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Thor: The Mighty Avenger #1-4
Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Vol. 1
He's banished, he's mad, and he wants to FIGHT. Roger Langridge (Muppet Show, Eisner and Harvey Award nominee) and Chris Samnee (Siege: Embedded, The Mighty) re-imagine the God of Thunder in Thor the Mighty Avenger! THRILL as he battles robots the size of cities! GASP as he tames the mightiest sea creatures! SWOON as he rescues damsels from the vilest villains! It's Thor as you've NEVER seen him, hammering his way into your hands every month!
COLLECTING
Thor the Mighty Avenger #1-4, Journey Into Mystery #83-84
COLLECTING
Thor the Mighty Avenger #1-4, Journey Into Mystery #83-84
128 pages, Paperback
First published December 22, 2010
45 people are currently reading
770 people want to read
About the author
Roger Langridge
298 books62 followersRoger Langridge has been producing comics for over twenty years. Most recently, he has attracted critical attention for his work on the Harvey Award-winning Muppet Show Comic Book (Boom! Studios) and Thor: The Mighty Avenger (Marvel Comics); other works of note include Marvel's Fin Fang Four, Fantagraphics' Zoot! and Art d'Ecco (in collaboration with his brother Andrew), and the NCS, Ignatz, Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated comic book Fred the Clown. He currently lives in London with his wife Sylvie, their two children and a box of his own hair.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
August 25, 2023
When a hobo dressed like Thor finds his way into Jane Foster's life, her life is turned upside down.
Aside from some of the Kirby material and Walt Simonson's run, Thor is hit or miss for me. This one is a big hit.
Okay, so I mainly bought this for the Chris Samnee art but I wound up loving Roger Langridge's stories too. This must have hit during one of my hiatuses from comics.
Over on Bluesky, comic artist Peter Kraus said this was one of his favorite comics and it's a romance comic disguised as a super hero comic. That's an apt description. The tone reminds me of the Allred/Slott Silver Surfer run without so much cutesy shit. Jane and Thor have some adventures as they grow closer together and fall in love.
Samnee's art is the star of the show for me but Langridge writes some great done in one tales. Guest stars about like the Warriors Three, Namor, and Captain Britain. Aside from the lack of a proper ending to wrap it up, this is a perfect comic.
It feels like it might have been created as a new jumping on point but doesn't seem to be tied to any established continuity. It feels a more like MCU Thor than 616 or Ultimate Thor.
So yeah. I wish they'd gotten another few issues to wrap this up but it stands pretty well as is. Five out of five stars from me.
Aside from some of the Kirby material and Walt Simonson's run, Thor is hit or miss for me. This one is a big hit.
Okay, so I mainly bought this for the Chris Samnee art but I wound up loving Roger Langridge's stories too. This must have hit during one of my hiatuses from comics.
Over on Bluesky, comic artist Peter Kraus said this was one of his favorite comics and it's a romance comic disguised as a super hero comic. That's an apt description. The tone reminds me of the Allred/Slott Silver Surfer run without so much cutesy shit. Jane and Thor have some adventures as they grow closer together and fall in love.
Samnee's art is the star of the show for me but Langridge writes some great done in one tales. Guest stars about like the Warriors Three, Namor, and Captain Britain. Aside from the lack of a proper ending to wrap it up, this is a perfect comic.
It feels like it might have been created as a new jumping on point but doesn't seem to be tied to any established continuity. It feels a more like MCU Thor than 616 or Ultimate Thor.
So yeah. I wish they'd gotten another few issues to wrap this up but it stands pretty well as is. Five out of five stars from me.
October 5, 2012
I really liked the Thor movie, but had no idea where to start in Thor comics. There's a lot of continuity to worry about there. The Mighty Avenger is perfect for people like me, who like the character but don't want to figure out how over 40 years of backstory is influencing the storyline. The premise is similar to the plot of the movie (I have no idea if this is because the movie's plot sticks closely to mainstream Marvel continuity) so it's pretty much familiar ground. I was confused by the choice of Mr. Hyde for the first villain. Is he maybe a regular Thor villain elsewhere? The strongest issue, by far, is the last one in this collection, #4, guest starring Captain Britain. Completely fabulous and incredible fun.
I wasn't sold on the art off the cover, but by the end of the story I was really liking it. I love the artist for not overly sexualizing Jane's image. The faces are quite expressive, too.
There are four issues of The Mighty Avenger, plus two 60s Thor comics thrown in for good measure. My biggest complaint ended up being the size. For some reason, the trade is in a smaller format than the comics were originally, making the lettering uncomfortably small.
I wasn't sold on the art off the cover, but by the end of the story I was really liking it. I love the artist for not overly sexualizing Jane's image. The faces are quite expressive, too.
There are four issues of The Mighty Avenger, plus two 60s Thor comics thrown in for good measure. My biggest complaint ended up being the size. For some reason, the trade is in a smaller format than the comics were originally, making the lettering uncomfortably small.
September 7, 2012
An all-ages book means not it is juvenile or insipid, but accessible to younger readers with a story that isn’t steep in decades old continuity and yet enough to interest even an established older fan. This concept was once embodied by the all too short run of Thor, The Mighty Avenger, a title lauded by comic book critics for its excellent updating of the mythos and by librarians for its suitability for young adult readers.
This is a well written and well drawn that took advantage of it being set in the earliest days of Thor’s career as a modern superhero by having its own independent continuity apart from his regular monthly title and yet could easily be integrated into his overall comics mythology. The single issues had self contained stories that had an overarching theme of the young Asgardian learning humility while exiled on earth. This is the core of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s take on the Norse god, a being with an incredible power set but with feet of clay. The original Lee and Kirby Thor had a mortal guise and learned compassion by living among humans as a doctor with a palsied leg. This newer version by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee is a much younger and brasher godling with a heart of gold impressed by his own power that his father exiled him to Earth, sundered him from his hammer and with missing pieces of his memory that probably altered much of his original personality. But he has a conscience and a moral anchor in Jane Foster, who has a much larger role and a stronger personality than Lee and Kirby’s submissive nurse in the Sixties. Newer readers are given a chance to see for themselves much this modern revision differs from the original, the first two appearances of Thor by the original team is included in this collection.
This was an excellent series and it is pity it has since been cancelled. Marvel should collect the entire in a hardcover with a larger page trim. An undersized omnibus would do as long Langridge and Samnee’s work is collected under one hardback cover. This is easily 4.5 stars. Not quite a 5 but give me that omnibus and it will surely merit that.
This is a well written and well drawn that took advantage of it being set in the earliest days of Thor’s career as a modern superhero by having its own independent continuity apart from his regular monthly title and yet could easily be integrated into his overall comics mythology. The single issues had self contained stories that had an overarching theme of the young Asgardian learning humility while exiled on earth. This is the core of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s take on the Norse god, a being with an incredible power set but with feet of clay. The original Lee and Kirby Thor had a mortal guise and learned compassion by living among humans as a doctor with a palsied leg. This newer version by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee is a much younger and brasher godling with a heart of gold impressed by his own power that his father exiled him to Earth, sundered him from his hammer and with missing pieces of his memory that probably altered much of his original personality. But he has a conscience and a moral anchor in Jane Foster, who has a much larger role and a stronger personality than Lee and Kirby’s submissive nurse in the Sixties. Newer readers are given a chance to see for themselves much this modern revision differs from the original, the first two appearances of Thor by the original team is included in this collection.
This was an excellent series and it is pity it has since been cancelled. Marvel should collect the entire in a hardcover with a larger page trim. An undersized omnibus would do as long Langridge and Samnee’s work is collected under one hardback cover. This is easily 4.5 stars. Not quite a 5 but give me that omnibus and it will surely merit that.
March 27, 2014
While this comic wasn't bad by any means, it can definitely be skipped by the casual Marvel fan. Much of the plot is vaguely similar to the first Thor movie, and the minimalist art is nothing to write home about. Thor's personality is not very well developed, other than his overdeveloped sense of honor and general childishness. Jane Foster's infatuation with him is not very believably explained either (who lets a crazy homeless person come live with them?).
Gripes aside, it had a satisfactory, if superficial, story-line, definitely meant for an all-ages audience. The cameos by Ant-Man, Wasp, Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun, and Captain Britain made for a lot of entertaining moments. All-in-all, you could do a lot worse than this comic, but ultimately, this is a pretty forgettable series of adventures.
However, this comic did come with two bonus issues from the way-back machine, Thor's first ever appearances -- in Journey into Mystery #83 and #84. Granted, they are quite dated, but they are classic Stan Lee and Jack Kirby nonetheless.
Gripes aside, it had a satisfactory, if superficial, story-line, definitely meant for an all-ages audience. The cameos by Ant-Man, Wasp, Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun, and Captain Britain made for a lot of entertaining moments. All-in-all, you could do a lot worse than this comic, but ultimately, this is a pretty forgettable series of adventures.
However, this comic did come with two bonus issues from the way-back machine, Thor's first ever appearances -- in Journey into Mystery #83 and #84. Granted, they are quite dated, but they are classic Stan Lee and Jack Kirby nonetheless.
August 2, 2012
Thor, at least in the manner by which Marvel has defined him, is a character who probably shouldn't interest me. I grew up loving various non-American mythologies and found the cultures that produced them to be interesting. Greek, Roman, Japanese, Norse—oh how I loved the Norse mythologies. And the idea of that Norse mythos coming to life in contemporary North America sounds delectable in purely conceptual terms. It's just the loud, boisterously costumed Jack-Kirby Asgardians that I couldn't get behind, the Norse lords who spoke in a faux-Elizabethan pidgin and wouldn't kill humans for whatever reason. They were too sanitized to tempt me.*
This was the opinion that reigned in me until I encountered Walt Simonson's vision of the Asgardians when I was in high school. I still held many of my reservations, but the sheer bombasticism of Simonson's rendition was so dramatic, so intense, that I was won over for the space of his run on the book.** After Simonson finished his run, I too departed, unenthusiastic for the direction new creators might take. I grew skeptical that I could ever take Marvel's Thor seriously again. It took twenty years,*** but eventually I found another creative team who could make the thundering Asgardian a worthy diversion of my time. Unfortunately, Marvel cancelled the book after eight issues—a move that infuriates me as a reader who wants to read good books.
So what's so great about Langridge and Samnee's Thor: The Mighty Avenger? Honestly, nearly everything. I'm pretty well on record as not being any longer excited or too interested in superhero comics. Apart from rare exceptions, I simply avoid the books, not wanting to be disappointed by most of what I might read. This Thor, on the other hand, hits all the right notes for me. The story is engaging and charming. The art meets narrative and characters perfectly. And best of all, it left me wanting more.
Well, best of all if Marvel hadn't cancelled the book.
Apparently, and I hadn't had ear to the ground enough to know this 'til now, Thor: The Mighty Avenger is/was part of Marvel's more kid-friendly line. One can see the trailmarkers if one looks. A re-introduction of the character. Chapters that while accommodating a larger general arc are self-contained enough that readers could approach any one of them on their own and be relatively satisfied. The violence is clean and the more mature romantic instances are only hinted at—and in such a way that many adult readers might gloss over. The story is brisk, fun, humourous, romantic, sweet, and adventurous.
[Case study in subtlety:
This panel means that Thor and Jane engaged in nocturnal romantic relations.]
Chris Samnee's art is wonderfully expressive. While much of the contemporary superheroic genre demands the highly detailed and too-realistic art styles we've seen in Bryan Hitch and Alex Maleev and Greg Land, each of those styles (for whatever benefits they might bring to their books) all suffer one substantial deficit: their inability to convey easily a range of emotions. (For example, for all Tony Harris' talent, it can be difficult to watch him struggle to portray a particular instance of emotion in practically every chapter of Ex Machina; Greg Land, on the other hand, seems limited to maybe three.) Samnee's work is more fluid, relying on some of the tricks and exaggerations that animators prefer. There is never a point at which the reader will be confused as to what Thor's or Jane's expressions mean. This is not something that can be said for the bulk of contemporary America's superhero books.
[I mean, look at this scene. It's gorgeous and hilarious.]
And because this book may actually be more about relationships than it is about heroic deeds, Samnee's ability to convey winsome character interactions is essential to its success. Thor: The Mighty Adventure, if meant for the cinema instead of the comics form, would probably be one of those films that gets marketed as a summer blockbuster but is really much more successful because it appeals to more than just the testosterone fantasies of teenage boys. The building relationship between Thor and Jane is sensitive, believable, and actually pretty compelling. Probably lots of people would like it if they gave it a chance.
Honestly though, I think this would have perhaps appealed better had it not been a story about Marvel's Thor, a character with fifty years of history and expectations. The characters are solid and we like them, but they're built from the ground up out of new material. There's no necessary relation to the Marvel hero and the insinuation of Thor's old opponents (Mr. Hyde, Fin Fang Foom,**** etc.) feels tacked on—as if their inclusion comes only due to a marketing mandate. These are things that happen because this is a Thor comic, not because they ought to happen. The fact of the matter is that this didn't need to be a "Thor" comic at all. It didn't have to take place in the Marvel Universe (even one of their dusty, unused/unusable ones).
In fact, seeing how poorly Marvel supported the book, it almost certainly would have been better had Langridge and Samnee made this book wholly apart from the big publisher's bumbling. My gosh, even imagining what could have been had this creative team made their own book—one that happened to follow the story of a mythological god of thunder finding himself stuck on earth and meeting a nice girl? A book wholly of their own, investing the creators with the ability to compose it as they would, with beginning, middle, and end? Holy cats that would have been something.
Something to look forward to, I guess? A dream, a hope, something to believe in.
Notes
* To be fair, I wasn't exactly entranced by Neil Gaiman's expression of the Norse pantheon in American Gods, either.
** I'm curious how much of my abiding adoration for Simonson's work on the book is due to nostalgia's grasp upon my sense of things. I hope to read through Marvel's recent Simonson Omnibus soon to reacquaint myself with those old stories.
*** Technically, more, but I wasn't reading Simonson's Thor concurrent to its original publication save for an issue or two. I probably first read through Simonson's entire Thor arc around 1990 or so.
**** And I actually really enjoyed how they made Fin Fang Foom just a form that Heimdall took in order to confront Thor.
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[Review courtesy of Good Ok Bad]
January 6, 2018
I'm absolutely adoring this little series. It's a self-contained story that doesn't require branching out to tons of different comic titles to understand the plot. It's a bit of a remake and update of a Thor origin story. The characters are both drawn and written in a very cute and amiable way that had me grinning like a dork through the whole thing. It was a bit like the 2011 Thor movie premise with Thor and Jane's meeting and his being an odd Asgardian not knowing what's going on with Midgard and Jane helping him out, but it was much more natural-feeling and likable than how that situation was attempted in the movie. I believe this meeting is really what I'd always sort of wanted in a Thor story, so I'm delighted to finally have found it.
Often, I'm more interested in Loki's character because Thor comes off as more one-dimensional compared to him. I think a lot of writers over time have been unsure of how to handle a character like Thor. But this story did a really great job of giving him a good personality.
This book also had Hank (original Ant-man) and Jan (The Wasp) in it and they finally seemed to have a healthy relationship in this version of events, which also made them more enjoyable to follow.
After all of the angst and drama I've been reading about in other comics (and enjoying as well), this was a breath of fresh air and a very nice break. I highly recommend it if you want a more friendly, fun, and cute story to read in a short amount of time.
Often, I'm more interested in Loki's character because Thor comes off as more one-dimensional compared to him. I think a lot of writers over time have been unsure of how to handle a character like Thor. But this story did a really great job of giving him a good personality.
This book also had Hank (original Ant-man) and Jan (The Wasp) in it and they finally seemed to have a healthy relationship in this version of events, which also made them more enjoyable to follow.
After all of the angst and drama I've been reading about in other comics (and enjoying as well), this was a breath of fresh air and a very nice break. I highly recommend it if you want a more friendly, fun, and cute story to read in a short amount of time.
January 28, 2018
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would
Just finished the Walt Simonson Thor and thought that was great, initially I was put off on the illustrating style but got used to it.
The story’s good though, an bit of an origin story of how Thor cam to earth, mainly because his dad was pissed at him. Throw in Loki, Giant Man, Capt. Britain, and Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg, and it turned into a nice little story arc. Not very long but enough, only a third the size of the Simonson years.
But just fun.
Just finished the Walt Simonson Thor and thought that was great, initially I was put off on the illustrating style but got used to it.
The story’s good though, an bit of an origin story of how Thor cam to earth, mainly because his dad was pissed at him. Throw in Loki, Giant Man, Capt. Britain, and Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg, and it turned into a nice little story arc. Not very long but enough, only a third the size of the Simonson years.
But just fun.
February 6, 2011
I picked up Thor the Mighty Avenger at my library yesterday. I wasn't sure exactly what to except when I decide to pick it up. I thought the art looked amazing, but a good comic takes more than amazing art. After reading the first issue in the trade I realized I knew the author, Roger Langridge. He is an amazing artist and writer. I was a little surprised to see he was writing the book only. I would have loved to see his style for this book. Of course that would have been a lot of work for him.
The story was really good. This was an all ages book instead of Marvel's more gritty main line comics. It was also a new origin story for Thor. This book place him on earth for the first time since the viking era. The stories are sweet and the art is cute. I really enjoyed both elements. I liked that Thor was meeting other heroes and villains for the first time. This is a story of a man placed out of his realm. My favorite story was issue four in the trade. This issue has Thor with the Warrior's Three going out drinking. They run into Captain Britain, which is one of my favorite heroes, and the hi-jinks begin. I except more great things from this series. Langridge is a great writer and I know as long as he is writing Thor the Mighty Avenger that it will be a good read.
The one problem I had with the trade is the fact that they only collected the first four issues and then threw in two issues of the 1960's Journey Into Mystery. I would have liked to see more of this new Thor, not the old 60's reprints. This made the trade a short read, especially if you don't want to read the old comics. At the same time I don't feel I got screwed out of anything. I did borrow it from the library for free.
The story was really good. This was an all ages book instead of Marvel's more gritty main line comics. It was also a new origin story for Thor. This book place him on earth for the first time since the viking era. The stories are sweet and the art is cute. I really enjoyed both elements. I liked that Thor was meeting other heroes and villains for the first time. This is a story of a man placed out of his realm. My favorite story was issue four in the trade. This issue has Thor with the Warrior's Three going out drinking. They run into Captain Britain, which is one of my favorite heroes, and the hi-jinks begin. I except more great things from this series. Langridge is a great writer and I know as long as he is writing Thor the Mighty Avenger that it will be a good read.
The one problem I had with the trade is the fact that they only collected the first four issues and then threw in two issues of the 1960's Journey Into Mystery. I would have liked to see more of this new Thor, not the old 60's reprints. This made the trade a short read, especially if you don't want to read the old comics. At the same time I don't feel I got screwed out of anything. I did borrow it from the library for free.
July 16, 2015
Thor's origin is re-imagined by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee, in this, the first in a two-part mini. Here, Thor is brought down to a digest sized, all-ages adventure, vaguely mirroring the film. He spends his time wooing Jane, having amnesia, and punching familiar dudes in the head. Nothing ambitious is done with the blank slate approach, aiming for familiarity, but it is nice to read a Thor book with no missing pre-text. Samnee's art is great, and Langridge's script is perfectly acceptable. This a totally enjoyable read with some decent cameos, but I wasn't blown away. A fun all ages approach is always appreciated, and I'll be happy to share this one with my kids.
Also, there are a couple issues of classic "Journey Into Mystery" collected here. And you know, they're pretty bad. So consider that you're paying for those as well, there are only four issues of Mighty Avenger here.
Also, there are a couple issues of classic "Journey Into Mystery" collected here. And you know, they're pretty bad. So consider that you're paying for those as well, there are only four issues of Mighty Avenger here.
October 7, 2011
This was okay.
Probably aimed at a younger audience and thus, no real thrills here, just a nice light read with superb illustration.
Well, ok, I have to say it, there was one really stupid quote that I cannot let go.
Thor says
"This is useless, Jane. Even with only a rudimentary grasp of your written language I can see that."
Yeah, I am sure "rudimentary" was among the first 15 words that Thor learned.
Heh heh.
Probably aimed at a younger audience and thus, no real thrills here, just a nice light read with superb illustration.
Well, ok, I have to say it, there was one really stupid quote that I cannot let go.
Thor says
"This is useless, Jane. Even with only a rudimentary grasp of your written language I can see that."
Yeah, I am sure "rudimentary" was among the first 15 words that Thor learned.
Heh heh.
May 6, 2020
Ugh, no! No, no, no! 1 1/2 stars. The artwork is Saturday morning cartoon quality. I mean cheap Saturday morning cartoon quality. The story is straight from a TGIF sitcom so much that I can hear the canned laughter. Jane Foster is a quirky single working girl. Thor is the God of Thunder who has lost his memory. When these two move in together, wacky adventures ensue!
It's not the sitcom we fans deserve.
It's not the sitcom we fans deserve.
March 1, 2014
This is one of the best comic books of all time. The art is just plain amazing and the writing is fantastic. From exploring the little nuances of the relationship between Thor and Jane to the fantasy style battles with monsters and even Namor. I can't say enough about the art in this series. Its some of the best in the modern era. If you haven't read this series, you got to get on it!
June 9, 2015
Made me laugh and enjoyed the art. Not the biggest fan of the reprint of the original, although it was cool to see.
October 17, 2020
This version of Thor's Marvel origins is sooo good (and it is similar to the plot of the first MCU Thor film) and it is so great for an all-ages book (that just so happens to be a well-written and fun origin story). And Samnee's art is one of the best modern interpretations of a classic superhero comic style.
Thor: The Mighty Avenger is a wonderfully accessible piece of work that provides a brilliant introduction to Marvel’s take on the classic Norse God of Thunder. However, it remains a tragedy that this is one of very few efforts to provide such a comic, and also that Thor: The Mighty Avenger came to such an unceremonious end, cancelled after only eight issues.
Thor is sent to earth to learn humility (Thor has always been naively arrogant). Thor: The Mighty Avenger might embraces a more upbeat and optimistic vision of Marvel characters than most comic readers have come to expect, that doesn’t mean the comic is simplistic or under-written or suited only for a younger audience. Thor is well-intentioned, but he’s also consistently portrayed as stubborn and arrogant. Despite the fact he’s fundamentally a decent guy, we can see why he might need to learn humility, which turns his journey into one that anyone can identify with.
If you're new to Thor comics or haven't read this one yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
Thor: The Mighty Avenger is a wonderfully accessible piece of work that provides a brilliant introduction to Marvel’s take on the classic Norse God of Thunder. However, it remains a tragedy that this is one of very few efforts to provide such a comic, and also that Thor: The Mighty Avenger came to such an unceremonious end, cancelled after only eight issues.
Thor is sent to earth to learn humility (Thor has always been naively arrogant). Thor: The Mighty Avenger might embraces a more upbeat and optimistic vision of Marvel characters than most comic readers have come to expect, that doesn’t mean the comic is simplistic or under-written or suited only for a younger audience. Thor is well-intentioned, but he’s also consistently portrayed as stubborn and arrogant. Despite the fact he’s fundamentally a decent guy, we can see why he might need to learn humility, which turns his journey into one that anyone can identify with.
If you're new to Thor comics or haven't read this one yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
July 14, 2022
1 star to the 2-issue Thor and Jane first appearance. Thor's (and Korg's by future retcon, and Gorr's, no relation to the God Butcher) first appearance is still fine, if a little dull. Jane's first appearance is exactly as sexist, anti-communist, jingoistic, white saviour-y, and, in a well-intentioned way, ableist, as you'd expect from a 60s Lee and Kirby tale.
4 stars to the 4-issue modern update to Thor and Jane's origins, timed to release around the first movie. The writing is full of the joy of being a superhero, a god, a viking, and newly in love, while the art, by Chris Samnee (possibly the best artist to ever take on Daredevi btw), ensures all those emotions are sustained even in moments when the writing isn't quite doing it. There's one issue especially, of Thor just hanging out with the Warriors Three, that gave me so much joy (and so much sadness that the MCU threw those characters away to make someone else look strong before throwing that character away to further Thor's story before throwing that development away to build up Thanos). Anyway, this was only the first half, hope I'm able to read the rest soon.
4 stars to the 4-issue modern update to Thor and Jane's origins, timed to release around the first movie. The writing is full of the joy of being a superhero, a god, a viking, and newly in love, while the art, by Chris Samnee (possibly the best artist to ever take on Daredevi btw), ensures all those emotions are sustained even in moments when the writing isn't quite doing it. There's one issue especially, of Thor just hanging out with the Warriors Three, that gave me so much joy (and so much sadness that the MCU threw those characters away to make someone else look strong before throwing that character away to further Thor's story before throwing that development away to build up Thanos). Anyway, this was only the first half, hope I'm able to read the rest soon.
April 26, 2018
I really enjoyed Roger Langridge's Muppet comic books, so I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately, Langridge's ability to match the tone of the Muppets didn't carry over to Thor. I get the impression this was designed as an all-ages series, but it's really dull. It focuses on Jane more than Thor, seeing him through her eyes as the series details his first adventures in the modern world. His amnesia means he has almost no personality, the villain chosen is unimpressive, and the character crossovers are okay but by the fourth issue feel seriously overdone. The art is okay, if a bit light on details (there are frames where Thor's face is literally just two dots for eyes), but ultimately nothing in this volume clicked with me. Some of the humor is okay, but it all just felt... blah.
June 27, 2023
Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee work fantastically well together in this collection of their cut-far-too-short run on Thor: The Mighty Avenger.
It's an adventurous, (dare I say it) romantic romp with the added bonus (highlight really) of the one-shot FCBD 2011 story "Once and Future Avengers" where Thor & Captain America are teamed up by Merlin to defeat Loki's machinations in Arthurian England.
There aren't enough comics like this being produced nowadays, sad to say....
It's an adventurous, (dare I say it) romantic romp with the added bonus (highlight really) of the one-shot FCBD 2011 story "Once and Future Avengers" where Thor & Captain America are teamed up by Merlin to defeat Loki's machinations in Arthurian England.
There aren't enough comics like this being produced nowadays, sad to say....
November 16, 2017
I like it when stories are canon. These stories are so not canon they are other-worldly. I like other-worldly stories [parallel universes, etc]. Oh... these are not the usual Marvel universe [in my mind at least] they are from a parallel universe. Okay. I can deal with that. Still not great but pretty good.
March 25, 2018
Thor swings again!
This is an interesting new beginning to the Thor saga. The drawing and inking are wonderful, and are worthy of a 5 star, while the story line is barely a 3.5. Thor's love-interest is a bit charming, but at time she's cartoonish, along with his supporting characters.
This is an interesting new beginning to the Thor saga. The drawing and inking are wonderful, and are worthy of a 5 star, while the story line is barely a 3.5. Thor's love-interest is a bit charming, but at time she's cartoonish, along with his supporting characters.
May 24, 2021
Utterly charmed! I enjoyed this all-ages reboot. Thor and Jane Foster were both pretty adorable. I enjoyed Thor's first meeting with Giant Man, Iron Man, and Captain America. I was a little disappointed there was no Hulk, to round out the original Avengers lineup, but oh well. Lots of fun tangling with Loki. All-around entertainment.
December 6, 2017
Wet rag that razzed my berries.
A flash to the past! Traditional comic art, dated speech, minor amount of misogyny. Woman falls for the tall hunky blonde bum, and assumes the ugly brunette bum is pure evil. Rough start but ended fun.
A flash to the past! Traditional comic art, dated speech, minor amount of misogyny. Woman falls for the tall hunky blonde bum, and assumes the ugly brunette bum is pure evil. Rough start but ended fun.
December 7, 2017
Bloody live for comics! They’re so so good! Thor is such a cutie and I love seeing the contrast on how he’s portrayed (completely different from Uncle Rick’s portrayal lol!) it’s about identity and a bit of romance and it’s just so funny and fun to read as well. I LOVE MARVEL
June 20, 2017
Just a fun all ages romp with the god of thunder.
December 17, 2017
Thor the mighty avenger
A perfect comic for Marvel Fans & Thor Fans Also with great story and animation and likable characters it is Marvels Best Comic
A perfect comic for Marvel Fans & Thor Fans Also with great story and animation and likable characters it is Marvels Best Comic
May 1, 2018
This was a lot of fun. See my full review at Multiversity Comics: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/rev...
December 14, 2025
Unbearable, silly book with no stakes. Jane Foster as an academic is unbelievable. She is one dimensional and feels like a 12 year old boy wrote her.
September 12, 2022
They brought a God down to the level of us low-life humans and it's damn refreshing to see.
October 1, 2013
I had heard many good things about Thor the Mighty Avenger, but didn't really know what kind of book this was before I started reading. It appears to be an all-ages Thor book that was designed for people who wanted to get into the character for the first time. I have only seen the movie and this was my first Thor comic so I would say I was the right audience for this book. I thought it was very easy to follow along with Thor and Jane having similar characterizations to the movie. The all-ages part was less appealing to me because it felt like another book that is going for the silly, old-school superhero vibe. I didn't like that with the recent run on Daredevil and I liked it only a little better here, because it works better with a fantasy character like Thor and the fish out of water story. Ultimately, the storyline felt a little too similar to the Thor movie (despite having totally different villains) to me when I think I really wanted to see more about the character or him in a different kind of story than what was in the movie.
I felt about the same as I did with the story as I did with the art. I liked the style, but thought there were too many panels with not enough detail and also way too many characters biting their lip in the panels. The style fits the tone of the book very well, but I think it still could have been a little stronger.
While I liked this book well enough, it really isn't what I was looking for and I'll be jumping on the Thor run that started a few years ago and see if I like a more serious version better.
I felt about the same as I did with the story as I did with the art. I liked the style, but thought there were too many panels with not enough detail and also way too many characters biting their lip in the panels. The style fits the tone of the book very well, but I think it still could have been a little stronger.
While I liked this book well enough, it really isn't what I was looking for and I'll be jumping on the Thor run that started a few years ago and see if I like a more serious version better.
March 26, 2011
Landridge and Samnee have created a great title here; while it feels a lot like comics of the 60's and 70's, it's been updated with enough modern sensibility that it's not just goofy and corny. Instead we get a great origin story for Thor, as well as a couple of really fun adventures and some threads hinting at a bigger story (mostly that Thor is on Earth for being an egotistical jerk up in Asgard and daddy Odin kicked him down to find a little humility). By far my favorite part, though, is the fanboyish battle between Thor and Brian Braddock/Captain Brian, ending with them becoming best drinking buds in an nearby pub. Good superhero fun that's fantastically well done and very appropriate for a wide age range. The volume ends with some short comics from way back in time, reprinting the original origin of Marvel's Thor, with Donald Blake first discovering the magic hammer in a secret cave. It makes for an interesting comparison.
Sadly, this comic is a great example of what's wrong with mainstream comics today. Although this is a great title, it was marketed as "all ages" which translates to a lot of comics nerds as "for little kids". This left the single issues sitting on the shelf, cancelling the series before the first trade publication even came out (although volume 2 is out as well, which kind of closes out the series). This is likely to get a good number of awards attention this year, but it won't matter since the series won't be continuing.
Sadly, this comic is a great example of what's wrong with mainstream comics today. Although this is a great title, it was marketed as "all ages" which translates to a lot of comics nerds as "for little kids". This left the single issues sitting on the shelf, cancelling the series before the first trade publication even came out (although volume 2 is out as well, which kind of closes out the series). This is likely to get a good number of awards attention this year, but it won't matter since the series won't be continuing.
June 16, 2015
"Swooningly romantic" is not the first descriptor that comes to mind when you think of a comic book starring a burly Norseman whose favorite approach to problem-solving involves hitting things with a hammer. Ditto "endearingly heartfelt."
But writer Roger Langridge and artist Chris Samnee have wrought a tiny, lovely miracle in this book and its subsequent volume: A superhero comic packed with plenty of action, but also honestly funny, well-characterized, and practically bursting with tender emotion.
Samnee's art shines in every panel, displaying a mastery of facial expressions and body language, and an economy of line, reminiscent of masters like Alex Toth and David Mazzucelli. And Langridge crafts stories that feel old-fashioned in the very best way, with complex characters, intriguing mysteries, terrific jokes, and an almost startling spirit of gentle kindness.
Thor: The Mighty Avenger has only one flaw: Poor sales left the comic cancelled eight issues into a planned 12-issue run, and a ninth issue produced for Free Comic Book Day has yet to be collected in any trade. Sadly, the way Marvel's treated creators like Jack Kirby has led Langridge to forswear further work for hire for the company. When you read these stories -- and you absolutely should -- you'll understand what a shame it is that we'll never see any more of them.
But writer Roger Langridge and artist Chris Samnee have wrought a tiny, lovely miracle in this book and its subsequent volume: A superhero comic packed with plenty of action, but also honestly funny, well-characterized, and practically bursting with tender emotion.
Samnee's art shines in every panel, displaying a mastery of facial expressions and body language, and an economy of line, reminiscent of masters like Alex Toth and David Mazzucelli. And Langridge crafts stories that feel old-fashioned in the very best way, with complex characters, intriguing mysteries, terrific jokes, and an almost startling spirit of gentle kindness.
Thor: The Mighty Avenger has only one flaw: Poor sales left the comic cancelled eight issues into a planned 12-issue run, and a ninth issue produced for Free Comic Book Day has yet to be collected in any trade. Sadly, the way Marvel's treated creators like Jack Kirby has led Langridge to forswear further work for hire for the company. When you read these stories -- and you absolutely should -- you'll understand what a shame it is that we'll never see any more of them.
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