Friday, April 22, 2016

Comics Review: THE MIGHTY THOR #1

MIGHTY THOR No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

WRITER: Jason Aaron
ART: Russell Dauterman
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER:  Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS:  Olivier Coipel; Russell Dauterman (Design Variant) Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson; Mike Deodato (Hip Hop Variant); Sarah Jean Maefs as Photographed by Judy Stephens
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2016)

Rated “T+”

“Thunder in Her Veins”

Marvel Comics' version of Thor is, of course, based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name.  Thor first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (cover dated: August 1962) and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby.    Marvel's “The Mighty” Thor is a superhero and a member of superhero team, The Avengers.

Thor possesses the “enchanted hammer,” Mjolnir, and he is the Prince of Asgard, the one true God of Thunder – the Odinson... until now.  There is a “Goddess of Thunder,” and she possesses Mjolnir.  She is Dr. Jane Foster, Thor's lady-friend.  As part of the “All-New, All-Different Marvel,” the new Thor has her second ongoing comic book series, Mighty Thor.  It is written by Jason Aaron, drawn by Russell Dauterman, colored by Matthew Wilson, and lettered by Joe Sabino.

Mighty Thor #1 (“Thunder in Her Veins”) opens with Jane Foster receiving chemotherapy because of the cancer that is killing her mortal form.  As Thor, she is healthy, and the Goddess of Thunder will be needed because elves are falling from the sky.  Before the Congress of Worlds, the Light Elves of Alfheim declare that the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim and their sly king, Malekith, are waging war against them.

Although that is true, the Dark Elves deny it.  The tense and dangerous situation could be resolved by Odin, but the All-Father hides in his castle, refusing to engage.  Meanwhile Cul Borson is still seeking to take the new Thor prisoner, but an even darker conspiracy is gathering against her.

When I read the beginning of the first Jane Foster series, Thor #1, in late 2014, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I thought the book's creative team had done a fantastic job of starting a new era of Thor.  Well, that same creative team is back for Mighty Thor, and the first issue of this series is simply a continuation of the previous series.

I called writer Jason Aaron's script for Thor #1 “a thing of wonders,” and he hasn't missed a beat moving into Mighty Thor.  He has given the saga of Thor and of Asgard a “Game of Thrones” vibe.  And why not?  Thor has always had the potential to be a tale of both medieval courtly intrigue and high-fantasy war and adventure, while being a superhero comic book.

I am still enthralled by Russell Dauterman's art.  At the beginning of the earlier series, I liked his art, but for Thor, it needed time to grow on me.  With the arrival of Mighty Thor, Dauterman has won me over; he has brought something fresh and vital to Thor, even almost a year-and-a-half later.  As I did before, I recommend that readers at least try the first issue of this new Mighty Thor.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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