Weekly Comic Book Review

By J. Michael Straczynski (writer), Marko Djurdjevic (pencils), Dany Mik (inks) Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic with Lauran Martin (colors)

The Story: Thor is in deep trouble as he and Sif try to get acclimated to their new lives together while Loki and Doom plot all-out evil and destruction. William has his first heroic adventure that ends in disaster for him and possibly his new King, Balder. While all these dramatic themes and dire threats culminate, the Warriors Three look for small town employment.

What’s Good: Happily, everything about this book is great except for the fact that this is the second to last time that JMS will be on this series. Seriously, raise your hands if you will be reading Thor after JMS will wrap up his run in thirty days. I for one won’t be. To me, the fact that JMS decided to leave this series is a gross mistake for Marvel. Basically, because he refused to write Thor into the next “event,” whether it is Dark Reign Seige or World War Hulks, JMS had to leave the series. Let me not understate this point; Marvel lost one of their most prolific writers and in turn, arguable their best on-going series because one of the best writers of all times wouldn’t write his muse, Thor, hit She-Rulk with his hammer. Insane, insane and insane.

Anyway, back to this issue. It’s basically perfect. The art is way back on track since the dip in quality that took place last issue. It’s a gorgeous affair and works on every level ascetically and story telling wise. Especially note worth was the band of attackers at the end. Those character designs are almost unforgettable. However, the biggest compliment to the art is that it perfectly compliments the varying perfect moments that JMS writes. The comic beats are flawless and the slower dramatic moments are lasting and emotive.

Of course every comic works from the top down. It all starts with the writer. JMS has so many great ideas and characters being flawlessly executed simultaneously. This is master story telling in any medium and Thor is a true classic. The best part is Thor is mostly absent from this issue, but the whole story revolves around him completely. You lean so much about his character by his influence in his world.

The other high point is the Loki and Doom relationship. The reader gets the feeling that these two could easily destroy and rule the world and their characterizations are impeccable.

Conclusion: A great, great issue. There is something in Thor for everyone. The only down side is that it signals JMS’s run coming to an end. It’s hard to not long for what could have been if JMS was able to stay on this series for another dozen or so issues. Marvel promises that the next and final installment in this run will be in thirty days and trust me, I’ll be the first in line to buy it.

Grade: A

-Rob G.