THOR ANNUAL #1
Written by Noelle Stevenson, Jason Aaron, CM Punk
Art by Timothy Truman, Marguerite Sauvage, Rob Guillory
Published by Marvel Comics
Release Date: February 25, 2015
By now we all know just what a stir Jason Aaron’s new take on “Thor” has made in the world of comics. Girl Thor? Lady Thor? Thor…chick? However you may have heard it, it seems like everyone and their dog has an opinion on this Midgard-shattering change. If you are one of the many who have been rattled by this, then you will be excited to see your old buddy Thor Odinson in this annual. Featuring stories by Noelle Stevenson, Jason Aaron and the debut of UFC fighter CM Punk, the Thor annual is a breath of fresh air for all types of fans. The book is split into three different stories. The first centers on King Thor a distant future Thor who is now leader of nine realms, seeing our favorite mead guzzling hero in a much more mature and responsible role. This is the most serious of the three and is remarkably beautiful. Timothy Truman and Frank Martin provide an aura of elegance to this bittersweet story.
After playing with your emotions it’s nice to get a break and that’s exactly what we find in the second and third stories. Next is Thor focusing on our new heroine and her adventures on Asgard. Thor Odinson’s friends act as a conduit for us (the fans) and challenge the female Thor and her alleged “worthiness.” What we get is a sequence of heartwarming scenes showing our lady and friends forming a bond that I hope we see more of in future issues. The artwork by Marguerite Sauvage and Joe Sabino is light and fun, benching the intensity the book normally invokes and allows us the chance to recharge our excitement for this character.
The third story Young Thor is the most frivolous. Rob Guillory’s cartoon like style adds to the shameless fun in a wonderfully colorful fashion. Fans of Loki will be happy to see him up to his old tricks as well, attempting to manipulate his brother and gain all the glory. CM Punk has clearly been a fan of Thor as a character for a while, perfectly emulating both him and the rest of the cast in a way that fans most desperately want to see. Perhaps not on a full time basis, but this is exactly what we needed at this point in time with all the commotion that is going on in regards to this title. In conclusion, the Thor Annual is a must read for all even remotely interested in the character.
The Verdict: 8.5/10
