Secret Wars: Thors #1 - Review

Written by Jason Aaron. Pencils by Chris Sprouse. Inked by Karl Story. Colored by Marte Gracia.
Published by Marvel Comics; June 17th, 2015.
Rating: 4.5/5
Worth the $3.99?: Yep. If you're reading Secret Wars this is a great companion series.

If the main Secret Wars book is the Marvel to Game of Thrones than Thors is the Marvel Law and Order. That's right, if you wanted a cop drama where every police character is replaced by some crazy version of Thor than you've come to the right place.

Basic breakdown of the story, Thorlief or the "Ultimate Thor" as other members of the Thor Corps refer to him (try to guess which comic he hails from) and his partner Beta Ray Thor (aka Beta Ray Bill) are on the scene of a murder. As it turns out, this murder is the same as four others recently. The rest of the book follows a fairly standard cop-drama story (pissed off Chief, visit to the forensics lab, detective drinking when he's run out of answers, etc) except all layered with insane Thor references.

The book hits the stereotypical points of a serial killer drama right on the nose here, but that's a good thing. Keeping it in familiar territory let's the details of the mystery shine. Who are these women getting killed and why is someone going after them? We can focus more on how this all builds out the world of Secret Wars and the fun of the different Thors (Groot Thor FTW), because the baseline of the story is so familiar.

Of course, if you're going to start a Thor themed mystery it makes perfect sense to go to Jason Aaron (the writer behind the recent mystery of the new female Thor's identity) and he lays it out in a smart way. He builds a mystery of who these five women are and you never question that it's five different people, until he suggests they might all be the same person (something just plain old normal on Battleworld) and then it's the only possible conclusion. He also manages to end the book by answering part of the mystery (the identity of the victim), but leaving more mystery (the murderer's identity) to solve. It leaves the reader satisfied, but begging for more.

Now, let's take a look at the big twist at the end. (**SPOILERS FOR THORS and THOR #8 AHEAD**) We find out in the last moments that the victims are all various Jane Fosters. This is an obvious choice given that Jane is so central in the classic Thor stories, but it's a very interesting choice based on the recent revelation about Jane Foster being our new 616 Thor. My instinct says that these two things are directly related, the question is how. So let's play detective.

QUESTION: What motive could someone have for killing all of the Jane Fosters?

1. Maybe they are in love with Thor Odinson and are eliminating competition (I don't like this theory, but hey... no judgement in brainstorming). 
2. They are trying to eliminate Jane Thor and figure this is the best way to be sure.
3. A revenge plot against the Thors (we've seen that many people throughout the Battleworld hate them).
4. Trying to pull Thor Odinson (616) or Jane Thor into the open. 

Of those theories I'd have to say 2 is the strongest. Not only does it make sense to tie the current iteration of Thor into this book (she's the only one on the cover that doesn't appear in this issue), but it would feel downright wrong not to. This book seems to have every Thor ever (even Throg!) and leaving her out would feel like an oversight.

So who could it be? It would have to be someone who can cross borders undetected and if the above theory is true, would have to be someone who knows Jane's identity. Right now I see three options.

1. Loki - Loki is the last person we see with Beta Ray before he dies. Loki presumably tells Beta Ray that the women are Jane Fosters and that is why he gets killed. As the god of mischief, crossing borders seems like a cake walk for him, but I don't see the motive or how he would know about our main Jane. I think this is a red herring. 
2. Odin - In the main Thor book up until now, Odin has been the bad guy to Jane's Thor and it seems like it would fit to continue that storyline here. It wouldn't be the same grudge per se, but that hatred may carry over despite the lack of memories pertaining to why. Do I mean 616 Odin? Some other Odin? All the Odins? Great Odin's Raven, I have no idea. This is why Secret Wars is so damn complicated...
3. Doom - God-Doom is supposedly omnipotent on this world, or at least he claims to be. That seems like enough of a step that he would know Jane Thor's idenitity. In Secret Wars #3 we found out that Jane Thor was aboard the life raft with several of our other 616 heroes, but that doesn't mean that Doom hasn't been searching for her. Since she has been missing for so long, this could be his way of trying to find her and snuff her out. 

FUN STUFF WITHIN

Let's take a look at the most ridiculous Thors in this book (just 'cause it's hilarious and fun):

Odison makes a stink.

• Thorlief (Thor of the Ultimate Comics universe)
• Beta Ray Bill (Alien from 616)
• Ororo Stormbreaker (Of course Storm is a Thor...)
• Groot Thor (who could resist making a flying tree shout "I am Thor!")
• Throg (the Thors forensic scientist is a Frog carrying a hammer. Yes, yes to this all day.)
• Destroyer Thor (aka 'Stroyer. Yep, that's right: the Asgardian weapon The Destroyer has picked up a hammer of his own and now has a cape and winged helmet. Basically... run.)
• Old Man Thor (Thor of the future, this elderly man who lost his eye is that classic pissed off Chief of Police)
• Odinson (yep, if you look real close, it appears that the recently unworthy Odinson has been found on Battleworld, and all he wants is a drink. I'm glad he survived and found his way into at least a part of this book. His shouting about being proud of his unworthiness as freedom is interesting and even though it's not needed, I kinda hope we see him again soon. 

LONG STORY SHORT

Needless to say, I'm very into this story. I love a good comic book themed mystery and this has started out great. I'll be interested to see what Aaron does as the story unfolds and how he keeps the twists coming. The art here by Sparce, Story, and Gracia is great. It's nothing crazy or out there, but there are some absolutely beautiful scenes unfolding in these pages. 

Secret Wars #2 (aka Marvel Does "Game of Thrones") - Review

Written by Jonathan Hickman. Art by Esad Ribic.
Published by Marvel Comics: May 13th, 2015.
Rating: 4.5/5.

Now that Secret Wars #2 has been released we can tell where the decision to do it came from: someone over there loves Game of Thrones (and why wouldn’t they). One day they started wondering: ‘what house would Tony Stark be in if he was in Westeros?’ (ironically it’s probably Baratheon, not Stark). That thought process quickly evolved into, what if the Marvel Universe just was Westeros….. and before you knew it, (this iteration of) Secret Wars was born.

If you were left a little unsure of whether Secret Wars was going to be fun after issue #1 (I personally was scared it felt a little close to the burdeningly large scope of Infinity), this issue should assuage those fears as we’ve now set up the insanity of Battleworld. Divided into Kingdoms, this world is set up as single planet of all of Marvel.

SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT.

Let's be clear. Much of this book is spent simply setting up the insanity that is Battleworld. As such, there's actually very little "story" in this issue. But it's really the first chapter (#1 being more of a prelude) so I'm willing to forgive that. 

Like any good story in a new world, we need a character who has to be introduced to various aspects of the world so we can learn with them, and Hickman gives us a young recruit to the Thors (or Thor Corp... say it out loud, it's kind of fun). They're sort of the police of Battleworld and it's a really cool thing to see and it's revealed slowly which is nice. We see a couple familiar faces in the crowd. Old Man Thor from the recent God Butcher storyline and Beta Rey Bill. Bill may be a resident of the good ol' 616, but we don't see our Odinson or SPOILER REDACTED, our current Thor (see my Thor #8 review here for discussion on that reveal).

The SHIELD... see what they did there?

In the Game of Thrones comparison at work here, Thors are effectively a combination of Kings Guard and the Watchers on the Wall. You volunteer, pledge your allegiance to God, and are tasked with protecting the realm, which includes the protection of "the Shield" a wall that protects the kingdoms from the armies of Marvel Zombies (Deadlands), Age of Ultron bots (Perfection), and Annihlus and his forces. If I hadn't picked up the GOT vibe before this, a wall protecting us from the dead pretty much solidified it. I actually really love this reveal. If we're truly smashing together all the famous Marvel stories, it makes sense that these world consuming forces are here, but (being world consuming forces) they'd have to be contained in some way. It's fun and cool and calling it the Shield made me giggle. 

Of course, the BIG reveal is that the "God" that the Thors spoke of is in fact Victor Von Doom himself. Clad in all white, Doom has taken control over the entire Battleworld. For better or worse, he has formed this planet to his means. He protects the subjects of his world, while also crushing and killing anyone who violates his laws. This includes two Braddock brothers (aka Captain Britain's people), who accuse Baron Sinister of making moves against them. The hearing leads to a trial by combat, with Sinister winning and so Jamie Braddock (again, Marvel sees no reason to be subtle with the GOT references) is forced to reveal himself a traitor to Doom or watch his innocent brother die. This whole sequence is filled with awesome little snippits, references, and hints about the world at large: Stephen Strange is Doom's right hand man, Sue Storm is his advisor (queen?), and he has a Galactus (there could be more than one in Battleworld) guarding his palace. 

The big question surrounding Doom being in charge is whether he got that seat by taking control of a world in chaos or if it's Doom himself that crafted this world. There was a brief moment in issue #1 where we saw the Beyonders and Doom, so I'm personally assuming that he either manipulated or bargained with them. Certainly, I don't imagine we're going to make it to our New Marvel Universe without dealing with them at some point. 

Sue saddled up with Doom? Creepy.

Doom does make a brief reference to a group of "heretics and thieves" who are working to bring him down. They're gathering in something called "The Silent Chambers." I haven't the faintest idea what those are if it's a reference to something but I think it's a safe bet that those heretics are our 616 and/or Ultimate heroes. Probably 616's Reed Richards and team. 

If they're slowly making a revolution away from Doom's forces, we might be able to assume they're sort of going to fill Daenerys' or Stannis' role. The usurping army who will pull teammates from unlikely sources as they vie for the throne. 

MEANWHILE, we also get an interesting side note as a team of explorers from Castle Doom (but also from the 616 FF (I think) discover a hole in the ground that leads to the inside of the planet which has full gravity working opposite of the normal side. Here they find a ship, identical to the one the Illuminati built at the end of "Time Runs Out," only this one has the Cabal on it and Thanos emerges. (Are you out of breath and exhausted? Me too.) All cool moving pieces that will hopefully get paid off in the remaining six issues.

Oof. If that wasn't enough to digest, this book prints a non-censored version of the Battleworld map and, honestly, I could just keep staring at it. There' SO MUCH story packed into that map. We get somewhat obvious (though still intriguing) lands like "King James England" or "2099" to the more what-is-the-difference realms like Arachnia/Spider-Island and Mutopia/Westchester (being from Westchester, NY this excites me to no end). I also really want to visit New Quack City...

Secret Wars has a metric ton of tie ins. I doubt I'll be able to keep up with them all but in case anyone's curious. I'll definitely be reading Spider-Verse, Renew Your Vows, Thors, Star Lord and Kitty Pryde, Planet Hulk, 2099, Civil War, Spider-Island, Guardians of Knowhere, Howard the Human.... and maybe if I'm not broke Captain Marvel & the Carol Corps, Red Skull, Giant Size Little Marvel, and A-Force. We'll what else winds up in short box. If you want to see all of the titles coming out, this guide from How to Love Comics is pretty encompassing.

Do you think Marvel's Game of Thrones is a cool idea? Over it already? What book's are you planning on reading over the next few months? Let me know in the comments!

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.

Thor #7 - Review

Thor #7 - Written by Jason Aaron, Art by Russell Dauterman with Color by Matthew Wilson

Rating: 4/5.

Looking through my stack of comics for this week, Thor #7 was easily the one I was picking up first.

It feels right that Thor originated in "Journey into Mystery" because the most interesting part of this book has been the mystery. Who is the new Thor? Is she someone we know? It's not Jane Foster, it's not Angela, it's not Frigga. WHO ARE YOU?! But I digress. That kind of excitement? That need to get the next issue? THAT'S what most books are missing these days.

As far as that mystery is concerned, we open up on a scene that almost gives us an answer. Issue #6 left a cliffhanger that left us believing it was Roz Solomon, environmental activist and Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. She's fighitng for the earth, a noble and selfless cause. Does that make her worthy? It certainly makes her a possibility, and a lesser known character might be a good way to go since we don't want to give up other characters who are busy doing stuff elsewhere. But of course we stop short of actual confirmation. We come so close (literally her standing over the hammer) that I almost think it's a misdirect.

We do get an awesome splash page at the end of the book. Odinson comes across the rainbow bridge with a team that is more or less comprised of every Thor suspect (other than Roz). Let's run through who's there. We've got Odinson, Frigga, Sif, Angela, Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Scarlett Witch, Lorelai, Enchantress, and two other Asgardian women I can't confidently identify (Broonhilde and Hildegarde?).

They're all there to backup Thor as she faces the Destroyer. I'll be honest, although this is a cool visual, I don't really like the story that it presents. I get calling in back up, and I love that Odinson, Frigga, Sif, etc come to help but... why is Widow there? Why Jessica Drew? Captain Marvel's dealing with her own stuff (not to mention the Black Vortex), so why is she chosen to show up over say Iron Man or Wolverine? I'm all for the female empowerment at the center of this book, playing against Odin's misogyny makes for great character drama. That's part of why I started reading Thor again when this volume started. But when the only motivation for a character to be part of a team is that she's a woman... is that really moving things forward? Black Widow is a great spy and an amazingly deep character. She can hold her own in a fight, but is she going to be any help against The Destroyer? Probably not. We'll see how that unfolds next issue I suppose.

As for the rest of the story. The fight was cool. There were times that I legitimately thought this might be the end of our Thor and that Odin might get the hammer back. The psychopath duo of Roxxon and Malekith were in full insanity force when they slaughter a bunch of innocent fairies. The guys are nuts (N-V-T-S nuts!)

Overall it was solid outing with Thor. We're journeying ever closer to this mystery's answer and rumor has it issue #8 will finally give us an answer. If it does turn out to be Agent Solomon, the environmentalist superhero battling the corporate Minotaur Roxxon, could be a great dynamic. But we'll see... only time will tell.