Thor #8 - Review

Written by Jason Aaron. Art by Russell Dauterman

Rating 5/5.

SPOILERS. SPOILERS. SPOILERS. SPOILERS. SPOILERS. SPOILERS.


No, seriously, if you don't want to know who the new Thor is, don't read below this.


Drumroll please.............................. it's Jane Foster! After seven issues and an annual of wondering, pondering, guessing, it's the choice that honestly fits perfectly. And what a series of fake outs leading up to the reveal! Ok, so let's review: we went into this issue thinking that Thor was almost definitely Agent Solomon of SHIELD. Her car was there in the right place, at the right time, she had a fitting vendetta against Roxxon, the right level of snark that we've heard from Thor's inner monologue and right up until the panel when Roz gets up in Thor's face, I was prepared to give a fitting but agreeable shrug to that choice.

But Jane Foster is the right choice. She's always been part of Thor's mythology and being a nurse, she has always put other people ahead of herself. She is truly worthy. She picks up the hammer with noble intentions: the old Thor, who she cared deeply about, had fallen and she picked up the hammer to fill the void.

What makes this reveal really special though is what it's now doing to the character. I really like the idea of the hammer being what is making her cancer worse. Humans aren't built the same way as Asgardians so it totally makes sense that it would tax the body to it's limit.

In the letters section Jason Aaron does tell us that new Thor isn't going anywhere (a concern going into Secret Wars) and that this is almost just the prelude of her story. I'm very excited to see what he does with her character in whatever new universe comes out.

The book does have some moments when it plays with the larger feminist ideas that are at work in this title (and have been since it's inception). I've already voiced my frustrations with Odinson's choice of teammates to bring in to fight the Destroyer (see my review of Thor #7 here).

There's a really great moment though after the battle as Odinson confronts Thor about her identity. He says, "I am not angry. I am not jealous. ...that is a lie. I am jealous, but I will not ask you to apologize for being worthy when I am not." That is true feminism, Odinson is able to admit his faults and his jealousy but do so in a way that does not blame the woman. Just like many of my geek girl friends do not ever have to apologize for being more or less geeky than I am, being smarter than me (and many are), or being more successful, Odinson acknowledges her as his better but isn't angry at her... just himself. He treats her as an equal.

Ok, outside of the politcal stuff, King Laufey is coming back! The king of the ice giants returning should be exciting once we eventually come back to this storyline (I doubt Laufey will play a role in Secret Wars, but hey I could be wrong). Laufey is a great choice to put our new Thor up against because he's a classic villain for the Asgardian Prince and seeing how he interacts with the new Thor (along with earthside villains like Roxxon sounds like a great read.

I know I'll be picking up "Thors" through Secret Wars but I'm looking forward to whatever series our Thor comes back for after the crazy summer event. What did you think of the reveal? Like the fakeouts? Frustrated with the choice? Let me know below!

*UPDATE: A thought after I published this. The best part of Jane Foster turning out to be Thor? The off chance, wild swing potential that we could get a movie where Natalie Portman gets to play Thor. Try and tell me that doesn't sound awesome!