Thor #5 focuses a lot on Asgardia and its inhabitants reactions to the new Thor. Odinson gets drunk.
THOR #5
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Jorge Molina
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Editor: Wil Moss
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in Thor #4: Thor and Lady Thor have a moment, the mantle is passed, Odin gets pissed.
RAGE IN ASGARDIA
Jason Aaron highlights a lot of anger in Thor #5. The issue is largely set on Asgardia and deals mostly with the inhabitants of that world readers are used to reading. Odin, for example, is so full of rage at his son’s shame that he brings his brother Cul (who long time Thor readers know is basically a murderous jerk), in as a Minister of Justice whose chief duty is to unmask the Lady Thor.
Speaking of the titular character of Thor #5, Aaron highlights her mid-battle against Creel (a.k.a. The Absorbing Man), in New York City. Creel gives voice to the disdain of those who are still naysaying this series and the words are just as ignorant in the pages of this comic as they are on social media across the internet. Aaron also takes this opportunity to remind readers (for the second time in as many issues), that Lady Thor wields Mjolnir with completely different style – and no less aplomb – than her male predecessor. It’s such an interesting choice to have this new Thor’s fighting style be more refined even when she’s brandishing a weapon that is more often used brutally than with finesse.
Aaron also gives Lady Thor a chance to face off against Titania in the pages of Thor #5 and the villainess has a lot of support of her, where the Absorbing Man had only disdain. Much as Creel was the voice of dissention, Titania is the voice of praise – even if it does get her socked in the face for her troubles.
Thor #5 returns to Asgardia to focus on the dude Thor who is actually one of the most reasonable characters on panel. Aaron brings a great humility to the former God of Thunder that has made him a very quiet, introverted character, almost a literary foil for his newly returned father. That doesn’t last very long, when Thor man goes to the dining hall to drown his sorrows in mead – and lots of it.
Aaron continues the refreshing theme of female strength in Thor #5 by having Sif briefly drown her sorrows with male Thor before he needs putting in his place and she, of course, physically assaults her lover before threatening to kill him and that is easily as amusing as itself. Through his intoxication Thor boy produces a list that he has been working on of potential usurpers to his mantles – awesomely, Loki (who was has disguised himself as a female on more than one occasion), is on Thor’s list of suspects.
Thor #5 is rounded out with some outstanding behaviour by a female when Aaron has Freya meet the Lady Thor on the moon and give her a warning about Odin and Cul’s search for her, this is the second scene these women have shared in the course of this new Thor series and it is nothing short of heartwarming to see the All-Mother taking care of one of her daughters – even if it may be at the expense of her son’s pride … before the men are jerks again and we are teased with an appearance by the Destroyer.
ART IS LOVELY AND DIFFERENT
Artist Jorge Molina is filling in for Russell Dauterman on Thor #5 and he has a refreshingly unique style. Molina’s art looks like the inking step has been skipped over, as if the colours have been painted directly on top of his pencils and the result is a storybook or tapestry-like quality. While the characters are absolutely recognizable as the people Dauterman populates his panels with, but they have an indie comics sensibility about them that makes everyone from Odin to Lady Thor at the same time both accessible and ethereal.
Molina’s whimsical art work really serves to highlight the magic and other-worldly qualities of Asgardia where Thor #5 spends so much of its time. In fact, Molina crafts the settings, the scales and the populace so beautifully that if Marvel were to bring back either Journey Into Mystery or launch a Lady Sif title he ought to be the artist at the helm.
Thor #5 is lovely, even in its scenes of brutality, and proves that Molina can art with the best of them.
THE BOTTOM LINE: ASGARDIA’S REAL PRETTY
Thor #5 is another solid issue from Jason Aaron that dances around the mystery, while at the same time removing just a couple more suspects from the list. Jorge Molina bring a different other-worldly quality to the art and the final product is great.
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2 Comments
Asgardia? Is that the realm formerly known as Asgard?
Great review. I am personally loving the new thor. A nice mix of funny and great action. And i agree i love how she is using the hammer, totally different then thor and im loving it. Just loving this, its on my subscribe list.