Comic Info
Comic Name: The Mighty Thor (Volume 1)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Pasqual Ferry/Pepe Larraz
# of Issues: 7
Release Date: 2012
The Mighty Thor (1) #7 Variant
Reprints Mighty Thor (1) #7-12; Fear Itself: Thor #7.2 (December 2011-May 1, 2012). Thor is dead…but who is he? When Loki realizes that a man named Tanarus has usurped his brother’s title and deeds, Loki sets out on a quest to find out what happened to Thor and why no one remembers him. Meanwhile, Tanarus has his own plans for Asgardia and he has allies that intend to ensure that Asgardia will fall!
Written by Matt Fraction, The Mighty Thor by Matt Fraction—Volume 2 is a Marvel Comics superhero comic book collection. Following The Mighty Thor by Matt Fraction—Volume 1, the collection features art by Pasqual Ferry and Pepe Larraz.
J. Michael Straczynski’s run on Thor fundamentally changed the course of the Thor comic for years (and had an effect on the movie). This part of Fraction’s run feels like it is a largely building on Straczynski’s run but also working his way out of the puzzles and traps left by Straczynski’s departure. Fraction seems to have a plan, but it doesn’t seem entirely cooked.
While the story deals with the aftermath of Fear Itself, it also has Thor being dead. Instead of a “who should wield the hammer” type storyline, a replacement Thor just shows up in Tanarus…with no explanation (similar to something like the Key in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series). Everyone just accepts Tanarus except Loki who becomes the unlikely hero of the collection.
The Mighty Thor (1) #8
The story has a decent base, but it feels a bit garbled in its telling. Tanarus is quickly revealed to be Ulik under disguise and working with Karnilla and Geirrodur in an attempt to overthrow the newly appointed “All-Mother” (aka Freyja, Gaea, and Idunn), but the plan seems rather underwhelming despite the magic used to insert Tanarus into Asgard. It feels like it should be a longer storyline in general (maybe even a year-long arc).
The story also serves a mean to get rid of one of the blander and irritating storyline in Straczynski’s story. The Bill-Kelda storyline of a human and an Asgardian in love was so overblown and generic that it was rather tedious. Straczynski kept trying to create a human touchstone through the Romeo-Juliet story but it was laughable. Here, Fraction sets the story to bed (thankfully).
Thor by Matt Fraction—Volume 2 is the middle part of Fraction’s run and despite being the middle, it doesn’t have much meat. Thor is a hard comic to write, and I like aspects of Fraction and Straczynski’s approach to the character, but largely they feel like a misfire. Despite this, I stick with Thor in the hopes of being presented something new. Thor by Matt Fraction—Volume 2 is followed by Thor by Matt Fraction—Volume 3.
Related Links:
The Mighty Thor by Matt Fraction—Volume 1
