Bjorn Again

The Thunder God Returns, and he’s bad ass…


On a whim, I picked up the two most recent Thor trades. I haven’t read a single issue of Thor in my life. So, why would I start now? Two reasons. 1: I get a sweet discount on books through my employer. 2: J. Michael Straczynski (Laziness dictates that reason 2 should be condensed to the acronym JMS because it’s a bitch to type out that whole name more than once.). We all know and love JMS from his previous efforts: Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, The Changeling (screenplay), and, of course, Babylon-5. He’s also penned the screenplay for the film adaptation of Max Brooks’ World War Z. I hate to say it, but once again JMS hits a homerun…

SPOILER ALERT! (Not really)
Ragnarok has come to pass. Asgard is no more. The son of Odin sleeps. But Dr. Donald Blake, Thor’s human vessel, convinces Thor that there is still need for him in our world. Seeing Blake’s words for truth, Thor resurrects himself. A god displaced needs somewhere to call his own, so Thor rebuilds Asgard on the plains in rural Oklahoma. Thor then finds out that there are other gods walking the Earth, cast into human hosts with, or without, their knowledge. He then sets out to find his lost brethren.

From then on, the story twists and turns with a subtlety that won’t surprise any JMS fan, culminating with the Thunder God dethroned and banished. The writing is spot-on, muscular and taut while still capturing the loneliness of a god out of his time. The pencils by Olivier Copiel (Avengers, Legion, House of M) give the title the requisite weight and otherworldly ambience it deserves. There are plenty of battle scenes to keep the action factor up to par, including a thorough pummeling of Iron-Man. Thor reduces Stark to scrap with two blows from the mighty Mjolnir. If you’re not a reader of the series, this is a good place to start.

Subsequently, issue 601 sees a splintering of the Asgardians. Some who align themselves with Balder, the new crowned king of Asgard (and Thor's recently revealed brother). Whom, at the convincing of Loki (!!!), has taken refuge in Latveria...home of Doom. But some yet remain loyal to their golden prince, Thor. Though he is banished.

In issue 602 the son of Odin seeks out Dr. Strange to repair the damaged Mjolnir and retrieves the soul of his beloved Sif. Meanwhile, a human who's fallen in love with the beautiful Kelda must prove himself to the new Asgardian company he now keeps. Oh, and Loki returns to his original form.

603 should hit soon...I'm all a'twitter...

Tyler