WOTN Review: Thor #13 (Marvel)

Wrath of the Gods in Thor #13

There is nothing more satisfying – or terrifying – than seeing an old plot arc come back to bite our beloved characters in the back. But that is exactly what we’ve been seeing in the most recent arc of Thor, and Thor #13 is set to up that ante.

Once upon a time, Donald Blake was the persona that Thor slipped into when he needed a break. Over time, his character became something more, and he was seen as more than just another part of Thor.

We’ll never see him the same way again – he made sure of that. The damage that Blake has wrought in such a short period is, quite frankly, horrifying. But it also makes sense, and with that sense comes a looming dread of what else he can do.

Writing

I will be honest: Thor #13 has one of my favorite moments from this series. Well, so far, at any rate. There’s at least one more issue of Donny Cates’ run, and I fully expect it to be dramatic.

This was a tense read, naturally. It answered many questions, such as what happens to a king when he retires. Every little detail Cates has woven into this narrative makes sense, and I adore that. It all seems to fit into the story of Thor and all the other characters who have become involved over the years.

On that note, this issue has more characters than I expected. I probably shouldn’t be surprised, given the scale. Or their appearances earlier in this arc. Yet I am. Still, seeing so many characters band together is always enjoyable, especially in a time of need.

I’ll confess that I really enjoyed the revelations in this issue. Again, partially because they all made sense. And partially because of their overall epic nature. This is Thor we’re talking about. Go big or go home.

Art

The artwork inside Thor #13 is stunning. It hits all the highs and lows one could expect. Then again, I’m a huge fan of Nic Klein’s work, so I’m probably slightly biased here. That said, the style works nicely with Donald Blake’s warped character.

As mentioned already, Nic Klein’s artwork is perfect for this arc. Donald Blake looks delightfully deranged, while other characters look worn and tired. It’s all very fitting, very real. It adds to the weight of the story at hand.

Matt Wilson’s colors highlight this issue, especially when portraying Yggdrasil. The colors are bold and bright, bouncing back and forth between blues and reds in a feast for the eyes.

Finally, there’s VC’s Joe Sabino’s lettering. The lettering matches the grand scale of this arc, with heavy impacts and even louder words. I love it because it feels like the booming of thunder across the page.

Conclusion

Thor #13 is a dramatic addition to this plot arc. One that I have to admit I’m enjoying even more than I expected. The Donald Black plot has been intense and a little bit harrowing, adding some much-needed consequences to that backstory.

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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