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Beta Ray Bill (2021) #1-5
Beta Ray Bill: Argent Star
From the pages of Donny Cates’ THOR and spinning out of KING IN BLACK comes the second-most famous wielder of Mjolnir! Beta Ray Bill is tired of life in Thor’s shadow — and with Bill’s famous hammer, Stormbreaker, recently destroyed at the thunder god’s hands, Bill finds himself at a crossroads. The Korbinite must strike out in search of his destiny…assuming he can first defeat a Knullified Fin Fang Foom! Bill begins a hunt for Odin in hopes of resurrecting his golden weapon — but Stormbreaker is never coming back. Nonetheless, there is one place where Beta Ray Bill could restore his full powers. The All-Father of Nothing offers the Korbinite a path to immortality — but at a price not even a god can afford! Who will join him on a dangerous and deadly cosmic quest?
COLLECTING: Beta Ray Bill (2021) 1-5
COLLECTING: Beta Ray Bill (2021) 1-5
128 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2021
14 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Warren Johnson
165 books401 followersDaniel Warren Johnson is a Chicago-based comic book writer, artist, and illustrator. He's worked on titles for most major publishers, including Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image. His current series with Skybound/Image Comics is EXTREMITY, a sci-fi/fantasy title he is writing and drawing, and continues to update his webcomic Space-Mullet in his spare time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
November 8, 2021
This spins out of Donny Cates's Thor and King in Black comics. Beta Ray Bill can no longer change back to his natural form after Stormbringer was destroyed. So he goes off to re-find himself with Skurge and Pip along for the ride. His ship Skuttlebutt is also a primary character. They seek Odin in the hopes Odin can make another Stormbringer that will allow Bill to change out of his horse form (so he can get with Lady Sif). I thought this was just OK. I know others really like Daniel Warren Johnson's art but I often think it's too sloppy and messy. I did really like Skurge. His characterization was great!
July 28, 2021
This was quite fun!
Fin Fang Foom attacks asgard after being infected by Knull symbiote ad BRB fights him but then comes Thor hounding his glory and then the deal with Sif, so he takes a journey to rediscover himself and along with Pip and later Skurge (great twist with him), they go to find Odin and there they learn of the Twilight Sword of Surtur in Muspelheim and it might change him back to normal and the big twist with Skuttlebutt and finally they go there, the trials and tribulations they face and finally the big fight with a fiery fire lord and the choice that will change Bill forever.
This was such a sweet book and just shows the heart of the character and I love the friendship between Skut and BRB and like how they have been there for each other and the hug they have in the end is awesome and I loved the inclusion of Pip like how he is ready to sacrifice himself for his friend and finally BRB making a choice that will change him forever and its interesting to see what will come with this new status quo. Also the art is so fun, it maybe not the most clean but the element of heart and goriness and just ooze of excitement is prevalent here and so it makes it worthwhile. One of the best reads in 2021 I have had.
Fin Fang Foom attacks asgard after being infected by Knull symbiote ad BRB fights him but then comes Thor hounding his glory and then the deal with Sif, so he takes a journey to rediscover himself and along with Pip and later Skurge (great twist with him), they go to find Odin and there they learn of the Twilight Sword of Surtur in Muspelheim and it might change him back to normal and the big twist with Skuttlebutt and finally they go there, the trials and tribulations they face and finally the big fight with a fiery fire lord and the choice that will change Bill forever.
This was such a sweet book and just shows the heart of the character and I love the friendship between Skut and BRB and like how they have been there for each other and the hug they have in the end is awesome and I loved the inclusion of Pip like how he is ready to sacrifice himself for his friend and finally BRB making a choice that will change him forever and its interesting to see what will come with this new status quo. Also the art is so fun, it maybe not the most clean but the element of heart and goriness and just ooze of excitement is prevalent here and so it makes it worthwhile. One of the best reads in 2021 I have had.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2024
Great story!
April 12, 2022
Great fun for Thor fans of a certain vintage as it draws extensively on Walter Simonson's magisterial run on the title in the mid-80s.
The gang's all here: Bill, Skuttlebutt, Skurge, Sif, and Big Bad Surtur, with dynamic line art that brings the (many) battle sequences to life and a story with a surprising amount of heart.
Definitely recommended, though if you haven't read the Simonson stuff definitely drop everything and do so right away as it ROCKS, particularly the modern recoloured version released not long ago.
The gang's all here: Bill, Skuttlebutt, Skurge, Sif, and Big Bad Surtur, with dynamic line art that brings the (many) battle sequences to life and a story with a surprising amount of heart.
Definitely recommended, though if you haven't read the Simonson stuff definitely drop everything and do so right away as it ROCKS, particularly the modern recoloured version released not long ago.
November 5, 2021
A decent story lifted up but amazing art.
Beta Ray Bill has pretty much had ENOUGH of Thor's bullshit. He's always in the man's shadow despite doing a lot of good for a lot of people. So he decides to leave Asgard and try to find his own way while also healing himself. Trying to "change" himself back to look like a regular human instead of "horseface" all the time. This leads him on a big joinery through space to find this but the wonders awaiting aren't always so nice.
The story itself is solid enough with some emotional impact, especially the end. I also liked Thor actually was held accountable for things, was nice. But man, the art is the highlight here. Some EXCELLENT fight scenes and big battles, the best being the very ending between a monster and Bill himself. Some wicked awesome moments that match some of the best fight scenes in comics I've seen in a long time.
For the fights alone this can't go any lower than a 4.
Beta Ray Bill has pretty much had ENOUGH of Thor's bullshit. He's always in the man's shadow despite doing a lot of good for a lot of people. So he decides to leave Asgard and try to find his own way while also healing himself. Trying to "change" himself back to look like a regular human instead of "horseface" all the time. This leads him on a big joinery through space to find this but the wonders awaiting aren't always so nice.
The story itself is solid enough with some emotional impact, especially the end. I also liked Thor actually was held accountable for things, was nice. But man, the art is the highlight here. Some EXCELLENT fight scenes and big battles, the best being the very ending between a monster and Bill himself. Some wicked awesome moments that match some of the best fight scenes in comics I've seen in a long time.
For the fights alone this can't go any lower than a 4.
December 31, 2023
I'm catching up on the work of Daniel Warren Johnson because I liked Do a Powerbomb so much.
This is a bittersweet side quest from the "King in Black" crossover event with a b-list superhero from Marvel's stable (and I don't use that word just because Bill has a horse face). Beta Ray Bill is moping because his favorite hammer got destroyed and his love interest isn't as hot for him since he can't use the hammer to transform back to his original humanoid form. So he sets off with the nearly useless Pip the Troll (from the Adam Warlock saga) and the Norse god of guns, Skurge, who provides much needed comic relief, to look for a new magic weapon that can transform him.
Bill is a bit too much of a downer, but I still enjoyed the energy of the art when the action sequences came around.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contains material originally published in magazine form as Beta Ray Bill (2021) #1-5.
Contents: Introduction / Donny Cates -- Beta Ray Bill (2021) #1-5 / Daniel Warren Johnson -- Variant Cover Galleries / Ryan Stegman, Iban Coello, Walter Simonson, Todd Nauck, Chase Conley, Paul Pope, Mike Del Mundo, Declan Shalvey, and Nick Dragotta, illustrators -- Interview with Walter Simonson / Daniel Warren Johnson
This is a bittersweet side quest from the "King in Black" crossover event with a b-list superhero from Marvel's stable (and I don't use that word just because Bill has a horse face). Beta Ray Bill is moping because his favorite hammer got destroyed and his love interest isn't as hot for him since he can't use the hammer to transform back to his original humanoid form. So he sets off with the nearly useless Pip the Troll (from the Adam Warlock saga) and the Norse god of guns, Skurge, who provides much needed comic relief, to look for a new magic weapon that can transform him.
Bill is a bit too much of a downer, but I still enjoyed the energy of the art when the action sequences came around.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contains material originally published in magazine form as Beta Ray Bill (2021) #1-5.
Contents: Introduction / Donny Cates -- Beta Ray Bill (2021) #1-5 / Daniel Warren Johnson -- Variant Cover Galleries / Ryan Stegman, Iban Coello, Walter Simonson, Todd Nauck, Chase Conley, Paul Pope, Mike Del Mundo, Declan Shalvey, and Nick Dragotta, illustrators -- Interview with Walter Simonson / Daniel Warren Johnson
August 9, 2021
4.5 stars.
It's past damn time we've had another Beta Ray Bill mini-series! And I couldn't be more thrilled with the finished product!
Art and story work hand-in-hand here to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The true spirit of BRB is captured, and they've teamed him with a fun and likable cast of characters. (Perhaps the best depiction of Skurge in ages, and I love what they did with Skuttlebutt!)
And, of course, even more bonus points for including the awesome Fin Fang Foom, another criminally underused character!
In the running for my favorite comic series of 2021!
It's past damn time we've had another Beta Ray Bill mini-series! And I couldn't be more thrilled with the finished product!
Art and story work hand-in-hand here to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The true spirit of BRB is captured, and they've teamed him with a fun and likable cast of characters. (Perhaps the best depiction of Skurge in ages, and I love what they did with Skuttlebutt!)
And, of course, even more bonus points for including the awesome Fin Fang Foom, another criminally underused character!
In the running for my favorite comic series of 2021!
August 12, 2021
DWJ je kráľ akčných scén a mlátičiek a nikto mi to nevyvráti. To čo predvádza pri tých bojoch je neskutočne epické a milujem sa na to pozerať. A to, že to spojil s tak opomínanou a skvelou postavou bolo ešte dokonalejšie. A to, že ten príbeh je smutný jak hovado je ešte lepšie. Ak sa vám páčila WW: Dead Earth, tak určite vbehnite aj do tohoto. On proste do toho vloží celé srdce na podnose čitateľovi a komu sa to nepáči je proste necitlivé hovado.
March 30, 2025
I don’t know who any of these characters are but this was a very entertaining and well-done adventure as some powerful heroes fly to a Hell World and beat up a demon.
July 29, 2021
I dug the hell out of this. A heavy metal fusion of mythic proportions backed up by outstanding artwork and a story with far more heart than I could've expected. I've only read Johnson's Wonder Woman series--which I very much did not care for, artwork aside--so I wasn't sure what to expect going into this, but it had me hooked by the end of the first issue and never lost me along the way.
I think the resolution is a little rushed, as is often the case in 5-issue miniseries, which is a little bit of a letdown. But the journey to get there is packed with so much good stuff. Johnson's story has a great hook to it, and I loved how he explored Bill's interiority throughout. His writing isn't quite as rich as his art, and it doesn't delve into its thematic threads as much as I wanted. But he still delivers some truly touching, surprising moments.
But yeah, the artwork alone is worth the price of admission. Johnson's visual pacing is unmatched, the staging of his action scenes effortlessly badass (I'm obsessed with how many wrestling moves he uses!), and Mike Spicer's coloring brings it all to life with striking vibrancy and colorful depth. This is one of those special comics that had me audibly going "oh shit" multiple times per issue, which is as high of a recommendation as I can give.
I think the resolution is a little rushed, as is often the case in 5-issue miniseries, which is a little bit of a letdown. But the journey to get there is packed with so much good stuff. Johnson's story has a great hook to it, and I loved how he explored Bill's interiority throughout. His writing isn't quite as rich as his art, and it doesn't delve into its thematic threads as much as I wanted. But he still delivers some truly touching, surprising moments.
But yeah, the artwork alone is worth the price of admission. Johnson's visual pacing is unmatched, the staging of his action scenes effortlessly badass (I'm obsessed with how many wrestling moves he uses!), and Mike Spicer's coloring brings it all to life with striking vibrancy and colorful depth. This is one of those special comics that had me audibly going "oh shit" multiple times per issue, which is as high of a recommendation as I can give.
January 20, 2022
'Bill Rayos Beta' no solo perdió el martillo que Odín le regaló en su combate contra Thor, también se perdió a sí mismo. Eso lo llevará a emprender un viaje para encontrar el arma que le devolverá su apariencia y parte de la identidad perdida, un viaje que pondrá en jaque su propia existencia.
Leer a Bill Rayos Beta es volver a tener 10 años y estar sentada frente al televisor, ese con el culo enorme conectado a un VHS, rebobinado la película de Hook porque quieres regresar a esas escenas que tan feliz te hacen.
La magia de las pequeñas cosas. Teníamos poco y sabíamos ser felices.
Sobra decir que me ha flipado este cómic. No hace falta haber leído Thor ni ningún otro cómic. Solo tener ganas de leerlo, que te gusten las historias post-apocalíticas, la mitología nórdica o las buenas aventuras cargadas de acción a raudales. Además, el arte de Daniel Warren Johnson es una auténtica gozada.
¡Bangarang, Bill!
Una delicia recomendadísima.
Leer a Bill Rayos Beta es volver a tener 10 años y estar sentada frente al televisor, ese con el culo enorme conectado a un VHS, rebobinado la película de Hook porque quieres regresar a esas escenas que tan feliz te hacen.
La magia de las pequeñas cosas. Teníamos poco y sabíamos ser felices.
Sobra decir que me ha flipado este cómic. No hace falta haber leído Thor ni ningún otro cómic. Solo tener ganas de leerlo, que te gusten las historias post-apocalíticas, la mitología nórdica o las buenas aventuras cargadas de acción a raudales. Además, el arte de Daniel Warren Johnson es una auténtica gozada.
¡Bangarang, Bill!
Una delicia recomendadísima.
October 30, 2023
DWJ really makes me care about characters that I didn’t know a lot about before. The art and colors in this one are unmatched and work so perfectly with the story. Reading through this one has me excited to dive into more Thor, especially Simonson’s run.
October 16, 2024
It starts strong, but as it goes on it gets less interesting and kinda similar to MF in a lot of ways. A thing that really bothered me was that it's connected to a Thor run that I haven't read, and it made me feel confused. I, personally, don't really like whenever Marvel ties a graphic novel to a run that requires you to read it beforehand. I think DWJ is at his best when he does his own thing without being connected to something else.
Regardless, it's still appealing visually.
5/10
Regardless, it's still appealing visually.
5/10
July 18, 2022
Daniel Warren Johnson is a recent fan fav writer/artist with everyone praising his Murder Falcon and Wonder Woman. This is a case of "I appreciate why everyone likes him but he's not for me".
Let's start with his art. I see why people like the rough style - the kinetic energy - the unique Manga-like touches. I just don't like it at all. In a way - that makes me happy. If everyone liked the same thing what a boring world it would be. I love Frank Quitely but some people dislike his style. Especially when your style is more unique like Johnson's it is not surprising people's opinions diverge.
The story? Well I love the character of Beta Ray Bill but admittedly I loved the creator's take on it (Walt Simonson). This story focuses on Beta's desire to go back to looking like he used to. He had been cybernetically enhanced and it made his more humanoid features become like a horse head.
The way Daniel gets Beta to his goal is...I'll say it ...lazy writing. We start off with Beta trying to defend Asgard and failing and Thor coming in and saving the day. Which is weird because they are of equal strength. It is blamed on the fact Thor broke Beta's weapon Stormbreaker which also granted him the ability to become humanoid again. So he goes in search of Odin to make another Stormbreaker. And then the laziness comes in. Out of nowhere a dead Skurge appears. Why? Because the writer needed an easy way to find a hidden Odin. Also Pip the Troll (from Warlock) is along for the ride and plays zero role in advancing the story and is nothing like the Pip I have seen in any other comic.
I won't summarize the rest of the story but I just wasn't invested in it. Things came too easily for Beta and he seemed to be a passenger along for the ride with his ship Skuttlebutt doing all the heavy lifting. Even that was so contrived - Skuttlebutt just happens to come to life magically and take the form of a humanoid robot. The final battle...Skuttlebutt saves the day. The final victory...didn't feel earned and I didn't really care.
I find that whenever I have read Daniel's stories. I don't see the cleverness I like when a hero earns a victory. There is no element of surprise or drama. Things happen, battles are fought, but I never feel invested in them.
Ah well. I wanted to give his writing one more chance before I gave up on him but it is clear his style is loved but most fans but not by me.
Let's start with his art. I see why people like the rough style - the kinetic energy - the unique Manga-like touches. I just don't like it at all. In a way - that makes me happy. If everyone liked the same thing what a boring world it would be. I love Frank Quitely but some people dislike his style. Especially when your style is more unique like Johnson's it is not surprising people's opinions diverge.
The story? Well I love the character of Beta Ray Bill but admittedly I loved the creator's take on it (Walt Simonson). This story focuses on Beta's desire to go back to looking like he used to. He had been cybernetically enhanced and it made his more humanoid features become like a horse head.
The way Daniel gets Beta to his goal is...I'll say it ...lazy writing. We start off with Beta trying to defend Asgard and failing and Thor coming in and saving the day. Which is weird because they are of equal strength. It is blamed on the fact Thor broke Beta's weapon Stormbreaker which also granted him the ability to become humanoid again. So he goes in search of Odin to make another Stormbreaker. And then the laziness comes in. Out of nowhere a dead Skurge appears. Why? Because the writer needed an easy way to find a hidden Odin. Also Pip the Troll (from Warlock) is along for the ride and plays zero role in advancing the story and is nothing like the Pip I have seen in any other comic.
I won't summarize the rest of the story but I just wasn't invested in it. Things came too easily for Beta and he seemed to be a passenger along for the ride with his ship Skuttlebutt doing all the heavy lifting. Even that was so contrived - Skuttlebutt just happens to come to life magically and take the form of a humanoid robot. The final battle...Skuttlebutt saves the day. The final victory...didn't feel earned and I didn't really care.
I find that whenever I have read Daniel's stories. I don't see the cleverness I like when a hero earns a victory. There is no element of surprise or drama. Things happen, battles are fought, but I never feel invested in them.
Ah well. I wanted to give his writing one more chance before I gave up on him but it is clear his style is loved but most fans but not by me.
November 15, 2025
Thunder may be gone, but Bill’s heart hits harder than any hammer.
Second time reading this one and it's still as amazing as the first time. I checked what Bill has been up to since and ... not much, which is a shame because I had hopes that there would be more about Skuttlebutt.
_____
After the events of Donny Cates’s Thor, Bill finds himself weakened, without Stormbreaker, with a bruised ego, and unable to transform into his real Korbonite form.
With a tip from Odin, Beta Ray Bill embarks on a journey (alongside Skurge, Pip, and his ship Skuttlebutt) find Twilight, Surtur’s impressive weapon, which could restore his full powers.
I have to say, this is the most fun I’ve had reading this character. Daniel Warren Johnson is becoming a super favorite of mine; everything I’ve read from the guy (that he has also drawn) has been a home run for me.
The story is fairly good, but straightforward. It does pack an emotional punch that I was not expecting - - though, that’s one me… by now I should know that this is DWJ’s style. The story alone would be worth the price of admission. But the art. Golly, Warren Johnson has a unique style that works so well for this kinds of stories. His style is manic, vibrant, and full of frenzy movement.
Overall, this gets a 9/10 from my end. The story is good (8/10) and the art is amazing (10/10).
Second time reading this one and it's still as amazing as the first time. I checked what Bill has been up to since and ... not much, which is a shame because I had hopes that there would be more about Skuttlebutt.
_____
After the events of Donny Cates’s Thor, Bill finds himself weakened, without Stormbreaker, with a bruised ego, and unable to transform into his real Korbonite form.
With a tip from Odin, Beta Ray Bill embarks on a journey (alongside Skurge, Pip, and his ship Skuttlebutt) find Twilight, Surtur’s impressive weapon, which could restore his full powers.
I have to say, this is the most fun I’ve had reading this character. Daniel Warren Johnson is becoming a super favorite of mine; everything I’ve read from the guy (that he has also drawn) has been a home run for me.
The story is fairly good, but straightforward. It does pack an emotional punch that I was not expecting - - though, that’s one me… by now I should know that this is DWJ’s style. The story alone would be worth the price of admission. But the art. Golly, Warren Johnson has a unique style that works so well for this kinds of stories. His style is manic, vibrant, and full of frenzy movement.
Overall, this gets a 9/10 from my end. The story is good (8/10) and the art is amazing (10/10).
August 11, 2021
While not as poignant as last year’s WW Dead Earth, Johnson’s Beta Ray Bill is emotionally charged and at time, touching. Once the story setting and moody first issue is out of the way, BTR sets off on a fun adventure with some of the best side characters, Skurge, Pip and of course, Skuttlebutt.
While he never disappoints as a writer, where Johnson shines the most is on art, he might be the most exciting artist working today, it’s so lively and kinetic! His visual storytelling is some of the best, every issue could be silent and it’d still be a good book.
👌
While he never disappoints as a writer, where Johnson shines the most is on art, he might be the most exciting artist working today, it’s so lively and kinetic! His visual storytelling is some of the best, every issue could be silent and it’d still be a good book.
👌
July 30, 2021
Amazing! 🤘🏼
September 21, 2021
What a beautiful comic.
August 1, 2022
Foi uma decisão acertada da Marvel em "emprestar" Bill Raio Beta para Daniel Warren Johnson desenvolver uma minissérie. Tanto ele como o criador do personagem, Walter Simonson, tem uma propensão para usarem as onomatopéias integradas ao texto, de forma orgânica. Em Estrela Argentea, DWJ, explora um pouco mais sobre o passado de Bill, principalmente a sua transformação radical e corporal para salvar seu mundo nativo de Surtur. Missão que acaba falhando. DWJ também explora mais a relação de Bill com sua nave Ferocímea e com os personagens secundários Pip, o Troll e com o Executor de Asgard. Contudo, por fazer parte da cronologia Marvel, aparentou que nessa minissérie DWJ teve menos liberdade criativa que na graphic novel que desenvolveu enfocando a Mulher-Maravilha na DC Comics. Por isso, deu a impressão que ficou faltando algo além de sequencias brutais de lutinhas, que na minha opinião são soníferas e que poderia ter explorado mais profundamente as questões da aparência de Bill que são o incidente incitante dessa trama. A arte, por outro lado, é impecável.
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March 21, 2022Talking about favourite superheroes is a complicated thing. After all, they get passed between different creators and editors over the course of decades, so you never quite know what you're going to get. Sometimes it'll be a character like Superman, who's appeared constantly in at least two comics per month for 80+ years; most of those books I've not read, and most of the ones I have weren't great, but there is a certain irreducible Supermanness that's always faintly and frustratingly glimpsed and which, when properly handled, takes the whole genre to its absolute peak. Conversely, you get a character like Moon Knight, who only pops up now and then, but who appeals to a particular sensibility, such that whenever he does have a series, I usually love it (though let's not talk about the Bendis run).
The point being, I'd always thought of Beta Ray Bill as in the second category. I don't recall ever reading a comic where he starred which wasn't at least quite good, and then along came Daniel Warren Johnson. My last encounter with Johnson's work was his creator-owned Murder Falcon, in which the eponymous bird dude saves the world from monsters, powered by his human companion's guitar skills – and yet against all odds, most of the comic was still a miserable slog. Still, it had its moments, and this was a Beta Ray Bill comic – how wrong could it go?
Well, put it this way. Bill, who lest we forget is meant to have all the power of Thor, spends much of the first issue getting beaten down and having to have Thor (who in fairness does now have the power of Odin) rescue him. Despite which, his longstanding flirtation with Sif (which TBH I always assumed had been consummated decades back) finally takes them to the bedroom on page...where she backs out upon realising Bill can no longer revert to his Korbinite* form since Thor destroyed his hammer**. The point where I muttered "Oh for fuck's sake" loud enough for my other half to hear through their headphones and ask 'That good, huh?' was when Bill, with a little plaster on his bonce, mopes out, saying "I'm going to make myself beautiful again." Now granted, as said spouse then pointed out, Bill does look a bit like a naked mole rat in that panel. But this is a Daniel Warren Johnson comic, and his art makes everyone look ugly. I mean, yes, the dude is normally described as looking like an orange cyborg space horse dressed as Thor, but come on – that's a look and a half. So he can no longer change back into his other form! His other form was no Adonis, just an orange alien with not terribly defined features. Surely if Sif is into him, she's going to be at least as into the ass-kicking form as the nondescript one? And this weird normativity runs through the whole story, so apparently Pip the Troll also considers himself "the definition of repulsive" despite that being at odds with every previous Pip appearance I can remember reading. And not even a culture-wide normativity, but a particular sort of American rock bro one, such that when Bill, Pip and Skurge (who, in one of the few bits here which made me smile, has bunked off Valhalla because there are no guns there, and is now insistent on being Bill's wingman) find Odin in a remote space bar, brewing his own beer – they all drink pissy little bottles! Not foaming flagons as Norse gods (and Norse god-aligned aliens) clearly should! Gah. Anyway, from there it's on to the Stygian Gate, guarded by what are apparently Asgard's most hardened warriors, even though they appear to have been absent from every one of the dozens of wars we've seen Asgard get into in sixty years of comics. They warn that the journey beyond that point will be dangerous, though frankly it just sounds like everyday life in the 2020s: "The souls that enter are changed. A blackened hollow burns in their eyes. What they once were is forever gone." This is followed by a scene where our heroes are flying a sentient spaceship into Muspelheim – and I still felt not the slightest urge to punch the air. This is the problem with the Johnson/Bill match-up: Beta Ray Bill has, since Walt Simonson created him, been a pretty metal character, but back in the eighties it was the sort of shiny metal that crossed over into the charts, AKA the first metal I ever heard, and hence the best. This is the sludgy, constipated, tar-like unpleasantness currently perpetrated within at least one of the baffling array of subgenres I long since lost any urge to keep track of. Hell, there's even a cutaway that did nothing for me, and right back to Brambly Hedge and educational books for boys I have bloody loved a cutaway, but done by Johnson they just feel like Brandon Graham if you somehow surgically removed every trace of fun. There are a few scenes, mostly involving Surtur, where the comic achieves an appropriate sense of grandeur, but overall I think the conclusion has to be that Daniel Warren Johnson comics simply are not for me, not even if the next one is a Moon Knight/Superman crossover.
*The name long predates recent Labour ructions, and should in no way be taken to imply that Bill's people are particularly prone to 'legitimate criticism of the state of Israel' hem hem.
**To be fair, I should note that destruction cannot be blamed on Johnson, having taken place in Donny Cates' Thor run. However, I should also note that Donny Cates' Thor run is even worse than this farrago.
The point being, I'd always thought of Beta Ray Bill as in the second category. I don't recall ever reading a comic where he starred which wasn't at least quite good, and then along came Daniel Warren Johnson. My last encounter with Johnson's work was his creator-owned Murder Falcon, in which the eponymous bird dude saves the world from monsters, powered by his human companion's guitar skills – and yet against all odds, most of the comic was still a miserable slog. Still, it had its moments, and this was a Beta Ray Bill comic – how wrong could it go?
Well, put it this way. Bill, who lest we forget is meant to have all the power of Thor, spends much of the first issue getting beaten down and having to have Thor (who in fairness does now have the power of Odin) rescue him. Despite which, his longstanding flirtation with Sif (which TBH I always assumed had been consummated decades back) finally takes them to the bedroom on page...where she backs out upon realising Bill can no longer revert to his Korbinite* form since Thor destroyed his hammer**. The point where I muttered "Oh for fuck's sake" loud enough for my other half to hear through their headphones and ask 'That good, huh?' was when Bill, with a little plaster on his bonce, mopes out, saying "I'm going to make myself beautiful again." Now granted, as said spouse then pointed out, Bill does look a bit like a naked mole rat in that panel. But this is a Daniel Warren Johnson comic, and his art makes everyone look ugly. I mean, yes, the dude is normally described as looking like an orange cyborg space horse dressed as Thor, but come on – that's a look and a half. So he can no longer change back into his other form! His other form was no Adonis, just an orange alien with not terribly defined features. Surely if Sif is into him, she's going to be at least as into the ass-kicking form as the nondescript one? And this weird normativity runs through the whole story, so apparently Pip the Troll also considers himself "the definition of repulsive" despite that being at odds with every previous Pip appearance I can remember reading. And not even a culture-wide normativity, but a particular sort of American rock bro one, such that when Bill, Pip and Skurge (who, in one of the few bits here which made me smile, has bunked off Valhalla because there are no guns there, and is now insistent on being Bill's wingman) find Odin in a remote space bar, brewing his own beer – they all drink pissy little bottles! Not foaming flagons as Norse gods (and Norse god-aligned aliens) clearly should! Gah. Anyway, from there it's on to the Stygian Gate, guarded by what are apparently Asgard's most hardened warriors, even though they appear to have been absent from every one of the dozens of wars we've seen Asgard get into in sixty years of comics. They warn that the journey beyond that point will be dangerous, though frankly it just sounds like everyday life in the 2020s: "The souls that enter are changed. A blackened hollow burns in their eyes. What they once were is forever gone." This is followed by a scene where our heroes are flying a sentient spaceship into Muspelheim – and I still felt not the slightest urge to punch the air. This is the problem with the Johnson/Bill match-up: Beta Ray Bill has, since Walt Simonson created him, been a pretty metal character, but back in the eighties it was the sort of shiny metal that crossed over into the charts, AKA the first metal I ever heard, and hence the best. This is the sludgy, constipated, tar-like unpleasantness currently perpetrated within at least one of the baffling array of subgenres I long since lost any urge to keep track of. Hell, there's even a cutaway that did nothing for me, and right back to Brambly Hedge and educational books for boys I have bloody loved a cutaway, but done by Johnson they just feel like Brandon Graham if you somehow surgically removed every trace of fun. There are a few scenes, mostly involving Surtur, where the comic achieves an appropriate sense of grandeur, but overall I think the conclusion has to be that Daniel Warren Johnson comics simply are not for me, not even if the next one is a Moon Knight/Superman crossover.
*The name long predates recent Labour ructions, and should in no way be taken to imply that Bill's people are particularly prone to 'legitimate criticism of the state of Israel' hem hem.
**To be fair, I should note that destruction cannot be blamed on Johnson, having taken place in Donny Cates' Thor run. However, I should also note that Donny Cates' Thor run is even worse than this farrago.
October 3, 2023
Daniel Warren Johnson rules. Beta Ray Bill rules. This comic rules. Every atom of this book is pure delight. I loved it from cover to cover. The art, the story, the characters, the themes. Incredible.
January 16, 2022
Mon premier Warren Johnson et j’ai adoré! Un one shot de 5 fascicules et un perso que je ne connaissais pas (spin off Thor), très attachant et que j’aimerais continuer a suivre
March 12, 2023
Stora da 3, disegni da 5.
Omaggio al personaggio inventato da Simmonson nel suo Thor, storia piena di azione, botte e sangue con in sottofondo il film hook-capitano uncino, che chiccha !
Lettura che scorre via velocissima e lascia in estasi per i disegni di dwj
Omaggio al personaggio inventato da Simmonson nel suo Thor, storia piena di azione, botte e sangue con in sottofondo il film hook-capitano uncino, che chiccha !
Lettura che scorre via velocissima e lascia in estasi per i disegni di dwj
May 24, 2023
no no no no there goes another great book finished I loved this book amazing storytelling and drawings Daniel Warren Johnson's books are just amazing
July 25, 2025
Scourge
January 10, 2022
DWJ is the best.
Read
August 29, 2021Such an excellent comic. After Wonder Woman: Dead Earth, Murder Falcon, and Extremity, I was stoked that DWJ was going to get his hands on BRB, and he didn’t disappoint. Beautifully amazing story for our beloved horse-face.
Edit: It’s been a month and I miss getting an issue of this in my pullbox so much 😭. Bill, Skutt, Skurge, and Pip made such a good team. Pretty sure I’ll be rereading this soon.
Edit: It’s been a month and I miss getting an issue of this in my pullbox so much 😭. Bill, Skutt, Skurge, and Pip made such a good team. Pretty sure I’ll be rereading this soon.
February 21, 2023
5/10:
There’s a really solid story premise here of learning to love yourself for who you are, but also showcasing that not everyone can do that. Beta Ray Bill is a hero who is constantly outshined by his Asgardian allies such as Thor, Odin, and Lady Sif.
I appreciate how we get to see Bill take a vulnerable journey through his past while also coming to terms with a few pieces of his life. The biggest ones being the deep connections he’s formed over the years with Skuttlebutt, Skurge, and Pip Gofern. Together, these four are an insane duo and I love how they manage to keep this story of Beta Ray Bill grounded and relatable to us as an audience.
The utilization of a Symbiote-infected Fin Fang Foom was one I didn’t expect, but enjoyed as well as the emphasis on Surtur being such an immensely powerful god. However, both of these villains are defeated too easily for who they are and just didn’t seem worthy of someone like Beta Ray Bill.
My biggest complaints with these five issues is the art style and lettering. I genuinely had some difficulty reading the lettering on some of the speech bubbles as well as interpreting the finer details of character features. Obviously not the end of the world, but things that constantly took me out of the story.
There’s a really solid story premise here of learning to love yourself for who you are, but also showcasing that not everyone can do that. Beta Ray Bill is a hero who is constantly outshined by his Asgardian allies such as Thor, Odin, and Lady Sif.
I appreciate how we get to see Bill take a vulnerable journey through his past while also coming to terms with a few pieces of his life. The biggest ones being the deep connections he’s formed over the years with Skuttlebutt, Skurge, and Pip Gofern. Together, these four are an insane duo and I love how they manage to keep this story of Beta Ray Bill grounded and relatable to us as an audience.
The utilization of a Symbiote-infected Fin Fang Foom was one I didn’t expect, but enjoyed as well as the emphasis on Surtur being such an immensely powerful god. However, both of these villains are defeated too easily for who they are and just didn’t seem worthy of someone like Beta Ray Bill.
My biggest complaints with these five issues is the art style and lettering. I genuinely had some difficulty reading the lettering on some of the speech bubbles as well as interpreting the finer details of character features. Obviously not the end of the world, but things that constantly took me out of the story.
August 28, 2023
Good action and a fun adventure. I had always been a fan of this character from afar, but I had never actually read a book about him. This was a good introduction to Beta Ray Bill. There was no previous reading necessary so this was a good jumping-on point.
I liked the artwork.
I liked the artwork.
December 16, 2021
Producto para el lucimiento de Warren Johnson que pasa de la pelea con Fin Fang Foom a una pelea de bar, a otra pelea con demonios de Muspelheim y termina en un cuadrilátero con una pelea a lo Pressing Catch con Surtur (que termina con la versión Warren Johnsiana de arrear con una silla plegable en la cabeza). Estaría bien que el autor de Extremity se buscara un guionista, pero reconozco que me da un poco igual. Con esto por ahora me sigue valiendo. Para fans.
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