Thor #2 Review
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Nic Klein
Colors: Matt Wilson
Letters: VC’s Joe Sabino
The debut issue of Donny Cates’ run on Thor was an incredible start. The question is can he continue to deliver the high standards he set last week and keep the momentum going? This issue says that yes, yes he can. With Nic Klein on art and Matt Wilson on colors we have an incredible team which really bring Thor to life.
The intro few pages are fantastic. They’re sure to get comic fans talking as well. It’s aim is to make sure that we understand the stakes, that the threat of the Black Winter isn’t just a run of the mill danger, we’re talking universe ending crisis (crisis was a deliberate word choice, you’ll get it once you’ve read the issue). We also get a cool nod to DC, in everything but name at least.
I was going to take a moment to discuss Nic Klein’s art in the first few pages and just how incredible it is. Only that wouldn’t be right. Because he is incredibly talented and I wouldn’t want to suggest that the first few pages are better than the rest of the issue. They aren’t. He starts off on a high and doesn’t let up for the whole issue. It’s so detailed, each new page I turn I am left in awe at how good his art is.
And of course the artist is only half the story when bringing Cates’ writing to life, as Matt Wilson’s colors are responsible for the rest of the story. One of the highlights are his blacks near the start of the comic, they're incredible and really help set the tone. They capture the horror that is the Black Winter and help bring it to life. But it’s the moments of bright colors against the duller back drop which really stand out, the heroes mentioned in the first few pages, the rainbow bridge, these are real highlights.
The biggest focus for the rest of the issue is looking at the reality of Galactus making Thor his herald and what this really means for our hero moving forward. Unlike the rest of Galactus’ heralds the concept of him destroying entire worlds isn’t something that Thor is just going to get behind and support, even if it is for the greater good.
Then we get the conclusion to the issue, which demonstrates one of the my favourite things about Donny Cates writing. He knows how to write a cliffhanger. The nature of comics as a format means that there’s a lot of cliffhangers, but when Cates does it well he manages to shock the reader, and leave us desperate for the next issue. To my mind if a comic leaves you desperately scrabbling to see when the next one is out it’s done its job right.
Donny Cates continues to be paired with some of Marvels hottest artists which make for some of the best comics in the industry. If these first two issues are anything to go by fans of Thor, and Marvel in general, are in for a real good time going forward. Twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, possibly the most dangerous threat the Marvel universe has faced, and Thor in a new role promise some exciting storytelling going forward. Nic Klein’s art has to be seen to be believed.
Artist: Nic Klein
Colors: Matt Wilson
Letters: VC’s Joe Sabino
The debut issue of Donny Cates’ run on Thor was an incredible start. The question is can he continue to deliver the high standards he set last week and keep the momentum going? This issue says that yes, yes he can. With Nic Klein on art and Matt Wilson on colors we have an incredible team which really bring Thor to life.
The intro few pages are fantastic. They’re sure to get comic fans talking as well. It’s aim is to make sure that we understand the stakes, that the threat of the Black Winter isn’t just a run of the mill danger, we’re talking universe ending crisis (crisis was a deliberate word choice, you’ll get it once you’ve read the issue). We also get a cool nod to DC, in everything but name at least.
I was going to take a moment to discuss Nic Klein’s art in the first few pages and just how incredible it is. Only that wouldn’t be right. Because he is incredibly talented and I wouldn’t want to suggest that the first few pages are better than the rest of the issue. They aren’t. He starts off on a high and doesn’t let up for the whole issue. It’s so detailed, each new page I turn I am left in awe at how good his art is.
And of course the artist is only half the story when bringing Cates’ writing to life, as Matt Wilson’s colors are responsible for the rest of the story. One of the highlights are his blacks near the start of the comic, they're incredible and really help set the tone. They capture the horror that is the Black Winter and help bring it to life. But it’s the moments of bright colors against the duller back drop which really stand out, the heroes mentioned in the first few pages, the rainbow bridge, these are real highlights.
The biggest focus for the rest of the issue is looking at the reality of Galactus making Thor his herald and what this really means for our hero moving forward. Unlike the rest of Galactus’ heralds the concept of him destroying entire worlds isn’t something that Thor is just going to get behind and support, even if it is for the greater good.
Then we get the conclusion to the issue, which demonstrates one of the my favourite things about Donny Cates writing. He knows how to write a cliffhanger. The nature of comics as a format means that there’s a lot of cliffhangers, but when Cates does it well he manages to shock the reader, and leave us desperate for the next issue. To my mind if a comic leaves you desperately scrabbling to see when the next one is out it’s done its job right.
Donny Cates continues to be paired with some of Marvels hottest artists which make for some of the best comics in the industry. If these first two issues are anything to go by fans of Thor, and Marvel in general, are in for a real good time going forward. Twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, possibly the most dangerous threat the Marvel universe has faced, and Thor in a new role promise some exciting storytelling going forward. Nic Klein’s art has to be seen to be believed.
A Look Inside
