When Forces Collide in Thor #12
A familiar face has become a monster recently, and his rampage seems to know no bounds. His hunt for revenge continues in Thor #12. All while the true hero of our story is among the missing. Well, I miss everyone but those who read this comic. We know the truth.
Once upon a time, Donald Blake was the identity Thor picked up whenever he needed a break from being the god of thunder. That is no longer the case; it is a fact that Thor, unfortunately, learned the hard way.
Unfortunately, he’s not the only one learning that lesson, as Donald Blake has been tearing through Thor’s allies for several issues. It’s starting to look like there’s little out there that can stop this ally-turned villain.
*Content Warning: Some imagery early on in this issue might be upsetting to some. Especially those who don’t want to see animals killed, hurt, or anything along those lines. Skip the second page if necessary.
Writing
Okay, let’s be honest: the whole ‘Prey’ plot arc has been so amazingly intense! I didn’t know how they would top the previous plot arc, but apparently, I needn’t have worried. Thor #12 is a whirlwind adventure with plenty of shocking twists.
Donny Cates knows how to write a compelling Thor plot; that is clear. This issue continues building on the Donald Blake tension but with one major twist. Here, he’s seen battling two fan favorites (Spoiler warning: He’s fighting Lockjaw and Throg, and despite appearances, both are fine).
We’ve known for a couple of issues now that things would come to a head surrounding Jane Foster. After all, Blake has been hunting anything and anyone associated with Thor, including Jane. So her inclusion here wasn’t a surprise, though it’s still always great to see a favorite (personal bias showing through here).
Thor #12 contains two major surprises. One of which explains a few things I’ve been wondering about, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. It will be fascinating to see how the rest of this plot arc unfolds.
Art
Thor #12 is another visually stunning addition to this series. The colors are bold and bright, and the action is intense. Perhaps more so this time, thanks to the involved characters (it’s impossible not to root for those two).
Nic Klein’s artwork is well suited to this plot. It’s bold yet has rougher edges – which lends well to the lack of stability that follows Donald Blake around. It makes him look so raw and dangerous, which is actually terrifying.
Matt Wilson’s colors are just as vibrant as always, and his liberal use of red in this issue is much appreciated. It fits and helps make certain other characters pop against the backdrop. Finally, there’s the lettering, which is by VC’s Joe Sabino, which helps further increase that sense of impact. Not that we were having trouble telling beforehand, but it is still a nice touch.
Conclusion
Thor #12 is an extremely intense read. Or at least, it was for this reader. Watching Donald Blake tear his way through Thor’s world has been difficult yet fascinating. While I don’t think we want to see him succeed, there is a certain level of morbid curiosity surrounding it all.
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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