Review: Thor #8

Jason Aaron has become synonymous with Thor in much the same way Walter Simonson was back in the halcyon days of the 1980’s. Aaron’s voluminous run began with a huge bang of the God Bomb and the rest is Asgardian history. With each successive arc Aaron re-invents not only the God of Thunder but, his approach to the character and the world he occupies. Thor Odinson, The Unworthy, Jane Foster all have been called Thor during Aaron’s tenure as resident scribe of record and each has progressed the Aaron’s complex narrative in ways unique unto themselves. This is an epic saga on a Tolkienian scale, each issue of this run stands on its own merits while building one of the most intricately crafted stories in Marvel’s illustrious history. This issue brings us one step closer to The War of the Realms, a chapter in the Thor saga that promises to be an epic in its own right. The conflict at the center of this war has already spilled over into Aaron’s Avengers title, which is where we got our first glimpse of the Agents of Wakanda.

The issue opens with nightmarish images of Thor’s own torture at the hands of the sadistic Angels of Heven. Far from the cherubic images of winged and haloed guardians these angels are fierce warriors and even more fearsome captors, as Thor would come to know all too well. During his captivity the Son of Odin is beaten mercilessly by his brutal jailers, his teeth are extracted and his hands are broken. His only hope of escape is the assistance of his equally deadly sister, the fearsome Angela who is being held in the cell adjacent his own. She speaks to him of further brutality, even of the very cells holding them attempting to take their lives in the most sadistic ways imaginable. In one of the most poignantÂ pieces of dialog, Thor asks Angela if she considers him worthy, this is a recurring theme in the issue that Aaron uses to great effect and sets up an equally poignant scene a bit later between the two. The reunited siblingsÂ then discuss their escape options when the most unlikely ofÂ rescuers make their appearance. In the interest of keeping this review spoiler-free I will just add that this is one of the most fist-pumping, cheer-inducing rescue scenes of any comic book I have ever read, and friends I have been reading comic books for 30+ years. So when I tell you that this is one hell of a rescue, believe me. Even Angela is awestruck by the unlikely trio of heroic help now standing before her. From here the worm turns and angels are punched, Thor tears through his former captors like a hurricane of razor blades, leaving few drawing breath and even less on their feet.

Aaron meticulously weaves intricate character elements into a complex narrative with more moving parts than a finely crafted Swiss watch. Jane Foster, Lady Freyja and Rosalind Solomon share a scene featuring some of Aaron’s most well written dialog to date. These extremely strong females, each a warrior in their own fashion, open up to one another to reveal with heartfelt sensitivity their concern for Thor in his current state of mind. The degree of emotional depth in this exchange is remarkable, Aaron crafts this narrative with an operatic sense of diversity of tone. There is a full spectrum of emotions at work in this issue, an accomplishment in any medium, but one not readily attributed to comic books.

The visuals of this title have been over the top since the debut issue, however artist Mike Del Mundo has tapped into something truly ethereal on this current issue. From the first page to the final panel, the artwork is simply sublime. The images of Thor in anguish are like s the sinners in Dante’s Inferno. Del Mundo captures every instance of pain as he renders Thor face twisted in a mask of intense suffering as only a god can suffer. The energy he creates with the vibrancy of colors is alive, vivacious and electric. This is the work of an artist that is transcending boundaries, reaching that next level of creativity, inching into the realm of genius. If you are not familiar with Del Mundo’s work you can pick up this run of Thor or wait until his work is hanging in museums around the world because that is exactly the kind of talent this guy has. I couldn’t think of a better collaborator to join Aaron on this leg of Thor’s journey than Mike Del Mundo.

Overall Aaron and Del Mundo do a fantastic job of setting up The War of the Realms. Aaron creates ample tension building toward cataclysmic events to come. This run has not let up on the accelerator one bit as we speed headlong into a war that will have status quo altering effects on everyone involved going forward. I’ve been reading Thor since Walt Simonson was at the helm and this is one of the most exciting arcs I have had the pleasure of following from the beginning. If you love exciting heroics on an epic scale, and who doesn’t, you need to be reading this book. 5/5

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writer- Jason Aaron
Artist- Mike Del Mundo
Letterer- VC’s Joe Sabino