Thor: The Goddess of Thunder & Who Holds the Hammer?
(Volume 1 & 2)
Genre: Superhero/ Comic
Grade: A!
Okay I have to be honest even within the Marvel canon I’m not really big on Thor. He’s probably like at the bottom rung of superhero love and I don’t think I’ve ever read a straight Thor comic (if I did I don’t remember) but I really wanted to give this one a try. Also I was spoiled as to the new Thor but I’m going to try really hard not to give that away here. My being spoiled didn’t ruin it for me in the least.
Thor is no longer able to wield his hammer which is a big old problem. That problem is settled when a strange woman answers the call and becomes the Goddess of Thunder. There’s also the Dark Elves and a mining corporation that I wasn’t familiar with (seriously, I only watch the movies) and Odin is really, really unhappy about the whole Thor not being worthy thing. But the main part was definitely the new Thor.
This story was so enjoyable! I really loved how they wrote it. The Goddess of Thunder reveal- you can see how it’s going to bring the drama and the pain down the line and Thor, he doesn’t lose anything by losing the hammer. The story doesn’t belittle him in anyway. It doesn’t shuffle him off to the side and I loved his reactions. I’ve only read these two volumes but I’m definitely going to keep going.
Downsides? Yes, I found the art of the violence and the fights to be a lot like the movies actually. It all kind of runs together and I didn’t pay a lot of attention to that part. Speaking of Odin, maybe he’s always like this in the comics but what an ass! He was just so over the top. I have to wonder if he’s going to be the final big bad of this particular story. Dial him back a bit.
Bonus: There’s an add on story at the back of Volume 2 that I had never heard of before (I’m behind in Marvel comic lore) but it was Jane Foster getting the hammer set near the beginning of Thor and oh, dear. In the end she has to give the hammer back to the worthy male but hey, at least another God was willing to marry her. Seriously, I was rolling my eyes so hard but at the same time it was strangely enjoyable in and of itself as like a flashback.
Recommend: Yes! Obviously I loved this story which was a huge surprise to me. I definitely hope they keep it going. And if Marvel happens to be listening I’d love to see a movie version of this! With the right female lead and a bigger helping of Loki.