Comic Pants Podcast #52
What are some of the best moments in comics? Join Dave Farabee, Dan Grendell, Nick Budd and Randy Lander as they each offer up a few of their own favorite moments in comics. Action or character, superhero and non-superhero, old school and modern, comics and manga, we’ve got it all in the dozen plus moments discussed in this podcast. Plus another installment of Panteon Comics Audio Theatre, featuring Kick-Ass and Hulk.
As always, commentary is welcomed and encouraged. Let us know what you thought of the podcast, and if you have suggestions for future podcast topics, leave us a comment or write in to the show!
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Great podcast, guys. Two suggests for a podcast (if they are not already been done): best and worst endings to an ongoing or mini-series i.e. ending to Y: The Last Man as one of the best. And best/worse comic runs i.e. Frank Miller’s Daredevil and James Robinson’s Starman are the best runs I have ever read.
05 Apr 2008 at 6:09 am
QuoteI have several great comic moments I can think of, too hard to choose which is the best. But worst moment (as well as worst dialogue) belongs to Sally Floyd in Civil War: Frontline, where she’s telling off Captain America because he doesn’t know NASCAR or MySpace.
05 Apr 2008 at 6:15 am
QuoteI haven’t read many of the books you’ve mentioned here, except Torch/Spidey (good choice) and Bone. And this may be blasphemous but I think Bone fell off in a big way after the cow race. Once they swapped that humor out for the dark turns I wasn’t crazy about it.
As far as favorite comic moments, the first two that jump out at me:
1) Uncanny X-Men #183. Peter’s fucked Kitty over, so Kurt and Logan take him to a bar to get his ass kicked by Juggernaut. I loved the moment when Juggernaut asks Kurt/Logan if they want a piece of the action and they say “nope.” (As a kid I don’t remember ever seeing heroes and villains agreeing NOT to fight before) And the cliffside scene between Peter and Kitty at the end of that issue is one of the best moments Claremont ever wrote.
2) Justice League Europe #6, where the JLE takes French lessons, and finds the Injustice League in the same class.
05 Apr 2008 at 10:57 am
Quoteone of the best from Preacher:
After the disaster in Arizona, Tulip and Jesse are reunited in NY. Jesse says they have to find Cassidy, which Tulip is dead set against, for various reasons (read it!).
Jesse can’t believe his friend would do this, so does some investigating, and finds out things are actually worse than Tulip suggested.
Jesse returns to their apartment and let it sink in and there’s a knock at the door. Thinking it’s their friend Amy, they open the door to the last page of the issue to reveal Cassidy standing there.
Then it was like 8 weeks before the next issue!
05 Apr 2008 at 11:08 am
Quotemy super all time fave Death of Adam Warlock
Might I SAY not having read the Spider-man/human series dont worry about the FF NOT knowing who Spider-man is. They might not know NOW but come now Peter Parker is still linked to Spider-man in dozens of ways Reed takes about 10 seconds to figure out “Spider-man is Peter Parker!”
If you will Totally indulge me.
The Spider-man FF relationship is reason number three why I hate New Avengers Spider-man is no way in hell more an avenger than a member of the FF.
05 Apr 2008 at 12:36 pm
QuoteI was thinking about this, and for me, the king of the big moments, is Mark Waid.
1. “The Return of Barry Allen” is full of them. From Max Mercury fighting the Flash on a construction site to Wally having to make his way out of a deathtrap alone. But the big ones are the exchange between Jay and Wally.
“C’mon, Flash.”
“That’s the first time you haven’t called me junior.”
“I call people by their names. Let’s go.”
and when Wally has to outrace the then revealed Professor Zoom and his narration reads “Max was right, I was afraid of replacing Barry. But what I’m more afraid of is letting this bastard do it.” It’s a scene so powerful that it makes the art, and honestly I’m not a fan of LaRoque or Marzan, look better.
2. Lots of stuff in his first run on Cap. When he and Sharon punch out of a plane and her ‘chute doesn’t open, so jumps out of his, goes into free fall and matches her rotation so he can grab her and open her emergency ‘chute. Well, that’s an action movie.
3. Kingdom Come:
Batman takes down Marvel. “He was the only wild card. And I hate wild cards.”
Superman crashes into the Batcave by going *through* the planet and they have their exchange about being the World’s Finest team and how deep down, Superman and Batman just don’t want to see anyone else die.
And the revelation that Wonder Woman is pregnant with Superman’s child is just perfect.
05 Apr 2008 at 1:10 pm
Quotealso got to mention the first time Doctor Doom sees the beyonder in the first Secret wars. Good gorsh i’m a bigger FF fan than even I KNEW
05 Apr 2008 at 1:35 pm
QuoteMy favorite of the ones you talked about was definitely Skurge’s last stand. You talked about getting choked up with Spidey/Torch but hearing about Skurge facing down the hordes alone at Gjallerbru got me all goose-bumply and emotional, and I was at the gym listening to the podcast so that was pretty damn awkward. Thanks a lot!
My obscure pick for favorite moment is from Paul Pope’s 100% mini-series. In issue #2 we’ve met all the characters and had heard about the project that artist Eloy is working on. From the wiki page on 100%: ” He wants to collect 100 tea kettles and tune them all to whistle the exact same note, creating ‘one hundred percent sound.’” I remember turning the page to see the tea kettle symphony blasting at full power and I swear I could actually hear the onslaught of sound. It was a wordless scene so it was all about Pope’s art conveying this huge sound and tremendous emtional impact, all with some lines on a page. Gorgeous stuff. Again, one of those moments that gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.
Great stuff as always, looking forward to the eventual part 2.
05 Apr 2008 at 3:56 pm
QuoteHoly crap, you guys - “Superman & the Legion of Super-Heroes” is the best Superman story I’ve read in years. The first few Johns-written arcs were okay, but he really brought things into focus with this one, and Gary Frank’s art is terrific. Be sure to check out the trade when it comes out, because it’s really, really cool stuff.
05 Apr 2008 at 5:52 pm
Quoteforgive me, because i’m about to list too many damn moments that will no doubt bore you. but after hearing the topic and listening i sort of went through and grabbed what i could remember i loved.
Detective Comics #476-Silver St. Cloud bids Batman goodbye after a kiss. Steven Englehart and Marshall Rogers did my fav Batman.
Action Comics #853-the last few pages with Superman walking into the gold kryptonite room. making it look like Superman disappeared forever until the end of the issue where it turns out Supermans alive and married to Lois with a child. Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow made me a Superman fan. before that, i was indifferent to him.
Wonder Woman #217-the finale to Greg Rucka and Rags Morales Bronze Door arc. Diana was granted one wish for helping Athena’s plans. instead of wishing for her sight back she wishes for her friends son to be freed from the stone curse of Medusa. for her selflessness Athena also returns her sight and gives Diana part of her own sight. a neat little power i’d like someone at DC to do something with.
Detective Comics #747-Renee Montoya shares a cupcake with the incarcerated Two-Face.
Formerly Known as the Justice League #6-that scene with Booster and Blue Beetle after Booster admits he feels like a jlited lover and Blue Beetles reaction. of course anything with Booster and Beetle is gold.
Green Arrow #21-the last moment where GA opens up his JLA certificate and pulls out the picture of Conner as a child. say what you want about Meltzer, the man writes a damn fine Green Arrow. in fact, i discovered the character through him.
Ultimate X-Men #32(?)-Cyclops takes out Wolverine with one blast and kicks him off the team. speaking of Cyclops…
Uncanny X-Men #175-Mastermind makes the X-Men believe Cyclops is the Dark Phoenix so Cyclops has to take on his ex-teammates.
Mister Miracle #5-Miracle goes to confront Vandubarr and gets into his Murder Machine contraption. Vandubarr and his cohorts laugh as it apepars Miracle is dead when Miracles standing right behind them smiling.
Seven Soldiers: Zatanna #4-The scene where Zatanna “reaches out.” I read this while walking down the street and stopped and tried to see if I could reach into the comic to grab her hand. the last scene as well where her father explains the four books are in her and calls her his gift to the world. that whole issue was amazing.
Power Man #9-Luke Cage teams with a revolt against Doom because he wants his 200 dollars. Cage however stops the leader from attacking Doom, and fights him, because he wants his money first. Doom pays him and Cage splits, leaving Doom to handle the revolt.
Runaways Vol. 1 #16-Alex is revealed as the traitor. kind’ve saw it coming but still a great moment.
Azumanga Diaoh-The “jungle” cat, Maya, finds defends Sakaki so she can live with her. if you follow this book you know how much Sakaki always wanted a cat and how most cats seem to atatck her. it was just a happy moment.
Excel Saga vol. 14-my fav manga. the scene is a little hard to describe but basically the series is about a secret organization called Across who wants to take over the city and a government department run by an enigmatic man who plans to protect the city. for the majority of the series both set of subordinates never actually met yet lived in the same apartment complex. in volume 14 that changed when the Department zeroes in on Across and Watanabe finds out the woman he has a crush on is part of that organization. it was one of those moments a long time coming in the book and worked real well.
Gunsmith Cats Omnibus Vol. 3-Rally has had a back and forth struggle with the transporter Bean Bandit. he’s helped her out in situations but also has been employed by some of dangerous criminals she’s been involved with. in one arc he makes a deal with her that he’ll quit trafficking drugs if she can stop his run without the cops. in the finale of one of the arcs she does just that and he just gives her a huge smile and promises not to do it again. this of course works if you’ve read the entire series before hand.
Dragonball Z Vol. 23-From my least fav Dragonball story, Vegeta is about to go into battle with the dangerous Buu. before that he gives his son a hug onyl to lay him unconcious so he’d stay out of the fight. this moment, which i originally saw in the show, is great because Vegeta is this bastard who cares little about anything other then beating Gokuh and the fact he never actually held his son in his arms before.
Dr. McNinja Webcomic-Dr. McNinja’s laying dead after a hail fire of bullets. his soul is split into doctor and ninja as he tries to convince Death he isn’t dead. they team up on Death and he awakens screaming “they’re only flesh wounds!” this is the only webcomic i read and its so good i buy the collections they release.
Teenagers From Mars-Macon and Madison on the top of city hall being chased by the mayor and cops. nowhere to go. madison gets on the ledge ready to jump.
“Madison, this isn’t a fucking movie.”-Macon
“Of course not, silly. It’s a comic book.”-Madison says then leaps.
Finally… Nana chapter 46(spoiler warning here since this isn’t out yet)-Hachi and Nana at a party, Nana says “Gimme your paw.” and we see the two friends both have identical engagement rings.
there… theres probably more but i’ve already wasted your time.
05 Apr 2008 at 9:22 pm
QuoteHey, this gives me an oppurtunity to ask a question that I have wanted to ask for some time.
I realized I don’t have any comics featuring Doctor Doom and I was wondering what some favorite moments were or what people thought were the best issues featuring Doom (preferably available in trade format so I can check it out of course).
06 Apr 2008 at 12:23 am
QuoteThere are so many scenes in Battle Royale that could be mentioned because the conflict was so emotional. For instance the deaths of Show ▼
Depends which character you like more; I like both and I remember both scenes affecting me.
I think it was Bendis on the Daredevil DVD that said when Elektra was killed in DD #181 he instinctually wanted to throw the comic across the same, shouting “no way!”. I never understood that. But some of the deaths in Battle Royale have brought me closest to feeling that strongly.
06 Apr 2008 at 12:32 am
QuoteEd Brubaker did an origin of Dr. Doom mini-series called the Books of Doom that tied things together rather nicely that was a good read a couple of years ago. Going back further than that there’s a Doom solo issue among other Doom appearances in the Fantastic Four Visionaries series for John Byrne in tpb.
06 Apr 2008 at 12:18 pm
QuoteIn Peter David’s run on the Hulk, the Grey Hulk in Vegas stuff has some nice moments. I always find it funny when someone tells the Hulk they know who he is and he’s trying to be in disguise. Like it would that hard to tell.
Sticking with Peter David his Captain Marvel series had plenty of fun stuff between Marlo, Rick Jones, Marv, and Moondragon.
The Podcast also made me think of how DC have more good things going for them a few years ago like with Green Arrow and the Flash before things just went downhill. Same thing with Bendis and Bruce Jones, it seemed like things would only get better with them. That could be a podcast in itself, great runs that eventually went downhill. This kind of reminded me that maybe I should check out the first couple Winick Green Arrow trades and more Flash before #200 since I’ve been looking for some good DC stories after finishing New Frontier, even if they are not in the exact same tone, they seem to be better than now.
06 Apr 2008 at 12:29 pm
Quotewell books of Doom was quite good FF anual 2 is in my mind THE DOOM story The first secet wars was also good.
if you want see Doom played meaner than he usually was in the silver age see esental HULK 3 AND if you want to see Doom played like a total nutbag read Waid’s FF
But if you want to see Doom’s slightl more noble side read E-super-villan team up.
06 Apr 2008 at 12:37 pm
QuoteGreat podcast as usual, guys.
06 Apr 2008 at 4:25 pm
QuoteCoolness!!
Please, please, please, keep up the Comic Pants Audio Theatre!! Great stuff.
06 Apr 2008 at 6:20 pm
QuoteFavourite moments:
Authority - Forgot the issue #, but it’s the one when Millar and Quitely took over where the mock-Avengers are attacking and Titan asks what kind of superheroes show up to a fight drunk. Then “SPLOOSH!” and his head is a watermelon and you see Apollo covered in bits of brain matter and goes “The dangerous kind”
All-Star Superman - The stuff by Morrison is just amazing. When he teams with Quitely…man, that stuff is just magic. I love the part where he’s analyzing his own DNA structure and writing it out.
Wolverine #75 - When he bids farewell to the X-Men. Great issue. Best moment is where he looks back to the mansion and sees Jubilee holding the letter and wearing his cowboy hat and he gives her a smile and a waive and he’s off.
Wolverine #50 - Wolverine’s kamikaze attack on the helicarrier.
Ultimates #7 - Captain America vs. Giant Man.
X-Men #3 - Magneto’s last statement. “I and mine will not go to the slaughter like sheeps, but like tigers.”
06 Apr 2008 at 8:05 pm
QuoteSome favorite moments:
1. Spider-man/Human Torch #3 — Spidey’s talking to someone off-panel, apologizing for not talking to that person for awhile, and telling her what he’s been up to lately. After several panels we discover that Spidey’s at the bridge where Gwen Stacy died and he’s been talking to her. Very poignant.
2. Warlock and The Infinity Watch #9 — A flashback to a young Gamora under the care and tutleage of Thanos. She disobeys him and goes onto a particularly seedy planet and is beaten within an inch of her life by a band of thugs. When Gamora regains consciousness Thanos is standing over her broken body, surrounded by dozens of dead bodies of the thugs who violated her. Thanos gives her some reassuring words, craddles her small body in his arms, and takes her back to his spaceship for treatment. On those two or three pages Thanos displays almost paternal feelings toward her, which I thought was sort of touching.
3. The Dark Knight Returns — Carrie’s in the big bat tank and Superman rips open the vehicle; she uses her slingshot to ping a pebble or something off the Man of Steel. His amused response: “Isn’t this a school night?”
4. Watchmen — About halfway through the story when Rorschach is taken into custody and imprisoned; some fellow inmates want payback against him, but before they can act he easily takes them down and says something like “I’m not locked up in here with you, you’re locked up in here with me.” Also, near the end of the story when Rorschach refuses to go along with Ozymandias’s grandious plan and accepts his fate.
06 Apr 2008 at 8:29 pm
QuoteIn the Dark Knight Returns I always liked the second fight between Batman and the leader of the Mutants. I happen to know martial artists who reconsidered their fighting philosophy based on the that scene.
Actually, there were a lot of great scenes in DKR and Batman: Year One. Why the hell doesn’t Miller write like that anymore.
Actually, about Judd Winick’s Green Arrow comics, I thought even the early stuff wasn’t that great. I mean I think I enjoyed, but I’m glad I read it at Borders and not actually paid for it.
06 Apr 2008 at 9:07 pm
Quoterob, do you mean the Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual #2? The one with Mole Man?
Thanks, I’ll think I’ll check out Mark Waid’s run. I’ve read up some reviews on his run and it seems like it is great. Some reviews on Amazon say it’s the best FF run ever, but the reviews on Amazon are good for all the products. How come some of the issue numbers are in the 500s?
07 Apr 2008 at 12:05 am
QuoteI answered one of my own questions already…
Dual numbering,,,the reason for the switch from the 60s to 500s.
07 Apr 2008 at 1:36 am
Quoteno I mean the STAN lee Jack Kirby one
Waid’S DOOM while I respect the caft was too hardcore. He’s doing stuff in there would scare JOKER
07 Apr 2008 at 2:25 pm
QuoteJust curious, but I would like to know what you think about ongoing series vs. limited series (or stand-alone graphic novels) in terms of “moments.”
I ask because, in theory, stories with a definite beginning, middle, and end would have a much higher payoff factor. However, ongoing series have more opportunity for moments just because they keep chugging along.
Might be an interesting discussion to discuss the merits/disadvantages of each approach.
-RT
07 Apr 2008 at 3:46 pm
QuoteGreat job as always, guys… One of my favorite moments in comics (as a kid, at least) took plance during the Phalanx Covenant X-men crossover. The Phalanx had been kidnapping what would become Generation X, trying to turn them into techno-organic creatures as well.
The kids seem doomed, stranded on a ship in the middle of nowhere with an unbeatable foe when all of a sudden, Sabretooth shows up and attacks the Phalanx. A total surprise, the villain saving the day!
Of course there are many more fave moments in comics, but this is what always stuck with me.
By the way, I must say I do note the absence of David Martindale. Is D3 gone from podcasting? Say it ain’t so Dave, the fans need you! (if only cos your voice is the only one on the Pants-eon that is instantly recognisable…)
08 Apr 2008 at 6:29 am
QuoteHaven’t listened to the podcast yet, but the most memorable moment in comic books for me was the funeral of Kwinn the Eskimo in GI Joe. Not sure which issue it was…
08 Apr 2008 at 1:18 pm
QuoteThe moment that immediately sprang to mind was from JSA, towards the end of the previous volume (not sure the issue # but it’s in the ‘Black Vengeance’ trade).
The team is in Khandaq (spelling?) and Atom Smasher is fighting the Spectre (when the Spectre was on a rampage against magic, and he was ’super-sized’). The Spectre reaches into his chest and stops his heart. Atom Smasher is still in giant form and lying dead when Black Adam uses his ‘Shazam’ lightning to jump-start Atom Smasher’s heart.
08 Apr 2008 at 10:16 pm
QuoteJust reading that gave me chills. That was one of my favorite moments from one of my favorite series ever. I had thought it appeared in a Marvel Christmas special though. Maybe that was another Thanos/young Gamora story.
Also reminds me of another of my favorite Thanos moments was Spider-Man # 17 where Spider-Man dies trying to save a girl and goes to Death’s realm and who is there with Thanos. They talk and fight and then Death brings Spider-Man and the girl he tried to save back to life to spite Thanos.
I believe it was an Infinity Gauntlet crossover issue but was better done then any crossover issue has a right to be.
09 Apr 2008 at 4:55 pm
QuoteI just checked and the Thanos/young Gamora moment I was thinking of was from the 1993 Marvel Hoiday special was different the WatIW # 9, but still very good. Gamora is a child rather then a teenager and she wants to go see some space dolphins. Thanos says no but gives her a doll so she’ll stay out of the way. Then this alien sneaks in to assassinate Thanos and Gamora makes him miss by throwing the doll at him. The doll is ruined so Thanos takes her to see the space dolphins. Some great character moments between the two.
Also, had to check the writer on Spider-Man # 17 as I was pretty sure it wasn’t Todd McFarlane. It was actually the single issue between McFarlane and Larson’s runs and was written by Ann Necenti. Still holds up very well on the re-read. Great visuals by Rick Leonardi where a bottle of BBQ sauce Peter was carrying (he was coming back from grocery shopping) lands next to him and looks like a puddle of blood.
09 Apr 2008 at 6:07 pm
QuoteMost of mine are Spidey related. (Can’t remember any of the issue numbers)
Spider-Man beating Firelord into submission.
Spider-Man throwing everything he has at Juggernaut.
Spider-Man vs Hobgoblin & his killer RV
The entire 1st silent issue of GI Joe
Cap vs Thanos in the original Infinity Gauntlet
When Daredevil realizes it’s Danny Rand masquerading as Daredevil — “Danny?” “Matt?”
Guardians of the Galaxy - The guardians find a shrine to the Martian invasion and read about the last hero to fall - one who kept fighting after all of his friends were dead. When they look into the sarcophagus, it’s Spider-Man’s tattered uniform.
10 Apr 2008 at 12:20 pm
QuoteI checked out the Spider-Man/Human Torch mini because of how much you guys talked it up, and I’m really glad I did
11 Apr 2008 at 11:50 pm
Quote