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Thor: Ages of Thunder
Thor Thor
One day, the walls of Asgard collapse due to the attack of the giant giants, and a mason says he can cross the bridge and cross the bridge and fix the wall in front of the gates. Odin promises that he will give the award to the priest, the only goddess, who is able to harvest the golden fruit from the wygdrasail tree, when he does the wall repair without any help for six months. Unlike Odin s anticipation, the repair of the walls was uneventful, and when the promised day approached the day, the Rockies interrupted the work to prevent the stone masonry from completing the wall, and the mason was unable to raise the brick wall It is bad. However, after learning that he has been deceived, Mason starts to attack Asgard with his anger and transformation into a frost giant. And Tor goes out to fix it. Thor, who has been dealing with all the troubles in Asgard as well as this one, has begun to disobey the father Odins intention and end up fighting with Odin in the armor of Destroyer. .
One day, the walls of Asgard collapse due to the attack of the giant giants, and a mason says he can cross the bridge and cross the bridge and fix the wall in front of the gates. Odin promises that he will give the award to the priest, the only goddess, who is able to harvest the golden fruit from the wygdrasail tree, when he does the wall repair without any help for six months. Unlike Odin s anticipation, the repair of the walls was uneventful, and when the promised day approached the day, the Rockies interrupted the work to prevent the stone masonry from completing the wall, and the mason was unable to raise the brick wall It is bad. However, after learning that he has been deceived, Mason starts to attack Asgard with his anger and transformation into a frost giant. And Tor goes out to fix it. Thor, who has been dealing with all the troubles in Asgard as well as this one, has begun to disobey the father Odins intention and end up fighting with Odin in the armor of Destroyer. .
136 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Matt Fraction
1,221 books1,862 followers"How he got started in comics: In 1983, when Fraction was 7 years old and growing up in Kansas City, Mo., he became fascinated by the U.S. invasion of Grenada and created his own newspaper to explain the event. "I've always been story-driven, telling stories with pictures and words," he said.
Education and first job: Fraction never graduated from college. He stopped half a semester short of an art degree at Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri in 1998 to take a job as a Web designer and managing editor of a magazine about Internet culture.
"My mother was not happy about that," he said.
But that gig led Fraction and his co-workers to split off and launch MK12, a boutique graphic design and production firm in Kansas City that created the opening credits for the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."
Big break: While writing and directing live-action shoots at MK12, Fraction spent his spare time writing comics and pitching his books each year to publishers at Comic-Con. Two books sold: "The Last of the Independents," published in 2003 by AiT/Planet Lar, and "Casanova," published in 2006 by Image Comics.
Fraction traveled extensively on commercial shoots. Then his wife got pregnant. So Fraction did what any rational man in his position would do -- he quit his job at MK12 to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comic book writer.
Say what? "It was terrifying," said Fraction, who now lives in Portland, Ore. "I was married. We had a house. We had a baby coming. And I just quit my job."
Marvel hired Fraction in June 2006, thanks largely to the success of his other two comics. "I got very lucky," he half-joked. "If it hadn't worked out, I would have had to move back in with my parents.
- 2009. Alex Pham. Los Angeles Times.
Education and first job: Fraction never graduated from college. He stopped half a semester short of an art degree at Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri in 1998 to take a job as a Web designer and managing editor of a magazine about Internet culture.
"My mother was not happy about that," he said.
But that gig led Fraction and his co-workers to split off and launch MK12, a boutique graphic design and production firm in Kansas City that created the opening credits for the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."
Big break: While writing and directing live-action shoots at MK12, Fraction spent his spare time writing comics and pitching his books each year to publishers at Comic-Con. Two books sold: "The Last of the Independents," published in 2003 by AiT/Planet Lar, and "Casanova," published in 2006 by Image Comics.
Fraction traveled extensively on commercial shoots. Then his wife got pregnant. So Fraction did what any rational man in his position would do -- he quit his job at MK12 to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comic book writer.
Say what? "It was terrifying," said Fraction, who now lives in Portland, Ore. "I was married. We had a house. We had a baby coming. And I just quit my job."
Marvel hired Fraction in June 2006, thanks largely to the success of his other two comics. "I got very lucky," he half-joked. "If it hadn't worked out, I would have had to move back in with my parents.
- 2009. Alex Pham. Los Angeles Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 18, 2016
Read the original one-shots individually and digitally.
When Marvel Comics brought Thor back after a long hiatus some years back, the character enjoyed a mild renaissance. The new monthly series by J. M. Straczynski and Olivier Coipel was doing so well that Marvel released several one-shots featuring the Thunder God by an up and coming writer. The one-shots had a more mythic setting than the regular series and featured a younger and supremely arrogant Thor.
That writer was Matt Fraction and his work on the one-shots served as his audition for Thor's readers. It was accepted well enough that when Straczynski left Marvel to write a walking Superman, Fraction took over the book.
I picked these stories as my summer reading because they were set in the cold climes of Asgard which provided me a brief escape from the summer's waxing sun. I also got these digital comics for free when Marvel had its 700 #1s promotion that broke the internet. I enjoyed reading them. This was how Thor should be written, braining and beheading giants, battling the undead and wenching with his brothers-in-arms.
I enjoyed these stories because they are timeless and familiar. I don't recall reading the original tales where it drew inspiration from. It could only mean that were drawn from the universal myths of the cloud storage that is the human unconscious.
The first three one-shots were set in an earlier time before the age of men and could only be called the Age of Thunder. This was a younger Thor, whose towering battle prowess came with an arrogance that surpassed it. So much so that the son's overt rebellion forced the All-Father's hand and that would change the son's destiny forever.
The fourth story was the main feature of the Thor: God Sized one-shot and it was a love letter to Walter Simonson, whose own run on the Thor title was legendary. It referenced a specific tale, Thor issue 362 of which I can write another lengthy blog entry. One of the contributors was Michael Allred who provided art for one of the segments. Any story with Allred's trippy art is usually good enough reason for me to exalt a comic book, but that it referenced Thor #362 compounded the joy of reading it.
Ages of Thunder is a worthy embellishment to the rich Thor mythos. In my opinion, this was as good as Fraction was on Thor. I never followed his monthly Thor work, where he veered to a space god direction and lost me. I probably didn't enjoy it because I expected his subsequent Thor stories to be more like Ages of Thunder with its Tolkienesque fantasy trappings.
Originally reviewed on The Raving Asgardian, my personal blog on comics and its myriad forms.
When Marvel Comics brought Thor back after a long hiatus some years back, the character enjoyed a mild renaissance. The new monthly series by J. M. Straczynski and Olivier Coipel was doing so well that Marvel released several one-shots featuring the Thunder God by an up and coming writer. The one-shots had a more mythic setting than the regular series and featured a younger and supremely arrogant Thor.
That writer was Matt Fraction and his work on the one-shots served as his audition for Thor's readers. It was accepted well enough that when Straczynski left Marvel to write a walking Superman, Fraction took over the book.
I picked these stories as my summer reading because they were set in the cold climes of Asgard which provided me a brief escape from the summer's waxing sun. I also got these digital comics for free when Marvel had its 700 #1s promotion that broke the internet. I enjoyed reading them. This was how Thor should be written, braining and beheading giants, battling the undead and wenching with his brothers-in-arms.
I enjoyed these stories because they are timeless and familiar. I don't recall reading the original tales where it drew inspiration from. It could only mean that were drawn from the universal myths of the cloud storage that is the human unconscious.
The first three one-shots were set in an earlier time before the age of men and could only be called the Age of Thunder. This was a younger Thor, whose towering battle prowess came with an arrogance that surpassed it. So much so that the son's overt rebellion forced the All-Father's hand and that would change the son's destiny forever.
The fourth story was the main feature of the Thor: God Sized one-shot and it was a love letter to Walter Simonson, whose own run on the Thor title was legendary. It referenced a specific tale, Thor issue 362 of which I can write another lengthy blog entry. One of the contributors was Michael Allred who provided art for one of the segments. Any story with Allred's trippy art is usually good enough reason for me to exalt a comic book, but that it referenced Thor #362 compounded the joy of reading it.
Ages of Thunder is a worthy embellishment to the rich Thor mythos. In my opinion, this was as good as Fraction was on Thor. I never followed his monthly Thor work, where he veered to a space god direction and lost me. I probably didn't enjoy it because I expected his subsequent Thor stories to be more like Ages of Thunder with its Tolkienesque fantasy trappings.
Originally reviewed on The Raving Asgardian, my personal blog on comics and its myriad forms.
August 14, 2016
A solid well told series of one shots. All except the special. Seemed so out of place. All in all a good book.
March 13, 2013
Ages of Thunder collects what were once four single issues. The first three, Ages of Fire, Reign of Blood, and Man of War, retell Norse mythology with the Marvel version of the gods. Mostly, it's a series of short myths that all feature Thor, and end with Thor's banishment to Midgard. I have to say, Fraction really nailed the style of a teller of epic tales here. One could very easily read these issues over a flagon of mead, pausing to quaff at key moments. Granted, I'm not as familiar with the Norse pantheon as I am with the Greek, but I really like what was done here.
The final issue, the God-Sized Special (heh) doesn't connect at all. And you would really need to read at least Straczynski's Thor, Vol. 1 to understand why, amongst other things, Loki is now a woman. It's a decent enough story, but it really pales in comparison to what went before. Besides, the more conventional storytelling style makes for a bit of a jarring contrast. My guess is that Marvel really wanted to collect Ages of Fire, Reign of Blood, and Man of War, but were leery about putting out a three issue collection. I have to say, I'm really glad we got those in a trade, so I can't complain about the extra story.
The final issue, the God-Sized Special (heh) doesn't connect at all. And you would really need to read at least Straczynski's Thor, Vol. 1 to understand why, amongst other things, Loki is now a woman. It's a decent enough story, but it really pales in comparison to what went before. Besides, the more conventional storytelling style makes for a bit of a jarring contrast. My guess is that Marvel really wanted to collect Ages of Fire, Reign of Blood, and Man of War, but were leery about putting out a three issue collection. I have to say, I'm really glad we got those in a trade, so I can't complain about the extra story.
October 22, 2024
Set throughout 300.000BC to 1100AD from the first Ragnarok to the 23rd and so on
A richly layered collection that delves into Thor's character through four interconnected stories: "Ages of Thunder," "Reign of Blood," "Man of War," and "Trial of Thor."
”My son, did we rely on you too heavily? Should I have seen the signs of your moral collapse?" - Odin
In Ages of Thunder, Thor grapples with his pride during a devastating battle against frost giants, feeling like he's the only one doing all the work, getting the job done, being tired of it. Feeling unappreciated and just going through the motions of fighting and then drinking. This is not your usual Thor from modern times, this is a young Thor ages ago, before Heimdall was set to guard the bifrost bridge.
“I had no reason to look innocent. I was innocent.” - Thor
Then we have Thor suffering significant losses, Thor protecting humans on Midgard and asking only for one simple thing of them, but unfortunately, humans being humans, did not listen. So Thor comes to a point where he just gives up on mortals. This sense of loss fuels his growing rage against Midgard and humanity, reflecting his inner turmoil. He goes on rampage killing and obliterating everyone in his path across the nine realms, either that be Jutunheim or Earth, or Niffelheim. He's burning everything and everyone with only hate in his mind.. a kind of Thor you never read about.
"I have the lightning in my heart and on my mind the darkness." - Thor
The artwork by Patrick Zircher and others is striking, bringing the epic scale of Asgard and the intensity of Thor’s emotions to life. Couldn't stress this enough but each panel makes you wish you had this on an even bigger format. The minute this collection gets published as Gallery Edition I'm preordering for sure (which I doubt) but one can only hope. The art is really something to appreciate here.
In the end, it was lightning that won the day. Because while thunder is, above all things, impressive... It is lightning that gets the job done.
Thor’s fury deepens as he confronts betrayal, leading to violent consequences that further isolate him. The storyline emphasizes his complicated relationship with Odin, who punishes Thor, highlighting themes of accountability and growth. Man of War explores Thor's realization of the consequences of his actions, while Trial of Thor serves as a moment of reckoning, forcing him to reflect on his past. Everything ties up so nicely, and Thor even though realizes the harm he's doing to innocents, he's accepting fate as it is for humans do not appreciate. He never apologizes for others' wrongdoings and for what they made him into and what Odin made him do all these years.
Under a bridge in Asgard is where I took a life. Under that bridge that day is where I drew some blood.
Overall, this collection is a must-read for fans of Thor, and for fans of Vikings and Norse Gods for sure, offering a nuanced exploration of his character and legacy. So many great moments here, and many poetic ones after things and events unwrap. Especially when realizing that behind a huge turn of events in the lives of so many, hides one tiny little mischief.
Amazing story and stunning art. Highly recommended!
Over a hill in Midgard, is where I've found my love. Over the bifrost bridge, I could not turn my back. By Odin's crows, I gave my godhood away.
Asgard now has nothing, especially not me. How am I supposed to sleep tonight? Because if you're down in Midgard, that means I'm all alone.
A richly layered collection that delves into Thor's character through four interconnected stories: "Ages of Thunder," "Reign of Blood," "Man of War," and "Trial of Thor."
”My son, did we rely on you too heavily? Should I have seen the signs of your moral collapse?" - Odin
In Ages of Thunder, Thor grapples with his pride during a devastating battle against frost giants, feeling like he's the only one doing all the work, getting the job done, being tired of it. Feeling unappreciated and just going through the motions of fighting and then drinking. This is not your usual Thor from modern times, this is a young Thor ages ago, before Heimdall was set to guard the bifrost bridge.
“I had no reason to look innocent. I was innocent.” - Thor
Then we have Thor suffering significant losses, Thor protecting humans on Midgard and asking only for one simple thing of them, but unfortunately, humans being humans, did not listen. So Thor comes to a point where he just gives up on mortals. This sense of loss fuels his growing rage against Midgard and humanity, reflecting his inner turmoil. He goes on rampage killing and obliterating everyone in his path across the nine realms, either that be Jutunheim or Earth, or Niffelheim. He's burning everything and everyone with only hate in his mind.. a kind of Thor you never read about.
"I have the lightning in my heart and on my mind the darkness." - Thor
The artwork by Patrick Zircher and others is striking, bringing the epic scale of Asgard and the intensity of Thor’s emotions to life. Couldn't stress this enough but each panel makes you wish you had this on an even bigger format. The minute this collection gets published as Gallery Edition I'm preordering for sure (which I doubt) but one can only hope. The art is really something to appreciate here.
In the end, it was lightning that won the day. Because while thunder is, above all things, impressive... It is lightning that gets the job done.
Thor’s fury deepens as he confronts betrayal, leading to violent consequences that further isolate him. The storyline emphasizes his complicated relationship with Odin, who punishes Thor, highlighting themes of accountability and growth. Man of War explores Thor's realization of the consequences of his actions, while Trial of Thor serves as a moment of reckoning, forcing him to reflect on his past. Everything ties up so nicely, and Thor even though realizes the harm he's doing to innocents, he's accepting fate as it is for humans do not appreciate. He never apologizes for others' wrongdoings and for what they made him into and what Odin made him do all these years.
Under a bridge in Asgard is where I took a life. Under that bridge that day is where I drew some blood.
Overall, this collection is a must-read for fans of Thor, and for fans of Vikings and Norse Gods for sure, offering a nuanced exploration of his character and legacy. So many great moments here, and many poetic ones after things and events unwrap. Especially when realizing that behind a huge turn of events in the lives of so many, hides one tiny little mischief.
Amazing story and stunning art. Highly recommended!
Over a hill in Midgard, is where I've found my love. Over the bifrost bridge, I could not turn my back. By Odin's crows, I gave my godhood away.
Asgard now has nothing, especially not me. How am I supposed to sleep tonight? Because if you're down in Midgard, that means I'm all alone.
August 23, 2017
This is a good collection of 4 Thor stories by Matt Fraction. You can see why they'd put him on the main ongoing book after this, it's just a shame his run on the main book was never quite as good as anything here
April 8, 2020
If people were to read the comic books, they would understand the reason I ship Thor and Sif.
April 11, 2014
If you want young douche Thor done right read Thor God of Thunder. This series is super OOC for everyone, not surprising seeing that it's Fraction. He's a great writer, but he's not the man for Thor and Asgardians. His run on the Mighty Thor still gives me a headache because it was such a mess and it ruined so much history and what happened in JMS's run. I'm getting off topic, but my point is that he can't write Thor.
June 12, 2010
Awesome. That's it. It's A-W-S-O-M-E! Fraction captured the language of the gods. Beautiful story telling.
I don't want to NOT mention the illustrations and their magnificence! I changes from story to story, but still compliments the writing.
I don't want to NOT mention the illustrations and their magnificence! I changes from story to story, but still compliments the writing.
March 15, 2015
A couple of stories about Thor and his life in Asgard. Really good graphics for most parts. Enjoyed the stories.
May 16, 2016
I must admit that I didn't quite enjoy either the story or the characters in this one, so I most likely won't continue on with the series.
October 10, 2025
I initially wanted to rate it 3 stars since it was unclear why these four tales were together as they were not connected. That being said, after reading a few reviews I see that it was connected because the first 3 are all Thor pre-Avenger days and are almost like one shots in it of itself, with the fourth being a more tribute comic. I guess it basically is a series of standalone one shots which I feel would’ve been a bit better to know going in. Other than that, it was enjoyable
March 25, 2021
This is a solid tale of change and lack of change when it comes to the Nordic Gods. I think this is Fraction's strongest Thor work (which was overshadowed by Gillen's Journey into Mystery). The art is magnificent.
July 2, 2022
Didn’t really click. It’s a collection of stories with varied characterizations of characters, and are (I assume) based on actual Norse myths and/or earlier Thor stories. The art is usually fine, and the stories are honestly forgettable told.
August 10, 2018
Longo sem depreciações e página conclusas. a parte da Deusa do gelo foi uma demonstração aparte de todo titulo , contudo a mehor HQ DO ANO.
August 29, 2018
!2.5 stars!
September 22, 2018
Obožavam ove stripove!
Nordijska mitologija mi je postala jedna od najzanimljivijih mitologija!
Nordijska mitologija mi je postala jedna od najzanimljivijih mitologija!
June 5, 2019
Par samostalnih prica ke se bave nordiskom mitologijom, zgodno za procitat, crtez pun mišića i dekoltea
August 14, 2022
A Great deal of fun!!!!!
December 11, 2025
Three stories that I already knew from the Norse mythology and a nothing special special. I was expecting more from this one
November 16, 2014
I've been thinking a lot about writers' bodies of work lately, and what they say about them. No one is ever perfect. No writer comes out of the gate, guns blazing, and then keeps those guns blazing forever. Even the best of the best have to fail, often publicly, and I think it's in the level of failure that you really get a sense for a writer. I say all this because Matt Fraction is one of my absolute favorite comics writers. He's imaginative while staying grounded, fully capable of playing with massive ideas or small human interactions, can be utterly hilarious or completely dramatic, and no matter how he approaches it, he's almost always thoroughly readable. But then there's stuff like this Thor book where it's just kind of "fine."
The thing is, though, "fine" is about the worst thing I'd say about any Fraction book I've read. This Thor is "fine." The other Thor book by him I've read, The World Eaters, is "fine." His run on Uncanny X-Men? Also "fine." Nothing highly original, but also nothing out of place or particularly bad. With the sheer amount of writing he's doing, this is monumentally impressive. You can have a J.D. Salinger or someone step up, write one book, and be eternally praised, but when it comes down to it, it's far more interesting to me to watch a writer grow and change and mess up and rediscover themselves than to think about some old grump in a shack somewhere refusing to write anything else. That just sounds like someone who got lucky, rather than someone who took advantage of their natural talents.
On to this particular book, though. Each issue of this story was released as a standalone special, only slightly tying in to each other. As such it's a little disjointed as a narrative, and just kind of feels like a short story collection rather than a complete book (which, again, is "fine"). Fraction tells the story in a very mythical style, using flowery language and literal deus ex machinas as are prevalent in those old tales of gods you hear from Norse and Greek mythology. He also artfully breaks this style from time to time, such as having Thor suddenly just tell someone mid-god-ologue to "Shut up," which is about as ungodlike as it gets, and made me laugh.
Ultimately, though, I just kept wondering "why this story?" There's nothing particularly amazing about it as a concept, and it's set thousands of years in the past, making it pretty far removed from current Marvel chronology. It didn't feel important somehow. I knew the events in these stories couldn't have any lasting consequences, and also knew they wouldn't really tell us anything particularly new, so it was just kind of a writing exercise more than anything else. It's a quick and mostly enjoyable read, but just feels kind of pointless in the long run.
So, there we are. It is possible that this is the worst Fraction book I've read, and it's still better than a ton of other stuff out there. Like I said, it's "fine." If you love Thor or Fraction, go ahead and read it, but there are way better entries from each. I just wish Fraction a long and successful career if this is the worst he's capable of.
The thing is, though, "fine" is about the worst thing I'd say about any Fraction book I've read. This Thor is "fine." The other Thor book by him I've read, The World Eaters, is "fine." His run on Uncanny X-Men? Also "fine." Nothing highly original, but also nothing out of place or particularly bad. With the sheer amount of writing he's doing, this is monumentally impressive. You can have a J.D. Salinger or someone step up, write one book, and be eternally praised, but when it comes down to it, it's far more interesting to me to watch a writer grow and change and mess up and rediscover themselves than to think about some old grump in a shack somewhere refusing to write anything else. That just sounds like someone who got lucky, rather than someone who took advantage of their natural talents.
On to this particular book, though. Each issue of this story was released as a standalone special, only slightly tying in to each other. As such it's a little disjointed as a narrative, and just kind of feels like a short story collection rather than a complete book (which, again, is "fine"). Fraction tells the story in a very mythical style, using flowery language and literal deus ex machinas as are prevalent in those old tales of gods you hear from Norse and Greek mythology. He also artfully breaks this style from time to time, such as having Thor suddenly just tell someone mid-god-ologue to "Shut up," which is about as ungodlike as it gets, and made me laugh.
Ultimately, though, I just kept wondering "why this story?" There's nothing particularly amazing about it as a concept, and it's set thousands of years in the past, making it pretty far removed from current Marvel chronology. It didn't feel important somehow. I knew the events in these stories couldn't have any lasting consequences, and also knew they wouldn't really tell us anything particularly new, so it was just kind of a writing exercise more than anything else. It's a quick and mostly enjoyable read, but just feels kind of pointless in the long run.
So, there we are. It is possible that this is the worst Fraction book I've read, and it's still better than a ton of other stuff out there. Like I said, it's "fine." If you love Thor or Fraction, go ahead and read it, but there are way better entries from each. I just wish Fraction a long and successful career if this is the worst he's capable of.
January 4, 2017
It wasn't as good as I expected it to be! But still, Thor is BAE
August 4, 2013
As I worked my way through this collection, my initial impression was a great big, meh. Most of the stories in this book are loose reinterpretations of the original Norse myths. And one over-riding theme of them all is that NONE of the characters are likeable. Thor is not the noble hero fighting for justice on behalf of the innocent. He's a spoiled, arrogant bully who enjoys the death and destruction of battle; son of a cruel, despotic king. Loki is still the trickster, but most of the time he's just a punching bag for Odin's brutality. Sif is nowhere to be found. Further, these tales have already been re-imagined many times over in Thor comics over the years, and to better effect. What saved this collection was the final story: The Death and Life of Skurge the Executioner. This story is easily five stars.
The final story tells the tale of Skurge, who many readers will recognize as the companion of the Enchantress in comics and cartoons. Here, he is the center of a tale that crosses over several realities. What brought this story to the level of brilliance is how those realities are represented - by a drastic change in art as our heroes follow the disturbance to its source. We see Thor, Loki and Balder drawn as they have appeared throughout the years. This includes a section recreated to look like Kirby's original tales, right down to Loki's golden scaled briefs and Thor's bright blue leggings! Another section has Lady Loki and Thor with his chained mail look. It is one of the best uses of art to further a story that I have ever seen, and the cause of the problem was a bit of a surprise.
Initially, I had planned to give this collection two stars, but the final story was so good it was worth the purchase all by itself. So, I decided upon four stars. Recommended.
The final story tells the tale of Skurge, who many readers will recognize as the companion of the Enchantress in comics and cartoons. Here, he is the center of a tale that crosses over several realities. What brought this story to the level of brilliance is how those realities are represented - by a drastic change in art as our heroes follow the disturbance to its source. We see Thor, Loki and Balder drawn as they have appeared throughout the years. This includes a section recreated to look like Kirby's original tales, right down to Loki's golden scaled briefs and Thor's bright blue leggings! Another section has Lady Loki and Thor with his chained mail look. It is one of the best uses of art to further a story that I have ever seen, and the cause of the problem was a bit of a surprise.
Initially, I had planned to give this collection two stars, but the final story was so good it was worth the purchase all by itself. So, I decided upon four stars. Recommended.
May 3, 2010
This collection of Thor tales was a refreshing departure from the normal superhero sagas usually seen, as most of them are (loosely) based on well-known Norse myths. (That said, they're still adaptations through the filter of Marvel's version of Thor and the Asgardian mythos, so don't expect entirely faithful retellings.) Matt Fraction, who previously had been seen as a writer of street-level heroes in the vein of a Bendis or Brubaker, turns out to have a shockingly good grasp on what's needed in a Thor story - even here, at a time when Thor was not yet a hero, but instead sullen, arrogant and surly. Interestingly, one of the themes of the book seems to be the way that stories and myths change over time, as certain characters might appear one way during a particular era, and then markedly different at a later time (as did the role of the Valkyries, for instance) - a point, if you'll forgive the pun, "hammered" home in the final story, when multiple characters remember an old ally/enemy as worryingly different and mutually-exclusive versions, and then struggle to get to the bottom of the discrepancy.
December 31, 2019
Καλύτερο Thor Graphic Novel and Story, Characters, Drama, Humour, Battles and Action μέχρι τώρα για εμένα μέχρι τώρα!!!! I fucking hate in many stories and in many situations and circumstances and events Odin and other gods but her Thor deserves wjat he has got from Odin which is a very good exile and punishment!!!! Loki is always my favourite even in Gods themselves sich as Thor and here is so wonderful and appreciated much better and also he got his revenge by making Thor and Odin have a very furious argument and battle and Thor with a result to be banished but not in modern earth in the body of Doctor Donald Blake but in ancient Norway as the story of this Graphic Novel takes place which this graphic novel is a reintroduction to the origin of Thor and the Norse Gods and certain Legends and mostly Thor Exile and Loki's Revenge!!!! I hope I can find way more or more similar very good mindless simple or complicated meaningful graphic novels and stories adventures with Thor or any other heroes such as Captain America or The Incredible Hulk like this one graphic novel in story, interest, mythology, entertainment and action such as this Graphic Novel of The Mighty Thor!!!!
June 8, 2009
"Ages of Thunder" collects three extra-sized Thor specials published individually in 2008 which form a trilogy involving Loki getting up to shenanigans involving bartering away the Enchantress to various Frost Giant suitors. The first two read more as Loki stories in which Thor is merely the deus-ex-machina who shows up in the end to sort things out. In the third story things get interesting, as Thor is driven into a rage by the personal price he pays to clean up Asgard's messes and goes on a destructive tear through Midgard (Earth), in effect becoming the villain of the story who Odin, his father, has to stop.
Thor is one of those characters who is either written very, very well, or very, very badly. Thankfully, the series is currently in the hands of creators who know what makes Thor stories work. Matt Fraction, in this case, give us a Thor who isn't a super-hero but a full-on Norse deity, with all the arrogance, wrath, fury, pettiness, and half-naked concubines that implies.
Thor is one of those characters who is either written very, very well, or very, very badly. Thankfully, the series is currently in the hands of creators who know what makes Thor stories work. Matt Fraction, in this case, give us a Thor who isn't a super-hero but a full-on Norse deity, with all the arrogance, wrath, fury, pettiness, and half-naked concubines that implies.
November 22, 2009
This attempt at an epic mythic that plays nice with the Marvel characterization of Thor and the Norse gods falls just a bit short. The art is pretty great across the board, though it's often fantasy-book-cover style pin-ups covered with a text narrative rather than actual storytelling. Matt Fraction comes up a little short in making these gods seem god-like. Most of their conflicts seem more petty than grand. However, there is a nice resolution to an overly bratty, morose Thor for most of the book. The last issue in this four-part collection (called Thor God-Size Special) isn't related to the first three, but is a rewarding side-story to the current Thor series that brings back Thor's long-time villain The Executioner.
February 22, 2010
This is a really good admixture of traditional Norse legends about Thor and the character as he has evolved in the Marvel Comics universe, with the emphasis on the former. Students of Scandinavian mythology will find plenty of deviations from the source material, but many of the episodes in this volume stay close to the spirit of the old tales. Thor is not the wise and empathetic hero he has become in the comics, but a violent and moody god of war who refuses to bend to anyone else's will.
A lot of the art is splash pages, and a lot of them could just as easily have been '80s metal album covers. The prose is sometimes awkward, but for the most part it's a good retelling of classic myths in a comic book format.
A lot of the art is splash pages, and a lot of them could just as easily have been '80s metal album covers. The prose is sometimes awkward, but for the most part it's a good retelling of classic myths in a comic book format.
September 24, 2010
Want my one-word review? Here it is:
"Meh."
This really doesn't deserve two stars. But it's just not quite dreadful enough to rate only one. It almost was, but there was a slightly interesting section towards the end where they did some mildly amusing playing around with different art styles.
But in a fractional system, this one would get 1.51 stars at best. Ponderous, annoying, stupid characters and plots...it really felt like a throwback to the old days, when most comic books were being written for an audience of slightly dim-witted young teens. With a bit of extra confusion thrown in for pseudo "depth".
"Meh."
This really doesn't deserve two stars. But it's just not quite dreadful enough to rate only one. It almost was, but there was a slightly interesting section towards the end where they did some mildly amusing playing around with different art styles.
But in a fractional system, this one would get 1.51 stars at best. Ponderous, annoying, stupid characters and plots...it really felt like a throwback to the old days, when most comic books were being written for an audience of slightly dim-witted young teens. With a bit of extra confusion thrown in for pseudo "depth".
April 29, 2014
Beautifully illustrated, although there were a lot of female characters and it would have been nice if any of them had been wearing more than a barely-there bikini.
The story was very focused on the relationship between Thor and Odin--their mutual frustration (which isn't quite explained enough; Thor seems fed up with the Gods' cavalier attitudes towards the other worlds, Odin treats him like an insensitive brat).
The scale of it--the rain of fire when Odin's angered, the battles that last forty days and forty nights--bring in a mythical, epic dimension to the story that I really enjoyed.
Well-drawn, well-written, and simultaneously serious and entertaining.
The story was very focused on the relationship between Thor and Odin--their mutual frustration (which isn't quite explained enough; Thor seems fed up with the Gods' cavalier attitudes towards the other worlds, Odin treats him like an insensitive brat).
The scale of it--the rain of fire when Odin's angered, the battles that last forty days and forty nights--bring in a mythical, epic dimension to the story that I really enjoyed.
Well-drawn, well-written, and simultaneously serious and entertaining.
June 26, 2014
This was an interesting collection of occasionally related stories. The first few stories are adaptations of classic mythological stories, and then the final ones relate more to Marvel-specific mythology, first the genesis of Thor's time in Midgard, and then a story relating to Skurge, a character with which I was not familiar, but handily, the trade includes the original issue to which the story refers. It was enough of a taste to pique my interest in reading more older Thor stories, and in following more current ones, as well.
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