Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Thor, the God of Thunder

I'm holding judgment until I get #1 witn my DCBS shipment Monday or Tuesday. (!)

And Jorge, I wasn't a big fan of Simonson's Thor; I liked it enough to check out the high spots-- "Frog of Thunder", Beta Ray Bill, Thor grows a beard...

Well, now you have.

Blah, you Donald Blake fans can bite me!

Anyways, issue #2 is pretty good. Not much happens. I mean Asgard returns. That is about it. But I can't wait for the next issue.

We don't bite. We hit you with a big stick.

I haven't bought # 2, though I'll look through it to see if it's worth pursuing next time I'm in the LCS.

Finally read #1, and I have to say I'm impressed and excited. It was a very good issue and the reasoning behind Thor’s return was sound and powerful. Glad JMS addressed the reason Blake left the series in the first place, and then dismissed it.

A very powerful first issue, but lets hope the pacing gets faster as the series moves along.

I really enjoyed the first 2 issues, and I say that as someone who has of late soured on JMS's comics. I HAVEN'T read Thor since Simonson, but JMS seems to have done a great job of explaining the last significant events in a very economical, uncomplicated way. I like that approach. Thor's love for Sif, and there star-crossed history, gets powerfully portrayed with virtually no exposition. The Oklahomans are treated respectfully and appropriately amusingly. I really delighted in seeing the farmer bottom out his pickup with Asgard gelt.

It's clear he's stealing liberally from Gaiman's Sandman and American Gods with the idea of "Man decides when Gods live and die" thing. Not that I object. Steal from the best. I just wonder if he talked to Gaiman about it first?

This is the first time in a long time that I've liked the Donald Blake character. The Thor/Blake relationship has always been one of the most...confusing in comics, right up there with Captain Marvel/Billy Batson. Are they the same person? If not, is there arrangement not kinda creepy? JMS does a good job of portraying Blake as a distinct personality that is nevertheless a piece of Thor's soul.

Olivier's art is a thing to behold. I cannot believe how much he has grown since his Legion days. Thor has rarely looked more compelling. I especially like his huge nose and how it basically fuses into his forehead, Mr. Incredible-style.

I have 2 quibbles that I will revise and amend as the story goes on, if warranted. First, Asgard looks too Harry Potter/Mad King Ludwig and not enough Viking/Kirby weird shit. Second, the thing I remember from the classic Kirby Thor stories I have read was that Thor was, well, jolly. He smiled ALOT. He loved his life and his adventures. I realize the story so far doesn't warrant jocularity, but if JMS doesn't take the first opportunity to give Thor a belly-laugh, I will conclude this is another post-modern mopefest.

Overall, though, it's a delight to read this character again. The Kirby/Lee Thor was the most way-out, way-cool stuff I had ever seen when I was a kid. I devoured the "real" Norse myths almost as soon as I was capable of reading them. I really want this character back and in good form.

Gaiman hardly invented the concept. It's a very old idea that was explored in Star Trek's "Who Mourns for Adonais?" for one example.

Well it happened in the Thor title already...well Journey Into Mystery.

The gods stuck in human form with amnesia. I am really suprised JMS is doing that again. But the writing is good and the art is amazing so I don't mind much. Plus it's always a fun way to reintroduce characters I love.

I picked up the first two issues and was pleasantly surprised.

I'm a big Thor fan. He has the potential to be a VERY impresive and powerful character - if done well - and that seems to be the problem right there. He isn't always "done well".

When I first read the interview wlth JMS (The link was posted here) stating that he is planning to make it a comedy of manners I was horrified. Having read the issue: whilst the scene he described (The farmer driving up and complaining) was in the story, it came across as, quite, wry and unforced - as opposed to a total farce (as I was dreading).

JMS does get across Thors sense of granduer and nobility without making him seem pompous or ridiculous. I like his new speech pattern as well. His old "Thee" and "Thou" style was one of the easiest targets for lampooning and when done badly made the character seem foolish.

I agree with double chinner about Thors sense of humour but, as he pointed out, now is hardly the time for wild parties. When the Gods DO return though, there better be one hell of a banquet.

Donald Blake comes across as extremely interesting and I want to see his relationship with Thor explored further. Like Doublchinner said, their relationship was never really clarified. Was Donald Blake real? Did Odin just make him up? Was he a distinct personality or just a "suit of clothes" Thor donned when in his cicvilian guise? It looks like that is being set up as a MAJOR plot line for the future and I'm all for it.

The art was excellent. I REALLY like Thors new look, the squarer, flatter face makes him look much more like a viking warrior than the golden haired pretty boy he has, sometimes been portayed as, in the past.

Asgard DOES look kind of bare and medieval just now. I do prefer the Kirby dreamscape style. You could argue that the new style is more realistic but, we are talking about mythological beings here; a little grandeur and "Kirbyism" is fine with me.

So, basically, whilst the first few isues have been, kind of, slow it looks like it is only a slow boil and once things heat up we might see something really good.

It seems like Thor is in good hands. I'll be sticking around for a while yet.

I did mean it to be humorous. But besides THAT...not much happens.

Re: Asgard? I don't mind the medieval look. Sure I like it more cosmic as well but I don't think it would look very good in Montana.

OOOoooh, Thor's gonna %@&* some $#!+ UP...! :

(Spoiler

-ish

for

#3)

Oh, that's only the best shot of the lettered preview . The best overall shot comes from the unlettered preview !:

Well, I read #2. Basically all filler, no thriller. Kind of boring actually.

However, the art remains beautiful, and JMS does a pretty good job conveying Thor's mood and his love for Sif (who IMO is *the one* for Thor).

I'm into it still though, and ready for more. Especially looking forward to what's next, which hopefully will be the other Asgardians before too long. Like Doublechinner, I also want more of the Kirby influence.

Not too much originality so far, and pretty slow, but its still pretty well done despite all that. Also enjoying Don Blake.

I toldja! I mean yeah Asgard is rebuilt.

Has the third issue of this come out yet, or have I just missed it?
I am really looking forward to the meeting with Iron Man and seeing Thor kick his arse.
I don't have this on my pull list (I was going to give it a couple of issues yet) but this issue looks like the one to win me over.

#3's due out on September 12th, WWC. You didn't miss it.

Yay!

Iron Man's gonna get a kicking!

I breezed through a 'sneak peek' copy at my CBS-- the Thor/Iron Man confrontation takes up most of the book, but more important, to me at least, was the glimpse of how Asgard will apparently be repopulated.

The first 'new' resident is either a very appropriate one, or exactly the opposite, depending on how you look at things.

I'm amazed that ol' Goldilocks debuted at #1. I hope that portends good things ahead.

Mystery Lad, if I remember correctly his previous series was ranked pretty high (Jurgens/JRJR) but kept dropping especially after JRJR (edited) left.

As for repopulating? Thialfi rocked! I would love to see him back.

Regarding #3:

-- COOOOOOOL! JMS really has a handle on the language of Thor (and without the "thees" and "thous") - there's almost nothing more badass than Thor giving a speach about how he's going to rain godly vengeance upon you! Tony Stark certainly gets a taste of what's coming to him, with Thor drawing a line in the sand. His description of what would happen should the government act against him is downright biblical.

His smaller speach later when summoning his long lost asgardian brother is just as effective, though with a very different feel. (the aforementioned Asgardian also happens to be my favorite supporting Asgardian!)

And of course Coipel's art rocks the friggin' house!

I enjoyed the latest issue! JMS does have Thor's dialogue down pat. Love it. Love the art! And love seeing Tony getting his helmet handed to him!!!

Thor is more powerful? No he just isn't holding back!

The intro of the other Asgardian? eh. One of my faves if not my fave but the whole gods as humans ignorant to the fact that they are gods...was old before JMS tried it and is only going to get older. Marvel already did that with the Asgardians not so long ago.

Odin probably won't be a drunken down'n'out this time though.

I bought this just to see Tony Von Doom get his butt kicked. Very gratifying.

And wow, that was the *perfect* Asgardian to appear at the end for the current situation. Entire governments may be mobilizing against you? Who better to have standing watch than a man who can hear every sound in the nine worlds without fail? Stark can't even mutter 'Thor sucks' under his breath, let alone something like 'let's nuke Asgard,' without it being known instantly...

Still, my absolute favorite Thor supporting character has yet to arrive. Bring on Loki!

I thought it would've been cool to have Heimdall actually look right at the spy satellite at the end. (a bit of a cliche I know, but very appropriate)