by Don MacPherson

THOR #57 "The Gardener" Recommended (8/10) Marvel Comics Writer: Dan Jurgens Artists: Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson, Philip Tan, Kaare Andrews, Phil Jimenez & Tim Townsend, Michael William Kaluta, Kyle Hotz, Brian Haberlin, Dave Johnson, Bill Sienkiewicz, John Paul Leon, Carlos Pacheco & Jesus Merino, and P. Craig Russell Colors: Avalon Studios, Dave McCaig, Brian Haberlin, Dave Johnson, Chris Chuckry and Lovern Kindzierski Letters: Comicraft Editor: Tom Brevoort Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN Ever since the landmark Superman #75 -- the death of the Man of Steel -- Jurgens has told a few stories every now and then solely through splash pages. He rarely pulled it off, though, as the stories and the art often came off as empty. This isn't one of those times. The bulk of the storytelling here is achieved through splash pages and several double-page splashes, and they help to convey the majesty and power of the title character quite well. Volgstagg's children, nieces and nephews gather 'round the fire and the voluminous warrior's frame to listen to a story... a new story about Lord Thor, ruler of Asgard. He tells of recent events that saw an alien, armored entity he dubs the Gardener crashland in northern Canada to set to the task of harvesting the planet of all life. As the Earth's new benevolent protector, Lord Thor rushes to the scene, but even the power of the God of Thunder isn't enough to contend with the forces unleashed by the cold, alien entity. The unnusual array of artists here is stunning, and the format of the issue -- as a magical storybook that unfolds the tale for Asgardian children -- eliminates any sense of inconsistencies in the visuals. Perhaps the most impressive contribution comes from Philip (Mutant Earth, Taleweaver) Tan, whose awesome eye for detail and manga influence is thoroughly impressive. There's not one illustration in this book that isn't impressive. Bennett pencils the few pages that are not splashes, as he handles the scenes with Volstagg and the children. He brings a soft quality to those characters that reinforces their humanity and the tone of innocence. The plot itself is a rather generic one; at least, it's generic by Marvel standards, given it features a hero fighting against a world-eater from space. Jurgens manages to convey the cosmic power of both the antagonist and the title character quite well. But what impressed me most about the script was how Jurgens managed to turn this cosmic, other-worldly story into something personal. He delves into what makes Thor tick, and how he feels small as compared to his father, or even the memory of his father. Thor turns a corner in this story, embracing his new status and the power that comes with it. The next step, one would expect, would be to develop the same level of wisdom. Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.