WOTN Review: Thor #1 (Marvel)

Time For Some Changes in Thor #1

A new creative team at the helm of Thor #1 means some major changes are on the way. It’s been a long time since somebody other than Jason Aaron has written Thor’s plot, and it’s safe to say that fans have been curious to see what Donny Cates will bring to the series.

We’ve seen countless variations of Thor: young Thor, Mighty Thor, the king of the future Thor, you name it, it’s happened. That means that Cates had a lot to live up to and a significant challenge in coming up with something new.

Thanks to the ending of War of the Realms, Thor is now King of Asgard. It’s something he’s always wanted, but you know what they say about achieving your dreams. Sometimes, you find out it isn’t what you wanted.

That is the Thor we’re introduced to in this issue, which is only the beginning of our hero’s troubles. Undoubtedly, those troubles will double in the days to come. And we’re going to be here to read all about it.

Writing

As I mentioned above, Donny Cates had a lot to live up to with picking up this series. It was an intimidating prospect, but this one issue has given me so much confidence in the world that Cates will present to long-running fans.

Thor #1 was simultaneously everything and nothing like what I expected. It was epic and impressive, bringing Thor an entirely unexpected challenge and danger. It’s exactly the sort of plot we’ve been hoping for regarding scale. And seeing Thor in this new set of circumstances will be interesting.

There was a lot to enjoy about this issue. First, it had a healthy sense of humor (thank you for that moment with Iron Man). It also had an epic quality, as befitting a king and god. There’s also this elegant sense of melancholy that comes with duty and oaths. It’s an inescapable element in this issue, and it was perfection.

Art

Along with a new writer, Thor #1 also brought a new artistic team. Nic Klein (artist), Matthew Wilson (colorist), and VC’s Joe Sabino (letterer) have all jumped on board this new and dramatic adventure.

Thor may not age quickly, but there’s a real sense of weight in the ages he carries all of a sudden. This showed so painfully how he moved in this issue, which is actually quite impressive when you think about it.

Then there’s the sense of movement in this issue – especially regarding how Mjolnir moves around. It was exceptionally done, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of it. The colors helped to enhance all of this naturally.

Finally, there’s that dramatic transition at the end of this issue (and yes, I am being vague here). Wow. That was not the Thor I was expecting to see. Ever. I’m there for it and eager to see more of this new version.

Conclusion

Thor #1 was a brilliant and surprising first issue in a new series. The new creative team at the helm has great plans for this beloved hero. What’s better is that they’ve already proven they’re not afraid to take risks. I, for one, look forward to seeing where this plot leads.

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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