Thor #609 – Review

by Kieron Gillen (writer), Billy Tan, Batt, & Rich Elson (art), Christina Strain & June Chung (colors), and Joe Sabino (letters)

The Story: Loki faces the consequences, Kelda stands and fights, and Volstagg picks himself up.

What’s Good: With Thor not being present this month, several supporting characters pick up the slack.

Kelda, a character I’ve enjoyed since JMS introduced her, still strikes a sympathetic portrait.  Her defending Bill’s parents was touching and it was nice to see them come together.  Of course, it’s always a blast just to see Kelda kick some ass.  She’s one of those characters’ whose potential we’ve never been sure of and I’m glad to see her in a more empowered position this month.

Having a similar “fist-pump” moment this month is Balder, who reminds the world why his name is “Balder the Bright.”  Gillen does his best to make Balder personify the Heroic Age.   When he lights himself up to rally the troops and owns the Hood in a Matrix-like fashion, it’s all kinds of awesome.  Balder has bumbled around quite a bit and it’s nice to see him take up position as the quintessential hero.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Green Lantern #53/ Kato Origins #1 -It’s a surprise tie! Green Lantern #53, part of Geoff Johns’ continuing opus, was a no-brainer, but I never expected Kato Origins #1 by Dynamite to give it a run for its money, much less tie for first. The books are obviously very different, but the writing, story and character in each (to say nothing of the art), were top notch. These are comics I would share with anyone.

Most Anticipated: Green Lantern Corp #47 – Brightest Day is getting to full swing and we’re going to see that the corps has some major thinking to do in the aftermath of blackest night.

Other Picks: Wonder Woman #43, Captain America #605, X-Force #26

Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Green Lantern #53 -Another good outing for Johns on Green Lantern that gave a pretty well-rounded and comfortable picture of what Johns’ Lantern run is all about.  Just a fun experience all-around with good character work and even better questions raised.

Most Anticipated: Secret Warriors #15 – A really difficult choice for me, what with sure-to-be-awesome issues of Madame Xanadu and Scalped coming out this week as well.  That said,  Secret Warriors takes it, as Hickman finally seems ready to pull back the veil a little more and provide us with some major developments and info and maybe even a turning point in a series that has frequently been heavy on the obfuscation.  Big things will happen this month and with Secret Warriors, big means big.

Other Picks: New Avengers #64, Captain America #605, Fantastic Four #578, Invincible Iron Man #25, Justice Society of America #38, Madame Xanadu #22, Scalped #37,  Thor #609, Unknown Soldier #19

Joe’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: The Brave and the Bold #33 –  Best of the week if not best of the month.  Read it and be happy that you did.  ‘Nuff said.

Most Anticipated: X-Force #26 – I’m going to buy into Marvel’s hype machine here, but screw it.  I have to admit that I’m extremely curious (and a little worried) about who the X-Man slated to die this issue is.  I’m pretty sure I know, but considering how well Second Coming has been handled so far, I’m confident that it’ll be handled powerfully.

Other Picks: Siege: Secret Warriors, Secret Warriors #15, New Avengers #64, Stumptown #3, The Walking Dead #71, Amazing Spider-Man #629, Invincible Iron Man #25Night Director’s Cut #1, Guardians of the Galaxy #25

Dean’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: American Vampire #2 – Really good story combined with great artwork.  Not to mention it is ~50% longer than a typical comic.  I think Vertigo might have another winner!

Most Anticipated: The Walking Dead #71 – We all know that this tranquil little “town” that the survivors have found is too good to be true, but I really don’t have any idea what sort of human depravity will screw it up for them.  Who is this Davidson character?!?!?

Other Picks: Amazing Spider-Man #629, Invincible Iron Man #25, Incorruptible #5, Detective Comics #864, X-Force #26