Essential Thor, Volume 6

This collection of Thor comics proves that the 1970s is my favorite of the Marvel eras. 

The adventure begins in a battle of the myths between the Greeks and Norse as Thor challenges Hercules for the honor of a kidnapped maiden. Then thunder god teams with planet eater Galactus to take on Ego the Living Planet. A plague of fear will engulf the Big Apple leading Thor to return to the guise of Dr. Donald Blake in order to safe his long-lost forbidden love, Jane Foster. And as the pages of this massive volume draw to an end, trouble in Asgard is brewing while Thor is joined by the Warrior Three in a twisty caper through space and time!

This is the penultimate Essential Thor collection. Profits found in insanely expensive color reprints spelled the end of these black and white newsprint beauties. I rushed to my computer to place my order for volume 7 and I wait with baited breath on it's arrival. But as this run of collections is coming to an end, my wish list is about to explore with about 15 years of Thor solo comics from the 80s and early 90s (up to beginning of the Heroes Reborn era.)

A great chapter in not just Marvel history, but Thor's as well. 

Oh, and for those of you keeping score- the events of this volume takes place before Essential Fantastic Four, Volume 8. It's not required to read it this way. But it sure is fun!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Thor: Season One

Sometimes I get really lucky and I find a book that I've been wanting somewhere for a steep discount. That was the case here with Thor: Season One. My library had carried a couple of the books from this Marvel series that recounts the origins of some of it's most popular character's while giving them a modern twist and I enjoyed them.  Plus, I've really been getting into Thor a lot and he's grown into one of my favorite characters. So, to find this hardcover for less than $7- oh I had to jump on it!

   Here we learn what exactly got Thor in trouble with his father Odin, resulting in the Asgardian's exile to earth. We also see the early formations of the Warriors Three and experience Loki's discovery of his true heritage. But what really interested me in this story was the dynamic between Thor in his human persona of Dr. Donald Blake and his partner, Jane Foster.

   In this story, Jane is Don's equal. Both are doctors and together, they start a clinic right as Blake begins to uncover the truth of his past as Thor. Jane even knows Blake is Thor. Yet, every time Thor took over instead of Donald Blake, I kept hoping it would hurry up so we could get back to the good stuff. Yes, Donald Blake's ho-hum life as a crippled doctor was just that much more interesting to me and that my friends is a sign of great writing under the Marvel Comics banner.

   Matthew Sturges, whose work I've enjoyed in the pages of Vertigo's House of Mystery and Blue Beetle, is a master at back stories. He makes the person behind the capes and superpowers so engaging and so intriguing. That's exactly what Stan Lee did when he created the Marvel Universe over 50 years ago and I can tell from this book, that someone took notes and kept with the time-honored formula.

   The Season One books were all published in 2013. Now three years later and with Marvel's reboot of its entire universe for the first time ever, I doubt seriously that we'll ever see a Thor: Season Two. But this book was a masterpiece and is a classic that shouldn't be ignored. No matter how much you think you know the story of Thor, this book with art by Pepe Larraz (Star Wars: Kanan) will make the Norse gods new to you once again!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Thor, Volume 2: Who Holds the Hammer? (Marvel NOW!)

 

  The saga of the female Thor continues in volume 2. The new hero has yet to give up her war against Roxxon and the Dark Elf, Malekith, who are divvying up the mineral rights to all of the nine realms. But Thor's most recent attack may have upset a clandestine SHIELD investigation by Agent Roz Solomon.

     Meanwhile, the Odinson is still seeking to discover the real identity of Lady Thor. With list in hand, the former God Of Thunder will revisit some old flames, ancient foes, and some painful memories.

    I am enjoying the new take on Thor. Essentially, the original Thor is still the same prideful powerhouse he once was, only he is without his ability to control the elements and his hammer, Mjolnir. But the title is called Thor and really the woman who now bears that title really shares the book almost equally with the Odinson.  I don't mind this. But I am surprised that more fans of the popular title haven't cried foul about it.
    
  One interesting thing about the change of Thor's is that it is hinted that Odinson might not even be the first God of Thunder. He certainly hasn't been the last what with Beta Ray Bill and Thunderstrike temporarily wielding Thor's hammer in the past. (By the way, if you have yet to learn who the new Thor is, you will get your answer by book's end.)

     Included in this volume is Thor Annual #1. It features a classic version Thor adventure, a first meeting between the Warriors Three and the new Thor, along with a tale of the Highfather Thor and his granddaughters. (Could this mean a return of Odinson to the mantle of Thor or does this take place in an alternate timeline?)

    Speaking of alternate time streams, this edition closes with a classic issue of one of my All-time favorite series from the late 70s. But I don't want to expound too much on just what is contained in the classic reprint least I give away the female Thor's true identity to those readers still not in the know.

    A good book that is in a sort of limbo for me as the Marvel reboot storyline Secret Wars takes place next. I really have no idea when I may return to this book since the Secret Wars series has yet to be completed due to numerous and lengthy delays.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Thor: The Dark World

I was thoroughly disappointed with this film. The film movie was excellent and while very little took place in Asgard, I think director Kenneth Branagh did a fantastic job of making the movie seem mystical and ancient all at the same time. This sequel was lacking that leadership and it showed from the very beginning.

I DVR’d this movie and during the first scene, I was pretty sure I accidently recorded Lord of the Rings. Not only that, for a while, I was pretty sure that whoever made this movie thought this film was LOTR or the Hobbit. The scenes of Asgard looked like someone was using the sets created for Rivendell and the costumes of the Asgardian warriors looked like that of the elves in the Two Towers. The first Thor film seemed to be a unique part of the Marvel Universe but that cohesion and ambiance was sorely lacking here.

While most of the cast of the first film are in the sequel, their use is squandered too! The great Christopher Eccleston of Doctor Who fame was the main baddie, the Dark Elf Malekith. However, over ¾ of his screen time is spoken in Elven gibberish and his powerful British voice is lost between reciting them and me trying to read the subtitles. When he does speak English, it’s not for very long and I’m pondering “Why is he speaking English now and not for the reason of the freakin’ movie?”

Then we’ve got the Warriors Three and Lady Sif, the most loyal friends of Thor. Sif is used mostly for the unrequited love angle. It’s paltry for someone of her caliber, especially since she kicked major booty in the first film and an episode of Agents of SHIELD last year. Then we’ve got Volstagg who for some reason is absent from important battle scenes at the beginning of the film. I know he’s a bit of a wimp but it’s not address whether he was cowering in a corner or stuck home babysitting his massive brood of young’uns. Lastly, there’s Hogun who leaves Thor’s group after his people are freed from slavery. Ok- I get that the actor who played him probably had other commitments and you had to write Hogun out. But during the climatic scenes between Thor and Malekith, why is Hogun’s face flashed for like 2 seconds and never addressed again.

Perhaps the character most underused is Loki who spends half of the film locked in an Asgardian jail cell. Things do get a little more exciting when Loki and Thor team up to defeat Malekith, with some great sibling rivalry and banter. But it takes forever for that dream team to ever form!

It’s pretty bad when the most interesting characters in a movie about Norse ‘gods’ are the humans. Jane Foster played by Natalie Portman is okay. She’s the romantic angle and sometimes her lines are pure drivel. But when she becomes infected with an ancient cosmic power called the’ Aether’ she does some serious damage. But it’s her former mentor and intern who really make this story interesting. They add a much needed boost of humor and are more interesting in their humdrum lives than the characters of Odin and Frieda (the parents of Thor.)

The cosmic adventures of Thor are some of his most interesting and vital to the DC Universe. But, there’s a disconnect somewhere. The first movie established that the Asgardians were aliens but they were still ancient like the legends of old. Here, it’s like Star Wars meets Excalibur and I just don’t think it works.

With a slow plot, drastically altered set designs, poor story editing, and more subtitles than a Russian film festival, Thor the Dark World is just that, in the proverbial dark compared to the other films in the Marvel film series. That’s really tragic if you ask me, since Thor and Loki are such great characters. If you make a three movie, I urge Marvel to not use Alan Taylor as your director. Get Branagh back. He obvious had a clear understanding and respect for the source material.

  I was upset that I missed this movie in theatres. I was disappointed when I missed renting or buying it OnDemand. But, now after I’ve seen the finished product, I’m actually glad I didn’t waste my money on this. Now, if only I could get a refund on the 2 hours I wasted watching this train wreck.

Not Worth Consuming

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Thor Annual 17 (Citizen Kang Part 2)

Well, now Captain America and Vision are missing. So, Thor is sent to investigate. His arrival in the mysterious town of Timely sends him back in time to Medieval Europe, where he comes face to face with sometime Fantastic Four baddie, Prester John. Thor’s arrival has cause the potential peace between England and the Norsemen to be in jeopardy. If the Avenger can’t fix things soon, this event could damage the entire space-time continuum.

This isn’t the Thor we all know and love. Odinson has somehow been replaced with a bearded construction worker named Eric. This is probably the least familiar era of Thor comics to me. But this is a very good read and hasn’t turned me off of the god of Thunder.

Along with this story, we get more of Kang the Conqueror’s back story, an awesome tale starring the Warriors Three and Ulik, the savage troll, a look at Thor’s top 10 villains, and an awesome pin-up of classic Thor versus Ulik.

Sure, my Thor isn’t in this but the story and art is proof why he’s becoming one of my all-time favorite superheroes.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #37

A little Asgardian Algebra. There are 3 Warriors Three. Each got their own issue of Marvel Fanfare. Yet, this is chapter 4? How’d that happen?

Well, the answer is with chapter four, the trio finally groups up and is joined by loyal fellow warrior, Thor to bring an end to Loki’s mischief. With the fate of Asgard in their collective hands, reader’s of this conclusion are in for an exciting ride.

With a very funny ending splash page, this Warriors Three epic was in a word…EPIC. Fantastic art. Amazing watercolors.

Plus, this issue concludes with a time-bending story featuring Mr. Fantastic. Essentially it's the film Multiplicity only about 8 years earlier It’s a very funny classic.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #36

Chapter 3 is devoted to the dashing Fandril, whose been tasked to save the groom-to-be by taking him to a magical island inhabited only by celibate ladies devoted to an Asgardian goddess. Of the 3 chapters thus far, this issue probably has the most character depth to it. There’s actual consequences to his lusty actions and it helps this issue just ooze pathos.

Featuring still more fantastic Charles Vess art, this issue is Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #35

Grim Hogun stars in chapter 2 of the Warriors Three tale. What’s unique about this tale is that it’s pretty much chapter one (MFF #34) but in the perspective of the mother as opposed to the bride-to-be. It’s a little like Run Lola, Run and this came first- so that’s pretty awesome.

 

Artist Charles Hess’ artwork continues to stun. It’s quintessential Warriors Three. Excellent Stuff.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Fanfare #34

Fanfare #34 is devoted entirely to the opening chapter of a Warriors Three tale. The warriors must act alone in order to prevent Loki from keeping a doomed couple from getting married, least Ragnarok is unleashed on Asgard. The star of this chapter is the voluminous Volstagg.

It’s a very good story. Extremely clever and fun. The art is absolutely phenomenal. I loved every panel. This is one of those stories you just want to go on forever and thankfully Marvel decided to make this a 4-part story.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Marvel Fanfare #13

Fantastic George Perez art abounds in this the final chapter of the Black Widow storyline. Widow must stop her duplicate from piloting the heli-carrier into a trap. The play is a little confusing on how this double is slated to do this, but the action is good and the art, like I said before, continues to amaze.

Then, there is this Warriors Three tale which starts off pretty good, with the Asgardians searching for a missing bard in time for an important performance before Odin. But, the plot is completely predictable from the moment we meet the song writer and he claims to not have any ideas what to sing about. I’ll give you 3 guesses as to what he chooses for his ballad. It’s a little lame for such a great group of heroes.

That along with the floppy plot in the first tale makes for this to be a read filled with plot holes. It’s okay, but not Eisner material.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Vol. 2

Cover to Issue #6, which was also
the cover to this collection.

Thor: Mighty Avenger was an all-ages series, but I suspect it was published not just to introduce a new generation to the god of Thunder, but to give young viewers of the Thor movie a book that was less gory than the standard Thor titles.

I thought it was a great series. The art was very retro and Thor’s love story with Jane Foster wasn’t gushy, but deftly written as a metaphor for Thor finding a place on Midgard. Sadly, the book ended after only 8 issues, yet that doesn’t stop the series from incorporating some of Thor’s greatest enemies and pals. The Warriors 3, Loki, Namor, and Iron Man all make appearances in this final volume. Unfortunately the identity of the mysterious Mr. K, who kidnaps and attempts to kill Thor in the final 2 issues was never revealed.

Includes reprints of Journey Into Mystery 85-86.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.