Thor #620 – Review

by Matt Fraction (writer), Pasqual Ferry (art), Matt Hollingsworth (colors), and John Workman (letters)

The Story: Odin summons some very powerful forces in his defense against the World Eaters.

The Review: After a rocky issue last month, Thor comes back this issue with all guns blazing, leading to a much more enjoyable experience overall.

That said, it doesn’t necessarily look that way for the first few pages.  Thor #620 is one of those issues that’s a little hard to get into at first.  What I mean is that it’s one of those comics where it feels like you missed something between issues.  When the comic starts, Odin is yelling amidst a field of bodies and there’s little indication as to what’s going on or how this situation arose.  Frankly, when the focus shifted away to Broxton, I had to double-check to make sure that the comic didn’t start in media res.  It’s a little frustrating, as it essentially feels like I missed at least half an issue somewhere.

Once things get going though and the reader settles in, the book becomes a rocking good time.  Suffice it to say, this issue is very, very heavy on the smiting.  Giant monsters abound and bodies go flying all over the place.  In other words, it gives Pasqual Ferry and Matt Hollingsworth a chance to really cut loose.  Ferry’s action scenes are stupendous in size and scope and altogether very exciting, while Hollingsworth paints the whole comic in brilliant shades of red to go along with the raining blood, leading to a downright hellish looking warzone.  Ferry’s Odin also looks fantastic, as do his big creatures.

I think Odin fans will also have a lot to like this month.  For most of the issue, the All-Father comes across as a complete badass and Matt Fraction puts him to very good use having just brought him back.  Almost every page with Odin on it is one that’ll have you saying “hell yeah!”  He’s a great character, hardened, violent, and perpetually pissed off.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Thunderbolts #153 – Loved the way the Tbolts came together as a team to pound Hyperion while their handlers were kinda looking the other way.  I want Jeff Parker to get his paws on an in-continuity X-book asap.  The guy really knows how to handle a team book!

Most Anticipated: Scalped #46 – After a bunch of one-shot type issues, Jason Aaron got his next big Scalped story cranked up last week.  This will be a highly anticipated comic for a long time.

Other Picks: Detective Comics #874, American Vampire #12, Morning Glories #7, Turf #4, Amazing Spider-Man #655, Who is Jake Ellis #2

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: S.H.I.E.L.D. #6 – The worst thing about SHIELD #6?  The fact that we won’t be getting any more for a while as the series goes on hiatus.  That said, it goes out with a bang.  This is epic craziness unleashed with absolutely mind-blowing art and a ridiculously huge scope.  There’s no book like it and SHIELD #6 is, for me, one of the best issues thus far.

Most Anticipated: Iron Man 2.0 #1 – In a week so packed with quality releases, you’d think picking what I’m looking forward to most would be hard.  But it’s actually pretty easy.  Nick Spencer is on absolute fire right now and a smart, high-tech book like this new War Machine title seems right about his alley.  I’m really curious to see how Spencer fairs in the Marvel Universe and the short preview we got in Invincible Iron Man #500 certainly has my hopes up.

Other Picks: Fantastic Four #588, Detective Comics #874, Action Comics #898, Morning Glories #7, Amazing Spider-Man #655, Thor #620, American Vampire #12, Avengers #10, Secret Avengers #10, Captain America #615, Invincible Iron Man #501, Scalped #46