Moving Panels

Our Summer Series comes to a groovy conclusion! Laramy Wells is joined by Nicholas Pepin and James Brooks to discuss Army of Darkness, the cult classic that proves you don't need to be based on a comic book to feel like one. The trio explores how Sam Raimi's medieval horror-comedy captures the spirit of comic books through its larger-than-life hero, over-the-top action, and unforgettable visuals. They also dive into the different versions of the film, its connection to the Evil Dead franchise, Bruce Campbell's iconic performance as Ash Williams, and how the story continues in the comics.

We always talk about comic books getting turned into movies, but what happens when the traffic moves backward? In this special One Shot episode of Moving Panels, host Laramy Wells is joined by co-hosts Tim Williams, Nicholas Pepin, and Gerry D. to dive deep into the massive, chaotic, and awesome world of comic books directly inspired by cinema and television.

From canonical continuation series that picked up where canceled TV shows left off to insane crossover events Hollywood could never afford, we break down how the comic medium expands our favorite screen universes.

What we’re unpacking tonight:

• The Official Continuations: Joss Whedon’s massive, budget-free Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 and the incredible DC Universe expansions in Smallville Season 11 (including Clark becoming a Green Lantern and his tactical showdown with Batman!).

• The McClane Files: A deep dive into John McClane’s comic history, featuring the prequel series Die Hard: Year One and Laramy’s recent read, A Million Ways to Die Hard.

• The Slashers & Sci-Fi Icons: How Ash Williams (Army of Darkness/The Evil Dead) became a comic book staple, the iconic Dark Horse Alien vs. Predator runs, and the massive Ghostbusters and Star Trek comic universes.

• The 80s Cartoon Toy Box: The deep-cut lore of Transformers, G.I. Joe, M.A.S.K., Voltron, ThunderCats, Dino-Riders, Bravestarr, Visionaries, SilverHawks, and Inhumanoids.

⚠️ ANNOUNCEMENT: We hit a bit of a snag behind the scenes tonight. At one point during the recording, Laramy suffered a massive computer glitch. We kept the tapes rolling anyway, and the guys carried the torch to the finish line. We're curious to see if the audience can actually catch exactly when Laramy is no longer a part of the episode! Let us know your timestamps in the comments!

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The Summer Series continues as Laramy Wells is joined by Justin Baker and Blake Fowler to discuss Chronicle (2012), the found-footage superhero thriller that asks a simple question: what would really happen if three teenagers suddenly gained incredible powers?

As part of our series on movies inspired by comic books, we explore why Chronicle feels so much like an X-Men story despite not being based on any comic, discuss Andrew Detmer's tragic transformation, debate the strengths and weaknesses of the film's found-footage approach, and even answer the question of what we'd do if we woke up with telekinesis tomorrow.

Plus, we talk about the performances of Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan, examine the movie's lasting influence on superhero storytelling, and recommend a comic that takes Chronicle's central ideas to an even darker place.

Is Chronicle a hidden superhero classic or does it fall just short of greatness? Listen and find out.

What happens when film directors reject Hollywood realism and start treating the movie screen like a hand-drawn comic book page?

In this special One Shot episode, Laramy is joined by his co-host and wife, Bethany, to break down the concept of Panel-to-Frame Grammar. We aren't talking about movie reviews or standard comic adaptations—we are diving deep into the visual pacing, structural continuity, and framing tricks that original films steal straight from the world of sequential art.

Join us as we discuss:

• Wes Anderson and the rigid, symmetrical "flat page" design of masterpieces like The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

• Edgar Wright’s hyper-kinetic editing rhythm in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and how it paved his way to Scott Pilgrim and Ant-Man.

• How The Wachowskis literally had to pitch The Matrix to studio executives as a 600-page comic book storyboard to get it made.

• Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse (Clerks, Mallrats) and how he mapped the DNA of comic book continuity onto live-action indie cinema.

Do you prefer a movie that looks like a comic book page, or one that breathes like a comic book universe? Hit us up on our socials and let us know!

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and we will see you on the other side of the page!

This week on Moving Panels, our Summer Series continues with a movie that isn’t based on a comic book… but absolutely feels like one.

Laramy is joined by Nicholas Pepin from Pop Culture Roulette and Tim Williams from 80s Flick Flashback to discuss Hancock (2008), the superhero movie that asked: what if the world’s most powerful hero was also its biggest public nuisance?

The group talks about Will Smith’s performance, the movie’s surprisingly strong first half, the infamous tonal shift, and how Hancock evolves from grounded superhero satire into something that feels closer to comic book mythology. Along the way, they compare the movie’s immortal romance elements to stories involving Hawkman and Hawkgirl and ask whether Hancock was actually ahead of its time.

Is this messy experiment still worth revisiting nearly twenty years later?

Find out on this episode of Moving Panels.

What happens when you put Marvel’s first family up against Pixar’s super-powered household?

On this Moving Panels One Shot, Laramy Wells and Gerry D. dive into the similarities and differences between the Fantastic Four and The Incredibles. From matching powers and team dynamics to the deeper theme of family, we explore why these two iconic groups feel so connected—and where they couldn’t be more different.

We break down the family structures, the importance of relationships in superhero storytelling, and the lasting cultural impact both have had on comics, movies, and beyond. Is The Incredibles secretly the best Fantastic Four movie ever made? Or do these two families stand strong on their own?

Let’s have a nerdy little conversation.

This summer, Moving Panels is trying something new.

Instead of discussing movies and TV shows directly adapted from comics, we’re celebrating stories inspired by them — movies that capture the spirit of comic books without coming from the page.

To kick things off, Laramy is joined by his daughters Ruby and Lily to discuss The Incredibles.

Together they talk about why this Pixar classic may secretly be one of the greatest superhero movies ever made, the surprising connections to the Fantastic Four, favorite characters, memorable moments, and what makes this super-powered family story still resonate over twenty years later.

Plus: powers we’d choose, Edna Mode appreciation, and the eternal question… saving the world or surviving family life?

This summer, Moving Panels is exploring a different side of comic book storytelling.

When most people think of comic book movies, they think of direct adaptations. But every episode of Moving Panels begins with the phrase “based on, inspired by, and adapted from the world of comics” for a reason. Comic books have influenced storytelling far beyond the pages of Marvel and DC.

In this special Moving Panels: One Shot, Laramy Wells introduces this year’s Summer Series and explores what it really means for a movie to be “inspired by” comics. From action franchises and science fiction epics to mythology, folklore, and beyond, this episode examines how stories evolve, influence one another, and share a common storytelling language across different mediums.

Join us as we kick off a summer of movies that may not be based on comics—but absolutely carry comic book DNA.

What happens when Superman sings, Broadway collides with late-night television, and absolutely nobody involved seems to be making the same project?

Laramy Wells and Tim Williams dive into the bizarre 1975 TV special It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman!—a musical adaptation of the Man of Steel that feels equal parts Silver Age comic, stage production, and fever dream.

The guys discuss the forgotten Broadway origins of the special, the strange history of superheroes on stage, the surprisingly stacked supporting cast, and why this thing aired so late at night in the first place.

It’s one of the strangest Superman adaptations ever made—and maybe one of the hardest to explain.

It’s aniMAYtion month on Moving Panels, and hosts Laramy Wells, Tim Williams, and Nicholas Pepin are throwing a massive curveball into the ranking machine!

We start the episode like any normal, chaotic day at the mercy of the Flickchart algorithm—pitting completely random comic book and superhero movies against each other in brutal head-to-head battles. But because it’s May, we are shaking things up for the grand finale. In the final act, we crash the system by manually injecting a gauntlet of animated superhero movies into our freshly minted leaderboard to see how they stack up against the live-action titans.

Can a cartoon masterpiece take down a live-action heavyweight? Tune in to find out where the dust settles!

Follow us on social media and let us know: does animation take the crown on your personal list?