Healing the Immortal in Valkyrie #7
When Jane Foster signed up for the job (or is it calling?) of Valkyrie, the odds are pretty good that she never expected to take on such a quest as this. In Valkyrie #7, Valkyrie is forced to step up and heal the most unexpected of patients.
There are issues and plot arcs that push the boundaries of a character. This is one of those stories. Everything about this plot tried Jane and Valkyrie but in an emotional and moral sense. Looking back at it, it’s become clear that this is an issue they’ve been building towards for a long time.
Jane Foster has gone through a lot in recent years. But this is one of those moments that forces her to look into her past and decide to move forward. It’s powerful and intense, giving credit to Jane and everything that she has gone through.
Writing
Valkyrie #7 was a thrilling issue that made excellent use of all the cameos available. If you’ve been reading the series, you know who will be in this issue (hint: they’re all doctors). So, none of that will be a surprise – what might surprise you is how they’re used in this issue.
Al Ewing and Jason Aaron did a beautiful job here. The dilemma placed in front of Jane was an existential one. But it was also deeply personal, in ways that are difficult to define and even harder to cope with. This is exactly the sort of story fans have been hoping to see, as it was carefully designed to suit Jane Foster and nobody else.
Truth be told, there’s a lot to love about this issue. Jane’s dilemma is only part of that. The cameos and Jane’s power usage are also fairly high up there. A personal favorite of mine would be the reference to another universe – one that the Marvel universe nearly followed.
It’s refreshing to see a series unafraid to shy away from the darker parts of their leading character. Jane may have changed a lot in recent years – but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s got a long history in the comics. Seeing that all pulled to the forefront has made her feel more human. It’s perhaps a surprising result, but that proves how carefully they’ve been writing her character as of late.
Art
The art found inside Valkyrie #7 is absolutely stunning. That’s probably not terribly surprising, given some of the more ethereal concepts being covered here. Honestly, there are several panels to love in this issue. But I think my favorites are the first and last panels (both full-page spreads). These images cut to the core of this series while also being striking and full of impact.
Pere Perez and Jesus Aburtov worked wonderfully together here. The mystical met the metaphorical, all while unafraid to show this journey’s darker side. To say that these pages had an impact would be putting it too mildly.
VC’s Joe Sabino was the letterer and did an excellent job. There was no shortage of conversation or monologue in this issue, yet it all seemed to flow smoothly. And thankfully, it didn’t impede any of that artwork I’ve gushed about.
Conclusion
Valkyrie #7 was a brilliant issue, telling a story to do both Jane Foster and Valkyrie justice. This is the sort of plot fans have been hoping for. And it did not disappoint. While I have zero complaints about this series continuing, I could have been happy had this been the conclusion. And I feel like that’s saying something.
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.
Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat’s Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Quirky Cats Comics 
Leave a comment