Rising Heroes and Growing Threats in The Mighty Valkyries #1
Coming out of the battle against Knull, the Valkyries are back and going strong! The Mighty Valkyries #1 is an issue perfect for all Valkyrie and Jane Foster fans out there, especially as a new/old heroine comes to the forefront.
There was a time when Jane Foster was the last Valkyrie. Now, that is no longer a true statement. There is still a lot for fans to learn about this new (old?) hero and her story, but that is the whole point of this new series.
The Mighty Valkyries #1 is split into two different stories. The first is titled ‘Jane Story,’ while the second is ‘New Valkyrie Story.’ As you might imagine from those titles, we’re about to indulge in two stories revolving around the two surviving Valkyries of Marvel.
Jane’s Story
The first story in The Mighty Valkyries #1 focuses on the one and only Jane Foster. She’s been through it all these past few years. From doctor to morgue assistant, Thor to Valkyrie. And now, her story is once again moving forward.
Written by Jason Aaron and Torunn Gronbekk, a lot is happening within her half of the issue. Some of it feels like it’s setting up for something more – as something major is hovering on the horizon. This is pretty on par with Jason Aaron’s writing, so no surprise there.
This issue portrays the many sides of Jane Foster and does so in excellent fashion. She’s simultaneously human, a doctor (er, morgue assistant), and a hero. As an added bonus, the interactions she has with a couple of other iconic Marvel characters are a delight (even if one of them brings reason for concern).
Mattia de Iulis’s lines and colors are an interesting match-up for our Jane Foster. The action scenes are an absolute highlight for this issue, with lots of movement and even a touch of humor. Plus, all the drama. However, I’m very fond of the dramatic shading that took dominance later in the story.
New Valkyrie Story
The second story in The Mighty Valkyries #1 revolves around our newest hero. She already feels so familiar in many ways, especially for MCU fans. It’s fascinating to see this new take on Valkyrie storytelling.
Torunn Gronbek took charge of this plot, and I must admit it is amazingly epic. The final few pages of this story could be the foundation for a masterclass in tension and drama. The story starts off on an interesting note but quickly turns into something compelling. Her actions are intentionally mysterious, and it all seem to explode towards the end.
Admittedly, this plot does leave off on a bit of a cliffhanger. But that just made me even more eager to see what happens next. I feel I won’t be the only one feeling that way…
Erica D’Urso (art) and Marcio Menyz (colors) did a fantastic job keeping up with the plot. Valkyrie’s look is so dramatic yet stylized. She fits in nicely with the rest of Marvel. Better yet, the world portrayed is so bright and oddly fascinating. Yet it hides a darker underbelly, as the story has made clear.
Conclusion
The Mighty Valkyries #1 is an issue to remember, at least for Valkyrie fans (yes, I’m including myself in that list). It was dramatic and intense and clearly set up for another confrontation down the line.
VC’s Joe Sabino lettering helped to give a cohesive look to the entire issue despite being split more or less in half. Several storytelling elements carry throughout the issue, showing how well these creative teams work together.
This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.
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