Ironic Contradictions

A strong Thor graphic novel, like most graphic novels, requires precision, balance and subtlety. Unfortunately this gaudy work fails to pass in all three of these areas. Instead the reader is presented with a confused mix of colour, exposition, diatribe and beautiful godly beings.

The artwork is, as mentioned incredibly bright, gaudy being the best word to describe it. Its as if the design team have decided to fill the book with visual elements to make up for a bitterly convoluted plot thread. To state that this novel is overly bombastic best sums up the use of the visual content. The imagery is rather similar to how a blockbuster may cover the failings of its story with flash-bang visual effects.

The plot, or what exists of it, focuses on a time after Asgard has fallen near to Earth, allowing Asgardians and mortals to mix in some degree. Then some writer decided to introduce Galactus into the story along with his herald, the Silver Surfer, just to allow everything to reach a new level on the Deus-ex-machina scale. The writers throw in a mixture of battle scenes, typical Loki mischief, Thor and Sif looking attractive and, as mentioned, heavy handed political messages. These messages are unsubtle and while not necessarily an attack against religion itself are a prompting for the reader to question the God/god that exist. Moreover, the message seems to insist that individuals need to take a step down from their pedestals to examine the sorrows of the world around them. This is not a poor message, yet it is clumsily, rather than skilfully, revealed, hence coming across as bland proselytising.

For all its flaws the Marvel team here present a relatively entertaining, if not polished piece of graphic candy. It may not be nutritious for the vernacular digestive system, yet it provides some brief form of entertainment. At the same time, however, one cannot help but be slightly disappointed with the wasted potential of this novel and sense that this is one of those works merely put out there for the quick dollar rather than because it is quality art. As a reader you could spend your chronological currency on something more worthwhile rather than one of the lesser offerings from Marvel.