Thor (2010) – Part 1

Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (and I am creatively bankrupt) I am changing the format with the next couple of posts and shamelessly adapting the Revcast movies of the month idea and looking at parts of related books rather than a full storyline. Back in the seventies, when I was more of a Marvel reader than I am now, one of my favourite characters was Thor. With the movie due next year, Marvel has been saturating the market with books starring Thor or other prominent characters from the stories. In the next two or three posts I am going to be looking only at the first issues of the various series that are out there and deciding whether they interest me enough to buy the inevitable trade paperback when it appears.
Thor 615 (cover date: November 2010)

First up is the main Thor comic. This obviously isn’t a number 1 but it does introduce a new storyline with a new creative team – Matt Fraction and Pasqual Ferry. Fraction had a great run on that other seventies Marvel cult icon Iron Fist but I am most excited by the prospect of the art from Ferry. The artwork is stunning especially when in the more fantastic locations – there are a number of spreads set in Alfheim, the realm of the ice elves, which are just brilliant. The story picks up from the destruction of Asgard, with Thor and Baldur having to inspire hope in their people, Volstagg receiving warning of a coming threat to all and the invasion of Alfheim by unknown aliens. The story is laid out well for newcomers to the comic and intriguing enough to leave me wanting more – especially more of that gorgeous art. Definitely a must buy when it comes out in a collection.


For Asgard 1 (cover date: November 2010)

Next is the first in a six issue mini-series from the Marvel Knights imprint. The creative team on this one is Robert Rodi and Simone Bianchi – both of whom I know nothing about, I’m afraid. However, just looking at the glorious double spread cover, this is another book that at least looks very promising. And the detailed art does not disappoint it is beautiful throughout the issue. The story starts with Thor leading an assault against rebellious frost giants who are using women and children as a human shield. With victory feeling like defeat for Thor, the warriors return to Asgard and more pressing problems: Asgard is in the grip of winter since the death of Baldur by Loki; Odin has left looking for a solution on Midgard leaving a doubt filled Thor in charge as regent; the court is divided on priorities and split into two factions led by Tyr and Sif; stocks of golden apples are low leaving the gods facing the prospect of a mortal death; and in the final scene of the issue Thor appears unable to lift Mjolnir. There is certainly a lot going on and I am intrigued enough to want to find out more – and certainly again the art will help make up any deficiencies in the story. The speech in this one is in that slightly stilted Homeric style where everyone is referred to as the son of someone else and simple statements are obscured by roundabout language but it is bearable.


First Thunder 1 (cover date: November 2010)

This one is a five issue mini-series from the creative team Brian J.L. Glass and Tan Eng Huat – again both of whom I know nothing about. As the title suggests, this story takes us back to the origin of the character in a retelling of the story that first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 in 1962. While on a hiking trip in Norway a crippled Donald Blake gets involved in an alien invasion by the Kronan race. He loses his cane when fleeing from the aliens into a cave system but finds a gnarled stick that he uses as a replacement. In frustration at being trapped, Blake strikes the stick onto the cave floor and is transformed into the thunder god Thor. Thor defeats the Kronans and rescues, with the help of Blake, two fellow local hikers. The story was good enough and has obviously been brought out to introduce the character to a new generation. I don’t think this one will be a must read for me – I will wait to see if I can get it from my local library or second hand. Thor’s speech patterns in this one are the most affected and tiresome – which may be a turn off to someone new to the character.

First published on RevolutionSF on Saturday Dec 11, 2010