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Thor #3 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  3 Responses »
Aug 212012
 

by Andrew Hurst, CMRO Contributing Writer

Thor

Issue #3

Written by J. Michael Straczynski, Art by Oliver Coipel

Published: November 2007

Thor versus Iron Man. Nuff Said, right? Theoretically, two superheroes clobbering the crap out of each other should be a horrifying thought; however, it’s usually awesome. Thor’s quest to rebuild Asguard and find his brothers takes him to Katrina-beaten New Orleans where Tony Stark takes the opportunity to update Thor on America’s superhero status quo since the Civil War that took place during his absence. And Thor is none too happy with Mr. Stark.

Straczynski does a great job creating huge tension between these two. Stark’s character is really riding that line of hubristic sheriff to the superheroes, and is just hateable enough for you to want Thor to put Mjolnir through Stark’s face, but not so much that it makes him look like a jerk just for the sake of being a jerk. Thor is eerily stoic for this conversation until he inevitably loses his Asguardian temper. Their battle lasts only 13 of the 22 story pages, but it’s told as cinematically as you could hope through Oliver Coipel’s beautiful art.

It’s really fun seeing Thor finally kick some ass in this series, but there is little left for us to chew on in the bigger picture of Straczynski’s opening story arch. The B plot of this issue is Thor’s meeting with a New Orleans local who’s become resentful of the politicians, celebrities and reports out to exploit the horrible condition these people’s lives have been left in. You’re given a lot to think about by the end of this issue; things like God’s place among man, man’s tested faith toward God, responsibility. A ton of interesting ideas and themes, but unfortunately, these ideas aren’t properly fleshed out in the 9 pages bookending the fight with Iron Man. And even the fight with Stark isn’t free of the power and God metaphors. It’s not a battle brought on because Stark pissed off Thor, it’s a look at the power struggle between two deities and their usage of that power. Who is more powerful, not only physically, but politically and influentially? And when do you use or choose not to use that power?

Thor #3 is a great issue that, on the surface level, offers an exciting no-holds-barred brawl between two of Marvel’s finest, but deeper, it’s a unique examination of a piece of America at the time, and the state of the Marvel Universe at the time. You’re not left with story reason to comeback for issue #4, but if you’re as impressed with this issue as I was, then you’ll definitely want to.

Thor #2 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  1 Response »
Jul 122012
 

by Andrew Hurst, CMRO Contributing Writer

Thor

Issue #2

Written by J. Michael Straczynski, Art by Oliver Coipel

Published: July 2007

Thor #2 is one of those comics where even if the plot is garbage, you have to have it if only for the amazing art work. Thankfully, J. Michael Straczynski is a great writer, and bringing him together with Oliver Coipel, you have a the total package for a great comic book. The disapointing part about this particular issue is as a stand alone story, it may not impress any new comic book fans.

The action you excpect from a Thor comic is pretty non-existant in this issue, but as a second chapter in the larger story, it offers quite a bit. We get to know the small Oklahoma town that Thor and Donald Blake have pillaged to, and we’re reintroduced to the home of the Gods, Asguard. The local public opinion on the arival of Thor and Asguard is the story of this issue, with a quick touch on the lonelyness of the God of Thunder. The story isn’t much, but with visuals as crisp and interesting as Coipel’s, it’s a sin well worth forgiving.

There’s a very exciting, action movie-like quality to Coipel’s panels, with tons of sharp and subtle details, while on a flip side, he continues to cariciturize the quiet mid-western town folk and it’s really a very nice compliment.

Even though the art is beautful, and the story shows it’s going somewhere (if slowly), I was annoyed at how quickly this issue went by. The most exciting part of Thor #2 was the tease of a Thor/Iron Man confrontation in the next issue, but regaurdless, the art alone still makes this issue worth the cover price.

Thor #1 Review

 Posted by  Issue Review, Marvel Reviews  No Responses »
Jun 142012
 

by Andrew Hurst, CMRO Contributing Writer

Thor

Issue #1

Written by J. Michael Straczynski, Art by Olivier Coipel

Published: September 2007

I had never been much of a Thor reader in the past, but in 2007, when Thor was to be relaunched with a shiny new first issue with superstar writer, J. Michael Straczynski at the helm, I knew now was the perfect time to dive right into what the God of Thunder was all about.

Apparently at some point in then recent Thor continuity, Thor had died. When we first meet the buff blonde from Asguard, he’s passing time in solitude in a void that’s not very Valhalla like. And disturbing his seemingly self-imposed exile is an old familiar face in the form of Donald Blake. The story is stacked head-to-toe with themes of rebirth and new beginnings, and there’s an interesting exploration of duality in Thor between the hammer swinging God and the vulnerable human being we see through Donald Blake. Blake really comes through as his own character as a metaphorical companion to Thor instead of just the hokey secret identity he was originally created to be.

What I was pleased with most about this issue is how well a first time Thor reader like me is able to understand Thor and his sensibilities in such a short about of pages of dialogue. Suddenly, this character that I’d only been acquainted with became as real and as meaningful to me as the comic book characters I grew up with. It’s a real credit to JMS’s talent in the medium.

One reason I may have never invested into Thor before this issue is because I thought the idea of him just wasn’t very “cool”, but JMS and artist, Oliver Coipel, did a phenomenal job of proving just how awesome Thor can be. What action this story has is somewhat brief, but very impactful. Not only was I excited when Thor’s fist cracks the jaw of an enemy to send him flying, but I was enthralled by how much sympathy I could feel for the big guy. And that all came from Coipel’s great story telling.

In addition to being some of the most crisp, clean and stylized pencil work that I can recall in comics over the last several years, Coipel has the ability to make simple characters come to life as caricatures with such charming qualities, but never being so silly to pull you out of the drama of the story. And bravo to Laura Martin and her wonderfully chosen color palates for each scene.

If you were like me and never really thought to give Thor too much attention, or if you simply missed out on this inaugural issue, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up. It’s a great start to a beautiful addiction.

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