Meet the New Donald Blake in Thor #10
Longstanding fans of Thor and his series are probably more than familiar with the character Donald Blake. Yet they are in for quite the surprise, thanks to the events in Thor #10. This continues the plot in issue #9, and it looks like things are about to get so much worse for our hero and his allies.
If you don’t know who Donald Blake is, don’t worry. You’ll be able to enjoy this arc just fine – the series makes a point of explaining the important details. All that might happen is that you have slightly less impact than other readers.
I will take a quick minute to be honest with everyone here. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from Donny Cates taking over the writing for Thor. After all, it has been a long time since anyone other than Jason Aaron wrote for his character.
With all of that being said, this plot arc is blowing me away. It’s taken the series from something interesting and turned it into something groundbreaking. More than that, it has successfully gained my full and complete attention.
Writing
Holy cow. Thor #10 is about as intense as it gets. Well done, Donny Cates! The previous issue did an excellent job of setting the scene, but this issue really ran away with things. There’s no chance to deny what is at stake. Not anymore.
Thus far, this entire plot has been about subverting expectations and playing with the concept of the consequences of our actions. Especially for those in power. Such as Odin and Thor. That’s a key element to keep in mind, as it adds so much context for what happens.
Where the last issue was full of finesse and careful planning, Thor #10 is full of action, battles, and pain. So much pain. Despite the level of carnage, a lot of clever writing is still going on, sometimes happening on the edges of a panel.
It all comes together to tell the story of Donald Blake. Or, more accurately, the reason for his status now and why it has come to this. It’s fascinating to see and tie in quite nicely with some older themes Thor’s series has danced around.
The one downside, if you can call it that, is that this issue ends on a large cliffhanger. It’s made all the more concerning thanks to involving a character with a now-canceled series. Though, to be fair, I don’t think the two are related. Only time will tell.
Art
Thor #10 is a highly demanding issue, artistically speaking. The level of combat portrayed could not have been easy, nor the sheer level of…madness that needed to be portrayed. Yet this team appears to be up for the task.
Nic Klein was the lead artist responsible for many clever visual designs across the pages. The fighting is a spectacular (and horrifying) thing to behold, yet that is only one level of what is to be seen.
Matt Wilson’s colors bring those scenes to life, with bold red backgrounds making Blake’s movements stand out clearly. Sometimes in almost painful detail. The color palette has an epic quality, which is certainly appropriate, given the series and circumstances.
VC’s Joe Sabino’s lettering is the final touch needed for this issue, as it brings specific actions and impacts into focus. The sound of blades clashing, glass breaking, and so much more feels real, thanks to these details.
Conclusion
Thor #10 is a tense issue from start to finish. Arguably, it’s tense beyond that point, as readers are forced to wait a month to see what happens next. This is an epic plot arc, one that is befitting of some of the more popular Thor arcs and events.
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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