The Mighty Thor #1
By Matt Fraction and Oliver Coipel
After the wrap up of the previous Thor series comes a new one, however it is essentially a continuation of the previous run, continuing the story lines and themes explored by Matt Fraction and Pascal Ferry. I'm certainly sad to see Ferry go as he brought a certain science fiction space opera/fantasy element to the comic, but Coipel is a welcome addition to the legacy of great Thor artists (such as Walt Simonson featured on the variant cover to this first issue).
When we last saw Thor he was battling a new enemy that threatened all of the denizens of the nine realms. The situation proved so dire that the hammer-swinging Avenger thought it wise to revive his father, bringing Odin back from Valhalla and into the world of the living. The Allfather was hardly happy with the action, yet his garrulous attitude proved necessary to not only unite the Asgardians with the refugees of the other realms but also to face the World Eaters, daring to use ancient magics not seen in generations. Even this failed to stop the World Eaters, however, and in the end Thor was forced to cut the Yggdrasil at its root, this severing the Great Ash Tree and removing the danger that the carnivorous creatures posed.
The new series picks up directly after the events of the World Eaters story as Thor and Lady Sif travel into the pool of light spilling forth from the severed roots of Yggdrasil. Dressed in space-age diving suits, the gods are met with bizarre bug-like creatures that seek to defend the seed once planted at the dawn of time. Loki descends just in time to lend a hand as the warriors are overcome by opposition. Yet when Thor reclaims the seed and returns it to Odin, he knows that all is not well. His wounds glow with an otherworldly quality that unsettles him and moreso, he feels unease by his father's side.
While Odin gives Thor an almighty strike across the face and departs for realms unknown (in the pages of this comic in any case), the Silver Surfer awakens his master Galactus to feed on a new source of life, the open stream of energy coming from the wounded Yggdrasil.
As far as first issues go, this is a bit of a hard read. I'm interested to see where the events go from here, but the comic is so steeped in backstory and plot threads from the 'Fear Itself' event that it feels like the middle bit of a larger tale. As this issue was the major Thor comic on the shelves the same week that the thunder god's feature film debut was on the screens, I thought it made for an inferior introduction to the character that would fail to retain any new readers who may have gotten caught up in the excitement over this Avenger.
The story by Matt Fraction continues to be a blend of sci-fi and fantasy and I approve of this approach as it makes the 'Thorverse' an interesting and unique place to visit. Not as slick and dynamic as Pascal Ferry, Coipel's art is nonetheless distinctive and sharp, adding character and depth to his faces and figures. I especially enjoyed his depictions of Galactus and the Silver Surfer, who both looked especially cosmic on the page.
Journey Into Mystery #622
By Kieron Gillan and Doug Braithwaite
Released the same week as the new Mighty Thor series is an accompanying series, Journey Into Mystery. Taking its name from the comic that spawned the thunder god, JiM centers instead on the god of mischief Loki. Written by Kieron Gillan (who I had praised for his work on Thor that preceded the Matt Fraction run) and drawn by Doug Braithwaite (of Universe X and Brave and the Bold fame), the comic is very unusual as it focuses on a character that is basically the most evil man alive (except for maybe Doctor Doom).
Like Mighty Thor, Journey into Mystery relies heavily on back story. Unlike the Mighty Thor, JiM easily uses this reliance on past material as a strength rather than a detriment. When we had last seen in the pages of Siege, Loki stunned everyone by sacrificing himself in battle against the Sentry. As his actions had largely led to the destruction of Asgard, one would think that this was a minor feat until one considered that Loki only ever acts in his own interest. Readers of the ongoing Thor series and the Siege tie-in would have noticed that the god of mischief had laid a careful plan involving his demise, ensuring that he would not meet the end that many had expected.
When Thor found himself in the shattered remains of Asgard, he strangely longed for the company of his brother, thinking back to their childhood days when they were both innocent (or as innocent as gods can be). Resurrecting Loki into the form of a young boy, Thor accompanied his brother back to Asgard much to the disapproval of the assembled pantheon. Hardly the mischievous and deadly manipulator he was remembered for being, Loki as a youngster was almost cute and appealing. The new series sees a further development of that character into what promises to be a very important part of both Thor's world and the Marvel Universe as a whole.
Gillan's writing is both lofty and sentimental all at once, with a deft hand that touches upon the grandness and rich history of mythology while providing an intimate look at a very believable character in Loki. His writing reminds me of the glory days of Mike Carey when he was working on Lucifer. Braithwaite remains one of the most wonderful talents in comics. His line work is so refined and powerful that the first time you encounter his work you are left wondering why you hadn't heard of him before (he also penciled the Thor Secret Invasion mini-series in case you are interested). The combined talents of these two men make the new 'sister series' for Thor a marvel to behold (if you excuse the term).
Journey into Mystery provides the first chapter in the new story of Loki and it looks like it will be an interesting one indeed that will no doubt be full of surprises. Regardless of your opinion of Thor or superhero comics in general, I highly recommend giving this comic a look. It's a real winner.
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