Facing the Darkness in Valkyrie #10
Jane Foster has stepped into the role of the last Valkyrie, and she’s done her job well. Now, in Valkyrie #10, she’s facing a threat she’s never seen before. Worse, it’s involving those she considers friends and those she’s sworn to protect.
In her short run (so far) as Valkyrie, Jane has had to do some strange and extraordinary things, such as teaming up with the doctors of the Marvel universe to save an unlikely patient or forging a path to the unknown.
Now? Now, she will face an ancient darkness and hope she has what it takes to save her friends.
Writing
Written by Jason Aaron and Torunn Gronbekk, Valkyrie #10 is thrilling. After concluding the last issue, we all knew there were some dramatic moments up ahead. Still, nothing could have prepared us for what was to come.
I love the grand scale that they’ve forced Jane Foster to face here, all while bringing everyone, herself included, down a few levels. It is not a combination I expected, yet it fits in beautifully with the tone and message of her series thus far.
That there was a little humor here and there (thank you, Mr. Horse) helped balance out all those heavier emotions. It was also a friendly reminder of all the positive things in life that Jane constantly fights for.
In short, this entire plot arc has done wonders for showcasing what Jane’s Valkyrie seeks to do and the sort of battles she will face. It is her story’s epitome, and I can’t wait to see more of it.
Art
Valkyrie #10 was an epic tale; thus, the artwork that went alongside it had to be equally epic. It most certainly was. From the opening scene and all of the darkness it had to offer to a conclusion full of surprising little details, this issue was a visual experience.
Ramon Rosanas was the lead artist for this issue, and their vision is something to behold here. They’re why Valkyrie looks so…intense in certain scenes here and why the stakes felt so high.
Jesus Aburtov was responsible for the colors, and I sincerely love the choices made in this issue. In particular, I found myself fond of the colors used in the last few pages and panels. There was something strangely eerie about it all, which is exceedingly appropriate.
Finally, VC’s Joe Sabino took charge of the lettering, unfolding the tale through their care. Real effort was made to merge with the scenes while never blocking any artwork I’ve already gushed about. All while leading our eyes to specific points on the pages.
Conclusion
Valkyrie #10 is the highlight of the series, proving to fans what sort of story we can expect from Jane Foster. I’m looking forward to seeing all the changes and challenges she faces going forward, especially in response to what has been set up here.
This is easily one of my favorite series being produced. Unfortunately, thanks to the changing times we’re all currently facing, it will probably only be available in digital format from now on. Frankly, I’ll take that over losing the series entirely. Still, the collector in me hopes that we can at least count on getting a complete volume of this someday shortly.
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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