Last month, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, better known as the brain behind the hit comics criticism Youtube channel Strip Panel Naked, launched PanelxPanel. The monthly e-magazine is an ambitious new way to consume high quality critical pieces and even comics themselves. Each month’s issue focuses on a single issue comic that comes out the week of PanelxPanel‘s monthly release and features a variety of process pieces and interviews with the creative teams of the book. Additionally, there are monthly recommendations and evergreen features.
This Wednesday, PanelxPanel #2 launches with a focus on Redlands #1, the new Image comic series by Jordie Bellaire, Vanesa Del Rey, and Clayton Cowles. Bellaire, who is best known as an Eisner-award winning colorist and at times seems to be coloring half the books on the shelf in a given week, makes her creator-owned writing debut with this book, so the critical look at it is sure to be splash.
As I hinted at previously, however, PanelxPanel is not just about celebrating the process that goes into making comics. It’s about spotlighting innovative new comics, too! And this month, Hass has teamed up with artist Kahloula Reda to bring readers “The Case of the Missing Cat,” a ten page comics story exclusively available in PanelxPanel #2. The comic focuses on an enterprising young detective named Sasha and her imaginary grizzled partner, Elliott. Sasha’s been hired to break into a house and grab a cat on behalf of a mysterious client, but gets more than she bargained for when she steps inside.
Featuring a clean, cartoony art style and surreal colors, both of which are reminiscent of Cliff Chiang’s and Matt Wilson’s work on Paper Girls, you’re sure to get a kick out of the book, which we have a preview of, below.
Pre-order PanelxPanel #2, out Wednesday.
