THOR #46
"By Fire Born, Part I of V"
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Pencils: Tom Raney
Inks: Scott Hanna
Colors: Avalon Studios
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.25 US/$3.65 CAN |
Jurgens is quietly doing some impressive work on Thor these days, but the real story lately is how Tom Raney is really coming into his own on the book. While Raney offers up some of the best artwork of his career in comics thus far, Jurgens has radically diverted from the status quo on this book, and it has rejuvenated the title character. Still, this particular issue had some plot problems that are atypical of the title's recent strengths.
As the new sovereign of Asgard, Thor is forced to handle petty disputes among his subjects over land and other minor concerns. He struggles to find the patience to deal with this side of his new leadership role... only to be found wanting. Meanwhile, Tarene adjusts to life in Manhattan, both as the city's new thunderous heroine, and as a teenage student at a local high school... a school that's being watched by a rather weird fellow.
This is the best stuff I've ever seen from Raney, and that includes his much (and deservedly) touted work on Warren Ellis's run on Stormwatch v.1 from Wildstorm Productions. There's a focus and level of detail in his work here that I haven't seen in other efforts, and it grants these lofty characters a much-needed degree of humanity. The crisp colors help to convey the power and niherent wonder of these characters as well.
There are a few elements in this script that just didn't sit well with me. Thor's behavior in front of his subjects seems predictable and exaggerated, and therefore, not entirely believable. Jurgens wisely tries to humanize the villain of the piece with an opening flashback sequence, but his French upbringing (with a best friend named "Gary"?) didn't jibe with the tone of his dialogue at the end of the book. Finally, Tarene, in her mortal identity, seems to have settled into a regular everyday life far too quickly and easily. Some awkwardness -- both on her part and those around her -- would make the transition more plausible.
What makes this book worth reading, though, is how Jurgens brings these god-like figures down to earth -- a strength I thought the book would lose when the writer separated the title character from his earthy guise, Jake Olson. Thor's frustration with his new duties is something to which the reader can relate, as is Tarene's adjustment to a new role and a new life. There are obvious parallels between the two characters' circumstances, but not so much so that the plotlines come off as redundant.
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