Beat Panel: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
Content added Content deleted
(Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.8)
(Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.2)
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 58: Line 58:


== [[Video Games]] ==
== [[Video Games]] ==
* [[The World Ends With You]] due to it's manga like cutscenes is a rare [[Video Game]] example. The game has this exchange in week three with several [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Beat]] Panels
* ''[[The World Ends With You]]'' is a rare [[Video Game]] example due to its manga-like cutscenes. The game has this exchange in week three with several [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Beat]] Panels:
{{quote|'''Beat:''' We ain't treading on thin ice! Shibuya's not cold enough for ice!
{{quote|'''Beat:''' We ain't treading on thin ice! Shibuya's not cold enough for ice!
'''Uzuki:''' .....
'''Uzuki:''' .....
Line 82: Line 82:
** [http://darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0318.html Followed by an onslaught of beat panels.]
** [http://darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0318.html Followed by an onslaught of beat panels.]
* ''[[Death to the Extremist]]'' uses this ''constantly.'' Often taken [[Up to Eleven]] with comics like [https://web.archive.org/web/20130914024458/http://dtecomic.com/?n=3 this].
* ''[[Death to the Extremist]]'' uses this ''constantly.'' Often taken [[Up to Eleven]] with comics like [https://web.archive.org/web/20130914024458/http://dtecomic.com/?n=3 this].
* ''[[Dystopia (video game)|Dystopia]]'' [http://www.dystopia-game.com/wiki/index.php?title=Avv%27s_Comics_-_Miswired demonstrates Medium's new reflex upgrades].
* ''[[Dystopia (video game)|Dystopia]]'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20130603173150/http://www.dystopia-game.com/wiki/index.php?title=Avv%27s_Comics_-_Miswired demonstrates Medium's new reflex upgrades].
* Happens rather frequently in ''[[8-Bit Theater|Eight Bit Theater]]''. A prime example is [http://www.nuklearpower.com/2009/01/06/episode-1079-verbal-flanking/ here].
* Happens rather frequently in ''[[8-Bit Theater|Eight Bit Theater]]''. A prime example is [http://www.nuklearpower.com/2009/01/06/episode-1079-verbal-flanking/ here].
* ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'' uses this when Grace explains [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-07-08 the plan] to cure Elliot of his [[Gender Bender|problem]].
* ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'' uses this when Grace explains [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-07-08 the plan] to cure Elliot of his [[Gender Bender|problem]].
Line 90: Line 90:
** Gary: "Oh, I'm terribly sorry! I didn't mean to be rude, it's just I used to think you didn't want to go on a second date with me because I was too geeky." 'beat panel' Nanase: "Yes, it was entirely because I was a lesbian" Gary:"Phew! Well, ain't that a boost for my fragile ego!"
** Gary: "Oh, I'm terribly sorry! I didn't mean to be rude, it's just I used to think you didn't want to go on a second date with me because I was too geeky." 'beat panel' Nanase: "Yes, it was entirely because I was a lesbian" Gary:"Phew! Well, ain't that a boost for my fragile ego!"
* ''[http://www.flyingmanandfriends.com Flying Man and Friends]'' alternates between having the beat panel at [https://web.archive.org/web/20110822203033/http://www.flyingmanandfriends.com/?p=171 the end of the strip] and having it [https://web.archive.org/web/20110827131127/http://www.flyingmanandfriends.com/?p=240 somewhere in the middle].
* ''[http://www.flyingmanandfriends.com Flying Man and Friends]'' alternates between having the beat panel at [https://web.archive.org/web/20110822203033/http://www.flyingmanandfriends.com/?p=171 the end of the strip] and having it [https://web.archive.org/web/20110827131127/http://www.flyingmanandfriends.com/?p=240 somewhere in the middle].
* ''[[Folly and Innovation]]'' does this [http://follyandinnovation.com/2010/04/o-holy-night-batman/ on occasion]
* ''[[Folly and Innovation]]'' does this [https://web.archive.org/web/20121215114728/http://follyandinnovation.com/2010/04/o-holy-night-batman/ on occasion]
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200313130906/http://www.agameoffools.com/ A Game of Fools]'' uses them quite a bit.
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200313130906/http://www.agameoffools.com/ A Game of Fools]'' uses them quite a bit.
* Likewise, ''[[Garfield Minus Garfield]]'' seems to thrive on the beat panel.
* Likewise, ''[[Garfield Minus Garfield]]'' seems to thrive on the beat panel.
Line 100: Line 100:
'''Gil''': No, neither would my father.
'''Gil''': No, neither would my father.
'''Vole''':...not unless she danced nekked through de ruins vile trying to shoot down de moon, turned all de tourists into monsters--and den built a very dangerous fountain out of sausages.
'''Vole''':...not unless she danced nekked through de ruins vile trying to shoot down de moon, turned all de tourists into monsters--and den built a very dangerous fountain out of sausages.
*beat*
''<beat>''
'''Gil''': [[Refuge in Audacity|Well... yes, that goes without saying.]] }}
'''Gil''': [[Refuge in Audacity|Well... yes, that goes without saying.]] }}
* ''[[Goblins]]'' does this sometimes. The best example is probably Minmax [http://www.goblinscomic.com/03032010/ here].
* ''[[Goblins]]'' does this sometimes. The best example is probably Minmax [http://www.goblinscomic.com/03032010/ here].
Line 113: Line 113:
** [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1840.html A recent strip] has a [[News Post]] in which Morgan-Mar explains that he tried to avoid it (putting the silent panel earlier), but it just wasn't funny.
** [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1840.html A recent strip] has a [[News Post]] in which Morgan-Mar explains that he tried to avoid it (putting the silent panel earlier), but it just wasn't funny.
** [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1926.html Another one does three]- and a [[Lampshade Hanging]]. [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1934.html The "Shakespeare" strip after that] is entirely Beat Panels, possibly going for [[Overly Long Gag]].
** [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1926.html Another one does three]- and a [[Lampshade Hanging]]. [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1934.html The "Shakespeare" strip after that] is entirely Beat Panels, possibly going for [[Overly Long Gag]].
** Inverted [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1950.html here], with the 3rd panel the only one with dialog.
** Inverted [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1950.html here], with the third panel the only one with dialog.
** Dare I suggest that [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2168.html here], he's going for an entire beat -strip-?
** Dare I suggest that [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2168.html here], he's going for an entire beat ''strip?''
* [[Matt Groening]]'s ''[[Life in Hell]]'' uses these quite a lot, especially in the strips featuring Akbar and Jeff. [https://web.archive.org/web/20151018182353/http://yourfaceisanadvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/jeff-and-akbar11.jpg Here] is a typical example.
* [[Matt Groening]]'s ''[[Life in Hell]]'' uses these quite a lot, especially in the strips featuring Akbar and Jeff. [https://web.archive.org/web/20151018182353/http://yourfaceisanadvert.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/jeff-and-akbar11.jpg Here] is a typical example.
* [http://www.mezzacotta.net/owls/?comic=188 Beet Panel.]
* [http://www.mezzacotta.net/owls/?comic=188 Beet Panel.]
Line 123: Line 123:
* The readers of ''[[Narbonic]]'' refer to this as the "Silent Penultimate Panel". [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/shaenongarrity/narbonic_plus/series.php?view=archive&chapter=29025 Here's] a double example (fourth strip down).
* The readers of ''[[Narbonic]]'' refer to this as the "Silent Penultimate Panel". [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/shaenongarrity/narbonic_plus/series.php?view=archive&chapter=29025 Here's] a double example (fourth strip down).
** this is specifically when the next-to-last panel is the one that is the Beat Panel. Done often enough that one of the regular readers of ''[[Narbonic]] Director's Cut'' maintains a running total.
** this is specifically when the next-to-last panel is the one that is the Beat Panel. Done often enough that one of the regular readers of ''[[Narbonic]] Director's Cut'' maintains a running total.
* Used often in ''[[The Optimist]]'',as seen [http://the-opt.com/?p=25 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=24 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=14 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=12 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=7 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=5 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=942 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=718 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=421 here], and a double dose [http://the-opt.com/?p=30 here] and [http://the-opt.com/?p=1314 here].
* Used often in ''[[The Optimist]]'',as seen [https://web.archive.org/web/20130531162053/http://the-opt.com/?p=25 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=24 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=14 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=12 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=7 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=5 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=942 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=718 here], [http://the-opt.com/?p=421 here], and a double dose [http://the-opt.com/?p=30 here] and [http://the-opt.com/?p=1314 here].
* ''[[The Order of the Stick]]'':
* In the ''[[The Order of the Stick|Order of the Stick]]'' prequel book 'On The Origins Of PCs' had a page with eight of these in a row, culminating in an outburst. [[It Makes Sense in Context|It fit the situation perfectly]].
** The prequel book ''On The Origins Of PCs'' had a page with eight of these in a row, culminating in an outburst. [[It Makes Sense in Context|It fit the situation perfectly]].
** [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0303.html It seems unlikely]. Also, "[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html How cute!]"
** [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0303.html It seems unlikely].
** Also, "[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html How cute!]"
** [[Discussed]] in "[https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1248.html More Basic Than Cantrips]":
{{quote|'''Vaarsuvius''': I will have you know there is no skill more foundational to the practice of wizardry through the ages than that of the ominous pause.}}
* There is an absolutely ''epic'' final panel beat in [https://web.archive.org/web/20090321175842/http://www.partiallyclips.com/pclipslite.php?id=1391&c=1 strip this] ''[[Partially Clips]]'' strip.
* There is an absolutely ''epic'' final panel beat in [https://web.archive.org/web/20090321175842/http://www.partiallyclips.com/pclipslite.php?id=1391&c=1 strip this] ''[[Partially Clips]]'' strip.
* [http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/4/18/ Nice little parody] in ''[[Penny Arcade]]''.
* [http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/4/18/ Nice little parody] in ''[[Penny Arcade]]''.
* [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1375 This] Yelling Bird strip from ''[[Questionable Content]]''. ([http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1364 It makes more sense if you read this first])
* [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1375 This] Yelling Bird strip from ''[[Questionable Content]]''. ([http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1364 It makes more sense if you read this first])
** Also, [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1280 this one] has two of them, and [[Lampshade Hanging]].
** Also, [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1280 this one] has two of them, and [[Lampshade Hanging]].
*** And [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557 this strip], which is a textbook example of how the beatpanel's supposed to be done.
*** And [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557 this strip], which is a textbook example of how the beat panel's supposed to be done.
* ''[[Realfield]]'' frequently subverts this by removing the punchline altogether. [http://juannavarro.wordpress.com/2007/12/21/realfield-like-lasagna-too/ Trust me, it's funny.]
* ''[[Realfield]]'' frequently subverts this by removing the punchline altogether. [http://juannavarro.wordpress.com/2007/12/21/realfield-like-lasagna-too/ Trust me, it's funny.]
* ''[[Sequential Art (webcomic)|Sequential Art]]'' has its share of beat panels. Like with [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=334 Kat looking at Art's art] and [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=335 the next comic], [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=465 this] or [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=584 Iron-Pip], [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=593 Art and colleague] or [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=653 this], with poor Kat... And now [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=681 Art and Pip].
* ''[[Sequential Art (webcomic)|Sequential Art]]'' has its share of beat panels. Like with [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=334 Kat looking at Art's art] and [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=335 the next comic], [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=465 this] or [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=584 Iron-Pip], [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=593 Art and colleague] or [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=653 this], with poor Kat... And now [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=681 Art and Pip].
Line 156: Line 160:
* ''[[Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic]]'' has a [http://yafgc.net/?id=471 good one] when [[Monster Adventurers]] [[X Meets Y|meet]] "[[Here There Be Dragons]]".
* ''[[Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic]]'' has a [http://yafgc.net/?id=471 good one] when [[Monster Adventurers]] [[X Meets Y|meet]] "[[Here There Be Dragons]]".
** [http://yafgc.net/?id=561 King Eric's "OTHER epiphany"] combines it with [[Face Palm|another kind]] of "[[Dope Slap|beat]]" in the same panel.
** [http://yafgc.net/?id=561 King Eric's "OTHER epiphany"] combines it with [[Face Palm|another kind]] of "[[Dope Slap|beat]]" in the same panel.
* ''[[The KAMics]]'' [http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4771258/ Has] [http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4772298/ done] [http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4790116/ this] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082133/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4803092/ a number] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082615/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/5293042/ of times], [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082003/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4772300/ sometimes] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082320/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4999434/ as punchlines] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082340/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/5012226/ or inverted.]
* ''[[The KAMics]]'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607081932/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4771258/ Has] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607081957/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4772298/ done] [https://web.archive.org/web/20190710215957/https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/The_KAMics/4790116/ this] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082133/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4803092/ a number] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082615/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/5293042/ of times], [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082003/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4772300/ sometimes] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082320/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4999434/ as punchlines] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082340/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/5012226/ or inverted.]
* ''[[Exterminatus Now]]'' has... uh... [http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2006-10-06/comic/bukawk-eee/oh-thank-gods/ this] (see the previous page for explanation). And a [http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2008-05-31/comic/mort-to-it-than-zombies/discerning-the-wicked-from-the-pure-of-heart/ beat panel with punchline silent panel].
* ''[[Exterminatus Now]]'' has... uh... [http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2006-10-06/comic/bukawk-eee/oh-thank-gods/ this] (see the previous page for explanation). And a [http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2008-05-31/comic/mort-to-it-than-zombies/discerning-the-wicked-from-the-pure-of-heart/ beat panel with punchline silent panel].
* ''[[The Extremely Post Modern Adventures of Flint and Hinawa]]'' revolves around having two or even three beat panels between the setup and the usually oddball punchline. This is used to the extreme in [http://local-static1.forum-files.fobby.net/forum_attachments/0023/2741/flintandhinawa6.gif Comic #6], where {{spoiler|the beat just continues right to the end without a punchline.}}
* ''[[The Extremely Post Modern Adventures of Flint and Hinawa]]'' revolves around having two or even three beat panels between the setup and the usually oddball punchline. This is used to the extreme in [http://local-static1.forum-files.fobby.net/forum_attachments/0023/2741/flintandhinawa6.gif Comic #6], where {{spoiler|the beat just continues right to the end without a punchline.}}
Line 162: Line 166:
** The comic seems fond of the traditional use of this trope as well. It occurs most often when [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/whereitcamefrom/ Monica suddenly realizes something], but [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/all-my-life/ other] [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/whowhatwhere/ characters] [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/sainthood/ aren't] [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/ohigetit/ immune].
** The comic seems fond of the traditional use of this trope as well. It occurs most often when [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/whereitcamefrom/ Monica suddenly realizes something], but [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/all-my-life/ other] [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/whowhatwhere/ characters] [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/sainthood/ aren't] [http://wapsisquare.com/comic/ohigetit/ immune].
* ''[[Miscellaneous Error]]'' uses a beat panel in an early comic.
* ''[[Miscellaneous Error]]'' uses a beat panel in an early comic.
* ''[[Fans]]'' recently used beat panels(and other silent panels) in an innovative way in the arc "[https://web.archive.org/web/20131003110237/http://www.faans.com/crossover/ Crossover]", which involves an attack on a crossword-fans convention. Each of the 18 pages has six square frames, with periodic beat panels, and each beat panel is framed in a thick black outline. As the final page displays, when all the panels are arranged in order, they form a crossword panel, with each beat panel as a black space, and the first letter in each of the other panels is used in the crossword solution.
* ''[[Fans]]'' used beat panels (and other silent panels) in an innovative way in the arc "[https://web.archive.org/web/20131003110237/http://www.faans.com/crossover/ Crossover]", which involves an attack on a crossword-fans convention. Each of the 18 pages has six square frames, with periodic beat panels, and each beat panel is framed in a thick black outline. As the final page displays, when all the panels are arranged in order, they form a crossword panel, with each beat panel as a black space, and the first letter in each of the other panels is used in the crossword solution.
* ''[[Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff]]'' does this all the time [[Stylistic Suck|in a highly exaggerated manner]].
* ''[[Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff]]'' does this all the time [[Stylistic Suck|in a highly exaggerated manner]].
* This webcomic [https://web.archive.org/web/20121203021635/http://mind-numbinglyboringwebcomic.smackjeeves.com/comics/1403290/prologue/] consists entirely of beat panels in the first comic. But what do you expect from a comic called "The Mind-numbingly Boring Webcomic"? It appears to get better and actually funny in the next actual comic, but who knows how it will proceed.
* This webcomic [https://web.archive.org/web/20121203021635/http://mind-numbinglyboringwebcomic.smackjeeves.com/comics/1403290/prologue/] consists entirely of beat panels in the first comic. But what do you expect from a comic called "The Mind-numbingly Boring Webcomic"? It appears to get better and actually funny in the next actual comic, but who knows how it will proceed.

Latest revision as of 06:04, 26 December 2022

This parody of Achewood by xkcd sets the record for number of awkward-pause panels in one strip (previously held by Achewood).

DID YOU SEE THOSE TWO BEAT PANELS

THEY WERE *CRUCIAL* TO THE JOKE
Yelling Bird, Questionable Content

A silent panel in sequential art. Usually the next-to-last panel in a serialized comic strip, since it approximates the comedic pause before a punchline.

Particularly efficient comic artists may copy and paste adjacent panels, since the point of the Beat Panel is usually that the characters are frozen in contemplation. Another variation is to have two beat panels, with just a quizzical change of expression in the second to show a character's confusion (more likely to happen in a four-panel strip than a three-panel strip). It can also be unusually long to indicate a long beat.

Compare Silent Scenery Panel. A Beat is the (un)spoken version.

Examples of Beat Panel include:

Anime and Manga

  • The manga of Azumanga Daioh uses these a lot, often at the end of the comic when the gag is a lack of action. These usually translate to (often hilarious) stretches of awkward silence in the anime. One of the more memorable ones:

Panel 1: Chiyo: Oh, Sakaki, you're here already! It'll be an hour before the others get here!
Panel 2: Sakaki: It's okay... I'll wait outside... with Mr. Tadakichi...
Panels 3 and 4: (The same image of Sakaki, perfectly content, sitting under a tree with Mr. Tadakichi)

  • An example of how they translate this: in the anime, during the same scene, the camera stays focused on Sakaki as every other main character walks into Chiyo's house.
  • Hentai manga Witchcraft uses this to great comedic effect. Kagami is trying to get Kaoru to relax so she can effectively hypnotize him (Mildly NSFW text):

Kagami: Well, the easiest way is that relaxed state right after ejaculation. All right, ejaculate.
 Kaoru: Right...
 (Beat Panel)
 Kaoru: ... ... Ejaculate?
 Kagami: Yes.
 Kaoru: You mean where it ... squirts out?
 Kagami: That's right. Now hurry up.

Ayase: I never said I approved (of you choosing Kanale). In fact there's another problem before all this: Kanale already belongs to me.

    • The silence then goes on for multiple panels.
  • There's one early on in the Battle Royale manga, where Shuya asks Noriko how she can trust him so easily. She says "You didn't peek at my panties". Cue the ellipsis and possibly the only funny moment in the story.

Comic Books

  • Christopher Priest might well be the Trope Codifier. Quantum and Woody, Black Panther, and pretty much everything else he wrote were rife with beat panels. The impressive thing was that as often as he used them, they never got stale or overdone; he knew exactly when and where to use them.
  • The Keith Giffen/J. M. DeMatteis comedy incarnation of Justice League of America used this all the time, sometimes featuring entire Beat Pages.
    • J.M. DeMatteis's run on Spectacular Spider-Man featured a beat page - but it wasn't funny, rather it was one of the creepiest pages ever seen in a comic book.
  • Used excessively in Invincible, then Lampshaded when the main character gets his comics signed by an artist who comments on his use of copying and pasting panels.
  • In the comic Teen Titans, after Beast Boy asked Raven to go with him on a "not-a-date", there was a beat panel before Raven said "Let's go".
  • In an Invincible Iron Man issue, Pepper Potts admits to Maria Hill that she slept with Tony. A shocked Maria Hill admit that she also slept with Tony a few days before Potts. Follows a succession of panel with both looking shocked, each at each other, and then each looking down, visibly angry. After that, Hill mutters a simple "Tony Stark. Tony fucking Stark."
  • One of the traditions of a super team crossover is having a few B-List (or even major) villains crash the headquarters seeking revenge, then a beat panel as they realize there are quite a few more super heroes than they expected.
  • Peter David enjoys regular use of these. The Madrox mini-series contained a number of examples.
  • In Scott Pilgrim, Scott asks Wallace what the website for Amazon.ca is. Wallace gets his beat panel with a dumbfounded look and a series of ellipses and responds ".... Amazon.ca".
  • Life in Hell occasionally uses these to an extreme. Matt Groening refers to these as "all those Akbar and Jeff strips where they stare at each other." Keep in mind there were often dozens of panels to a page.
  • During the Joss Whedon run on Astonishing X Men, the morning after Peter Rasputin and Kitty Pryde finally make love, they meet with Wolverine in the kitchen. Two beat panels follow; one where Wolverine looks at Peter, and one where he looks at Kitty. He then returns to his breakfast, muttering, "'Bout time."

Newspaper Comics

  • Pretty much every comic has used this at some point. It's been around since the early days of comics, but it really took off in the 60's and 70's, when a new generation of cartoonists raised on films and television sought to make their comics more cinematic. Doonesbury is often credited with popularizing the beat, and it remains one of the most frequent users of this trope.
    • A comic strip by David Lynch was almost entirely made up of beat panels. The same ones. For ten years.
  • Interestingly, The Far Side occasionally pulled this off in a one-panel strip. The visual was some awkward situation, while the punchline came in the caption.
  • Discussed as well as demonstrated in this Barney & Clyde strip seen here [dead link].

New Media

Video Games

Beat: We ain't treading on thin ice! Shibuya's not cold enough for ice!
Uzuki: .....
Kariya: .....
Neku: .....

Web Comics

And now, by popular demand, Jeremy, the creature nature never intended in his own comic!!!!!!!!

Vole: De pipple of Mechanicsburg vould not ekcept [shutting down Castle Heterodyne] as proof dot she iz a Heterodyne.
Gil: No, neither would my father.
Vole:...not unless she danced nekked through de ruins vile trying to shoot down de moon, turned all de tourists into monsters--and den built a very dangerous fountain out of sausages.
<beat>
Gil: Well... yes, that goes without saying.

Hot Topic Avenger: The acceptable pause for a punchline has passed, meaning either you're serious or you suck at telling a joke.

Vaarsuvius: I will have you know there is no skill more foundational to the practice of wizardry through the ages than that of the ominous pause.

Violet: A bad, floaty, shooty, tinny thing is being bad upstairs!
(squirrel girls look at each other)
(all four): ♥ ♥ Field test! ♥ ♥