Heroes Return 1 page 13 by Ed McGuinness and Mark Morales

Another fun page from the Avengers Heroes Return event by the all-star team of Ed McGuinness and Mark Morales.

This one features Black Panther going against Blur. I still haven’t read that run or story so I don’t know how BP can un along a speedster but who cares.

The first splashy panel is great fun with BP taking punishment from his opponent (look at him wincing under multiple impact). BP being one of my fav’ character, him taking the centre stage on this page was the main incentive for me and I really like Ed’s rendition of the character. I’m usually not a fan of the cape but incorporating it in the scene, along those lightning bolts, really adds to the sense of them being super fast. Ed’s nod to Stelfreeze’s techy design with his mask seemingly reacting to all the fists he’s taking on his face is great.

From then, notice how all panels slide towards the bottom right corner (with nice overlapping elements to lead the eye down). A fun layout choice that enhances the sense of the 2 characters racing against each other.

That second panel may only contain stick figures but we get a good sense of Wakanda scenery and some fun speed lines.

That third one is another great (and typical) BP moment in which he slices the ligaments of his opponent from behind, crippling his ability to run in the process (and for this you indeed would need BP to spot pointy claws rather than the classical Kirby squared ones ^^). That shot of him between Blur’s knees and his leaning forward are again super dynamic choices from Ed.

Then in the last panel, we get a great shot of a victorious BP and a crippled and angry Blur as the race slows down abruptly.

Just great dynamic art from one of the most dynamic super hero artists around (with great inks by Morales as always).