Thor #4

Written by: Jason Aaron
Art by: Russel Dauterman & Matthew Wilson

The first arc of the new "Thor" comes to an epic conclusion, in an issue that reads longer than most Marvel books these days and with art that is still blowing my mind.

There are many people that are still angered with Marvel's decision to take away Mjolnir from the male Thor (whom we shall call Odinson from now on). Some people feel as if they're tarnishing his legacy as the God of Thunder by taking his name away. But no one is more angered by this than The Odinson himself. After losing his arm to Malekith, he's here to take back what he believes to be his, even if there are a bunch of Frost Giants invading Midgard in the background. What happens is a fantastic clash between old and new Thor, drawn incredibly by the art team of Russel Dauterman and Matthew Wilson.

Jason Aaron's new volume of Thor is very different in tone compared to the previous volume. While "God of Thunder" had some humor, it was dark and violent, with haunting art by the equally haunting art by Esad Ribic. Whether it's Thor infuriating Odinson by tapping him with Mjolnir, or a grumpy Odin regretting not making his crows into a pie, I found myself chuckling quite a bit. But all this was a lead up to the fight we'd all been waiting for, Thor vs. Thor. Odinson is written perfectly cocky and angry against Thor's calm and confident demeanor throughout this issue, but all I can say is that this fight was as grand as it should have been, with a satisfying outcome that could've used a few more panels to drive it's point home a bit better. 

This volumes secret weapon has to be the art team though. While Olivier Coipel and Esad Ribic drew everything with the large scale it deserved, Dauterman and Wilson are bringing something fresh and creative to this volume. Whether it's the bright colors on the sound effects are written with, or the pink that Malekith's magic displays, this issue is far from subtle. The way the cracks in the floor are drawn to spell out sound effects are a nice touch too. On top of everything else, Dauterman makes you really feel every hit these two titans throw. The detail in the destruction is also admirable, showcasing how much time Dauterman and Wilson really pour into this book. 

While many will continue to decry the new Thor, the readers that are sticking with her are rewarded with a book that looks to satisfy and establish her as a force to be reckoned with. With less of an emphasis on major plot progression and a focus on action and character development, this arc concludes with hope that the upcoming issues will continue to be something to keep looking forward to.