CSBG Archive
Thor #2 Review
After an absolutely dreadful first issue, J. Michael Straczynski recovers nicely in this second issue, which delivers a nice set-up for Thor’s return to the Marvel Universe. Although it wouldn’t hurt if some bad guys would show up.
The first issue of Thor was just tedious and overly melodramatic. It was just so darn silly.
This issue, though, Straczynski comes back down to Earth a bit, and as a result, we get a much more grounded story that promises to deliver some interesting future moments.
Before I go on, I need to mention the amazing work that artist Olivier Coipel does on this issue. His storytelling work is incredibly striking. He does this scene early on with Don Blake eating at a diner, and it conveyed so much character while making it look sooo simple.
And then later, to be able to draw dramatic larger-than-life drawings without losing a thing in transition?
That’s some impressive work on Coipel’s part. He’s a gigantic asset to this comic.
In any event, the main gist of the comic is that Don Blake (the now returned to life Thor, who returned back to life in last issue, which was super lame) decides to return Asgard to existence – but to do so in the middle of Oklahoma!!!
This results in some tremendous drawings of the majesty of Asgard appearing in the middle of nowhere. Straczynski adds in a number of very nice touches, like having the local police express their displeasure with Thor’s actions, and Thor’s cute response to their entreaties. And then, later, when the man who owns the land Asgard is on on now comes by, Thor’s response to him is also amusing.
In the end, though, what we had was Thor spend an entire issue just to bring an empty city back to existence in the middle of America. That, in and of itself, is a pretty darn cool idea. However, it’s not SUCH a cool idea that you can hang an entire issue upon it, which Straczynski basically does with this issue, and all the cool artwork of Coipel and all the nice small touches from Straczynski are not going to be enough to have that translate into a really good comic book. While this issue progressed matters at light speed compared to the silly first issue (Which may very well be the worst issue I have ever read of a Straczynski comic book), it still didn’t progress things much at all.
And when you’ve reached the end of TWO issues with not much to show for it, I think you’re going a bit too slowly. This issue gives me hope that Straczynski can do a good job with this series, and these first couple of issues are just the necessary evil before the coolness happens, but for now, the book is not all that appealing.
Not Recommended.
19 Comments
Jaleel
August 1, 2007 at 5:32 am
Ah, that kinda stings. I mean, An August issue where Asgard comes back. We knew this was gonna happen in like May, it was part one of the “Thor Return” process!
But I guess it won’t hurt to check it out anyway. I do like JMS and Coipel, even if they like to waste time and draw an extra wide Thor.
Beta Ray Steve
August 1, 2007 at 6:36 am
Is this surprising? How long did JMS take in ‘Supreme Power’ to set up ‘Superman raised by the US gov’t’ ? It’s not some bizarre alien concept, but he spent months and months setting it up, as if noone had ever heard of Superman or any of the other Superman rip-offs/homages.
I love Thor, but this stuff is backstory, stuff we could find out in a (brief) flashback without spending $3.
Matthew
August 1, 2007 at 7:44 am
But then the trade would look lopsided, of course.
fanboy d
August 1, 2007 at 12:46 pm
asgard ALREADY?! if this was at frank miller all-star batman pace it’d be issue 4 (with a sweet gatefold spread).
Michael
August 1, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I’m somewhat disappointed with how so far, the Oklahomans in this book have been portrayed just as generic hayseeds. I mean, granted, most Oklahomans *are* generic hayseeds*, but it makes me feel like JMS isn’t bothering to treat the setting as authentic, but rather going with the established Hollywood cliche version. (I have similar gripes about how Oklahoma City and Tulsa are not the only two densely populated areas in the state.)
*I’m from Oklahoma, so that’s not just snark.
Bill Reed
August 1, 2007 at 2:52 pm
This is a very pretty book, but the story is non-existent. This could’ve been done in a couple pages rather than a couple issues.
Brian Cronin
August 1, 2007 at 3:39 pm
But it was better than the first one, right, Bill?
stealthwise
August 1, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Maybe Marvel and DC should slap that on all of the solicitations for JMS and Meltzer/Johns/etc’s issues…
“Better than the first one!”
Set that bar low and don’t worry about going much higher.
Beta Ray Steve
August 1, 2007 at 8:01 pm
stealthwise,
Stuff like this is why my tryout period for new books is one issue. I want a story that is compelling and urgent, not a setup for some possible story a year from now.
Kevinjt
August 2, 2007 at 11:26 am
These are my first two issues of Thor – ever. Never was a fan way back when, but I figured with JMS onboard, might as well give it a shot.
For a newb reading Thor for the first time, its ok. The art is killer. However, I think that issues 1 and 2 and probably 3 could have and should have been in issue 1 as a double-sized issue.
At least that way, I’d be spending $4.99 for a double issue instead of 5.98 for two issues (wait, I only pay $1.79 an issue…) Either way, this ought to be a fun ride once the story decides to take off.
Cayman
August 2, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Despite the slow pace, which is a fair complaint, I’ve actually really enjoyed both issues.
Ian
August 2, 2007 at 3:04 pm
I liked it but why is Asgard still floating in mid-air if Thor now owns the land?
Bill Reed
August 2, 2007 at 3:22 pm
A little better than the first one. Still no good.
Scott
August 3, 2007 at 9:11 pm
“I liked it but why is Asgard still floating in mid-air if Thor now owns the land?”
Oklahoma doesn’t have any trees, and Thor wants a shady spot to drink beer.
JSmith
August 3, 2007 at 9:13 pm
This’ll probably read better in trade format, and I’m enjoying the slow pace. You guys reading World War Hulk? Over there, Hulk’s going through a dozen or more characters per issue. Do we really need that break-neck pace?
Bill Reed
August 3, 2007 at 9:45 pm
No, I’m not reading WWH, but I think a mythological viking superhero comic should have more than one plot point per issue. And monsters should be getting hit in the face with a magic hammer.
Mark
August 21, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Scott, Oklahoma has many trees in the eastern part of the state, but of course Thor is out west where it is indeed pretty barren.
As another Oklahoman I agree with most of Michael’s comments. But overall the second issue was great, very entertaining.
Matt
August 23, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Hey guys, I’ve really gotta disagree with most of you.
I’m sure many of you would really like to see Thor fight, maybe someone who was given near godlike powers by , but that’s been done, and the result is foregone. Instead, J.M.S. is focusing on the character of Thor. He more or less had Thor choose to come back. While bashing in some random bad guys head might be satisfying, it does little to tell us why.
Mark Peck
September 6, 2007 at 1:05 pm
The reason they put thor in Oklahoma is must likly because they found a rock there inscribed in runes some years ago.