Krandis or the Vulture, Blackie "The Vulture used to be competent when he was Adrian Toomes" Drago. For example, here's the Spider-Impersonator, Spider-Imposter, Spider-Thug, whatever you want to call him, really. He's confused about it, too:(#3 - 09/25/2008)
And then there's Big-Time. Our current villain is basically a more management-oriented version of DC Comic's Clock King, perhaps with a bit of "Heroes" Sylar thrown in for no real reason at all. I say this because Sylar used to be a watchmaker or watchfixer or something like that. Unlike Clock King (who was either a victim of malpractice or bad advice depending on which version of the character you're going with) or Sylar (who wants them powers), Big-Time has a simpler motivation:
(#2 - 09/26/2008)

Big-Time was innocent of any crime, though, right? I mean, yes, we'd all be mad if someone sent us to prison but if we served our time we might even let it go and be glad to be reformed. So perhaps Big-Time is actually innocent, and is angry at being sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit?
(#1 - 09/27/2008)

I'm glad that's been cleared up. That could have been as bad as that whole debate over whether or not Spider-Man was an elephant. Thanks for setting the record straight.

Panel of the Week 09/14/2008

With a surprising rise in quality comes a surprising surplus of panels of the week. Five, to be exact.

#5 - 09/20/2008As you can see, our first panel features the debut of what is perhaps the sensational character find of 2008: Big-Time. Unlike other men in suits we've had, who are usually pretty generic, Big-Time has a gimmick. This rises him out of generic man-in-suit territory and puts him into generic super-villain territory. Which is a big step, let me tell you.

#4 - 09/17/2008I chose this one because I like the facial expressions in it. Look at the sneer on that burly thug. Oh, and the old lady looks like she's trying to cast a spell. That would have been terrific if she had cast a spell.

#3 - 09/15/2008I like the pasty white officer's exclamation of "WHA!" and Spider-Man's wisecrack. Little did I know how much wisecracking we'd get as the week went on.

#2 - 09/16/2008There are several things that sort of define Spider-Man as a character, and two of them are angst and web-slinging. However, they're such depressing things to define someone by. Well, the angst bit is. Not the web-slinging. So, as you can see, this would pretty much sum up the character (as we had seen him in the strip for the past two years or so) to a "T". Except then we got the Panel of the Week...

#1 - 09/18/2008Somewhat interesting art? Spider-Man delivering some justice while hanging from a web and wisecracking? The justice being done on a friendly, neighborhood level? Why, this is a much better way to show Spider-Man!

There you have it, folks. With the introduction of Big-Time, we can only guess that he's going to be involved in next week's Panel of the Week.

Panel of the Week 09/07/2008

This panel of the week thing is becoming a daunting task, but at least there were a few more good panels this week.

#3 - 08/31/2008Since it's such a major plot point, I would be neglecting my duties if I didn't include this panel of Spider-Imposter flipping over a car in the running for panel of the week. So here it is.

#2 - 09/08/2008Not much Spider-Man about it, but like Land Captain, I like the way the street looks.

#1 - 09/12/2008Well, here it is. Your panel of the week. Not much to say about it, except it made me go on a tirade. Also, it has Spider-Man throwing himself into more trouble with the cops. Hooray?

Next week should be better.

Panel of the Week 08/31/2008

When I agreed to do this, I didn't realize I would have to do panel of the week as well! Mike P has not left me with an easy task, but I've narrowed it down to two panels which I think are nifty:

#2 - 09/06/2008This panel introduces our current ne'er-do-well, the Spider-Impersonator! He flipped over a car, people! He's bad news!

#1 - 08/31/2008
This panel has Spider-Man swinging around, being happy. We don't see that nearly enough, in the strip or the actual comics. So it's going to be our panel of the week.

Panel of the Week 08/24/2008

I fear there will be many weeks like this, but perhaps worse. I didn't narrow the panels down to two choices, but rather really stretched for both of these. Oddly, they both deal with people getting the flu from Spider-Man.

#2 - 08/30/2008I actually don't like this one much. It frightens me, really. I just wanted two panels to put here. So sorry you had to see it again.

#1 - 08/27/2008Heh, look at Jameson! He is wrapped in blankets with a thermometer and icepack! My goodness.

I hope we have a better choice next week.

Panel of the Week 08/17/2008

Once again, we have five panels, and it was a little bit harder than last week. Then again, last week involved Spider-Man, Jonah Jameson, and the Vulture falling through the air and back-handing each other. That would be like anything else popping up when we got that panel where Spider-Man told the Persuader he's not an elephant. Well, here we go:

#5 - 08/17/2008Spider-Man's dialogue is a nice bit, and the Vulture splayed on the ground like that is sort of funny, I guess. Still, it doesn't pack that certain oomph I'm looking for.

#4 - 08/22/2008In context, this panel is pretty shoddy. Out of context, however, it manages to shine because you have no idea what Mary Jane took, and why she's whispering to Spider-Man about it. Spider-Man also looks mildly confused, as confused as a masked man can look.

#3 - 08/20/2008I just like the Vulture being shoved into a police car in full costume and hand-cuffed. There is no way that should really work in any way.

#2 - 08/21/2008
Jazz Spider! JAZZ SPIDER! JAZZ SPIDER!

I also just noticed that it doesn't exactly look like Jameson's seemingly mobile head is looking at the camera. I realize that the perspective is out of whack, but still... eyes up, Jonah.

#1 - 08/18/2008A good out of context panel should be a little funny, and it should lend itself nicely to wild speculation on what's actually happening: "Spider-Man and Jameson walked through the ethereal city, both confused as anything when the helicopter came." The only reason this beat out this week's #4 is because I found this one funny the first day I read it.

Which is not to say humor is the only quality that's looked for in a Panel of the Week. Perhaps next week we'll get one that's just nice for different reasons.

Panel of the Week 08/10/2008

As mentioned a few days ago, I'm starting a new thing: the panel of the week. What this is, as you can no doubt already guess, is my favorite panel from each week. I am following some rules for this one:
1) I can only pick one panel from each strip, but not every strip.
2) The panel, therefore, has to work out of context.

What this means, of course, is that up to seven panels each week will be up for this, though we may have less than that, or even just one panel. On with the inaugural edition of Panel of the Week in order from lowest rated to highest rated, using an ultra-secret rating system so secret I'm not even sure what it is:

#5- 08/11/2008As you can see, it's Spider-Man. Except he's upside down with speed-lines and questionable perspective. Mainly the upside down, thing, though. That's what got me.

#4- 08/12/2008Spider-Man is being flippant, which is always good, and I love the sight of Jameson clinging to the top of that building.

#3- 08/10/2008Once again, flippant Spider-Man. The Vulture's pose is really silly, and we see Jameson falling in the foreground with his mouth agape with terror. This is also a sight I treasure.

#2- 08/16/2008This one would have been the winner, it would have, as it features Jameson falling and being a drama queen, speed lines, Jameson upside down (or at least nearly upside down), and questionable perspective. Also, those lines coming out of Jameson's head are really silly. However, this one was not the winner...

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring to you the first Panel of the Week:

#1- 08/15/2008Spider-Man back-handing the Vulture and talking smack. No one is upside down, and it does not feature Jameson falling, but this panel was such a pleasant surprise that it filled me with a warm fuzzy feeling when I first saw it, and continues to brighten my day.

The panel of the week will take up residence in the top corner, passing that honor from the panel which previously held it for several months to this week's winner. Good show, panels. Good show.

Previous winners will be kept here.