Thor #6 Review

Thor #6 sees Thor Odinson tackling the mystery of who his successor is with great gusto.

THOR #6
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Russell Dauterman
Colourist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Editor: Wil Moss
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Previously in Thor #5: It was beginning to look like the newest Thor had gained the respect of her contemporaries.

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS

Jason Aaron focuses Thor Odinson’s efforts in the pages of Thor #6, concentrating on discovering the identity of lady Thor. This translates to Odinson visiting a variety of females throughout the Marvel universe, slowly making his way through a list of suspects that will hopefully provide an answer in the end.

Odinson does not face his task with the grace or patience due to his station, rather he allows himself to get angry. It’s an interesting choice on Aaron’s behalf and definitely recalls the more headstrong qualities we see in the Thor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. More to that point, there are several details that change suddenly in Thor #6 to perfectly reflect their on-screen appearance, rather than building a unique world in the pages of the comic book; Heimdall now looks exactly like Idris Elba (which is actually an interesting shift from the classic appearance and rather white washed nature of Asgardia and its inhabitants), and the Bifrost is now an exact replica of the film version.

Back to the narrative contained within the pages of Thor #6, a frustrated Thor visits Jane Foster on Asgardia and it is the first time readers have seen her in this incarnation of the series. She still suffers from cancer and is hardly able to fulfil her duties as ambassador of Earth. While Aaron gives her exceptional strength and poise in dealing with her health issues, it seems that Odinson does not regard in as possessing the strength to wield Mjolnir. It’s an interesting thing about Odinson’s character, that he does not regard emotional stoicism as equivalent to physical might.

Brunhilde also becomes the subject of Odinson’s brooding in Thor #6 and during this bought Aaron raises an intelligent point that just because she physically resembles the female Thor – long blond hair and all that – this does not necessarily mark her a its wielder of the hammer – which opens up both reader theories and his own to her identity and deepens the level of mystery that Aaron is writing.

Thor #6 also steps into SHIELD territory when Odinson confronts Agent Coulson about a young woman working under him – Rosalind Solomon – although nothing much comes of this suspicion and confrontation in the pages of this issue it is food for thought. Freya’s status as a suspect is not raised in the main narrative, although Aaron does bring her up in the b-plot in a scene that is both effective in calling Odin out on his ridiculous alliance with Cul and reminding readers that she, herself, has not necessarily been removed from the list of those worth taking a second look at. Even with Odinson’s work through Thor #6 there is still a lot of detective work left to be done in coming issues …

… leaving aside the fact that in the secondary narrative of Thor #6 Malekith and Dario Agger have forged an alliance that was hinted at in earlier issues and can bode nothing but ill for the Goddess of Thunder and Odinson.

TRIUMPHANT RETURN

Russell Dauterman returns to art duties on Thor #6 and the issue is absolutely beautiful. He really handles the otherly worldly, ethereal elements of Asgardia and its cast of characters with great aplomb. Although aesthetically it appears that he is bound to the rules of the Cinematic Universe – in those same details mentioned above – Heimdall does look really, really cool and it’s nice to get some adversity as much as the Bifrost is hulking and complex with its golden shell.

Odinson’s Uru arm and the axe he wields still look a little out of place where readers are used to seeing Mjolnir, as if Dauterman is giving us a visual cue that even by Thor #6 he has not dealt with the loss of this identity as well as he could like to think he has.

In contrast, Jane Foster wears a great sense of confidence and self in Thor #6, and seems to hold the world on her shoulders, a great mother in the sky. Dauterman presents her a lot like Freya, lithe and powerful as they hold up and humble the male characters they are/once were romantically involved with. It’s a compelling dichotomy rendered beautifully that highlights his fluid linework.

As always, Thor #6 is lovely and insightful.

BOTTOM LINE: GREAT ISSUE

Thor #6 picks up the narrative and runs away with the mystery. It’s lovely and even though Aaron’s focus is largely on Odinson he highlights the power of women throughout.