The Good
Just so you know, the word "fun" is going to be used in this review a lot because that really is the best way to describe this issue. It's never going for story-driven or heavier material; it's just trying to make you have a good time and get lost in this wonderful universe. And you know what? I'd say this three story issue succeeds at that. It may be too silly or lighthearted for some (there, just saved some of you $4.99), but if you're cool with the comedy-heavy and goofy titles that Marvel has to offer, this is going to be a good amount of fun for you. See, there's that word again. I mean, "fun" is obviously subjective, but the three stories work for different reasons.
The first story is by Jason Aaron, Timothy Truman, and Frank Martin. Out of the three tales, this one is the most "serious," incorporates just a wee bit of emotion, and will be the most interesting one for my fellow THOR: GOD OF THUNDER fans. This goes into the future and gives us a look at King Thor, sometime after his epic battle with Galactus. It's all about telling us that yes, Midgard is a big deal to Thor -- something we're all well aware of -- but it does so in an amusing and clever way. Plus, I love how Aaron handles Atli's banter. More of her, please. As for the visuals, they shine with the establishing shots and offer a decent sense of wonder. The attention to detail with the environments and settings were my visual highlight and there's no way Truman and Martin didn't have fun working on the visuals for some of the... well, I'll just call them unexpected and creative cameos. It's not an overly emotional read, but it is a nice little follow-up to the previous run and leaves me wondering when we'll be lucky enough to see more of King Thor and the return of the purple cosmic threat.
The second story's by Noelle Stevenson and Marguerite Sauvage. This one is simply a solid dose of cute -- guess what word comes next? -- fun. The visuals are a little stiff and not really as vivid as the other two chapters, but considering just how friendly and playful the story is in this one, the visuals fit the tone pretty well. They may not be a style I'm all that fond of, but they work for the story and that's what really matters. Don't worry, people who hate the new Thor, this one doesn't attempt to insult you! This time, Thor's closest friends are having a tough time accepting someone else as the wielder of Mjolnir, so they put her through several tests to see if she's really worthy of the powerful hammer. Adorable mayhem and fun ensues. What I really like about this one is it's not trying to hype the Goddess of Thunder up or say she's the "new and improved" Thor. The message is instead she's just a different person holding the iconic weapon and thrives for her own reasons. She's not better than Thor, she's just different. Her handling of the scenarios help show she's able to think on her feet and adapt to challenges in a completely different manner. More importantly, it shows just how surreal becoming the Goddess of Thunder must be and makes it crystal clear she's relishing every second about it. It's not laugh out loud funny or compelling, but it's a cute side story for the new heroine. I thin if you're really loving the new character, this will be a pleasant ride.
The final story is by CM Punk and CHEW'SRob Guillory. This is by far the wackiest, most out-there and funniest story out of the bunch and Guillory totally embraces all of the ridiculous fun. His exaggerated expressions and energetic characters really sell all of the laughs Punk put in the script. It's a totally over-the-top and cartoonish drinking story that takes ridiculous and hilariously silly turns. I mean, we're talking about a story where Thor has a drinking contest with the devil. If your immediate thought is, "What? Bring it on!" then you're likely going to really enjoy this one. The last page is a real treat as well -- absolutely didn't see that coming. As a THOR: GOD OF THUNDER fan, I thought the Aaron's story was the most rewarding, but this one is the most memorable. Its just so absurd and refuses to take anything seriously. If that's your thing, have at it and enjoy the insanity.
The Bad
Look, let's be totally honest here: this issue is pure filler. If you're expecting some solid developments in the story or teasers for what's to come in the latest run, you're going to be disappointed. This one is all about telling three short and totally different stories that aim to put you in a good mood, not expand the story in the regular issues or even give you a stronger clue about who the new Thor is. That said, $4.99 for just three very different kinds of fun is probably asking a little too much from some of you. Collecting comics is an expensive hobby and, even though it's just a few bucks, it really does add up every single week. Despite being sick and in a not-so-great mood, I really enjoyed all of the humor and had a good time. But seeing as comedy is subjective, it's entirely possible you'll end up paying $4.99 for one story you like and two you don't. I'd recommend checking out the preview before deciding if it's really worth your cash.
The Verdict
This is 100% lighthearted fun. There's no significant link back to the main story; it's all about embracing this fantasy world and having a crazy amount of fun with it. The opening story is mythos heavy and a little touching (it gives a brief update on future Galactus), the secondary story is cute and a little heartwarming, and the final one is all about purposefully over-the-top silliness and comedy -- it feels like a wacky cartoon. If you're cool with an issue that is focused purely on making you smile, odds are this might be worth your $4.99. Again, seeing as they're all delivering different kinds of comedy, I strongly recommend checking out the preview to see if this is something you'll appreciate.
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