Post by goldenfist on Dec 25, 2008 1:44:45 GMT -5
Here's what Ign.com had to say about Thor #12.
A brilliant mish-mash of modern fantasy and respectful nostalgia, you'd be hard pressed to find a better monthly comic than J. Michael Straczynski's Thor. Everything about the series is exemplary. The pacing. The dialogue. The art. So keeping such lofty, persistent accolades in mind, the fact that Thor #12 might be the best issue of the series to date is a real testament to the author's continued mastery of his re-imagined domain. What Straczynski accomplishes here in the confines of a single, self-contained story, is nothing short of amazing.
Lots of comics succeed on atmosphere, snappy dialogue or high-adventure. But the comic that triumphs in all of the above - the comic that broadcasts a wholly tangible ambience alongside its firm grasp on the basics – that's a rarity. What Straczynski has done with the series - notably in his most recent installments - makes it increasingly hard to suppress hyperbolical praise. Every issue he seems to come up with a fresh way to approach the material without ever abandoning his basic framework.
In this case, with Thor #12, Straczynski adds a new layer of vulnerability to a character already well established over multiple millennia of stories. Not only does he target Loki's basic motivations, but he also presents a coherent, nearly comprehensive definition for the character which serves as a basic blueprint for what makes him tick.
Fitting for the season, Straczynski's time-travel schematic also serves as a twisted analogy for Charles Dickens's Christmas Carol. As Loki transports in and out of the time stream, he approaches a number of the seminal events in his life, using the experience to exude a compensational arrogance towards the most important figureheads of his childhood. What results is an entertaining journey, but also a touching one.
Straczynski manages to direct the reader towards the chink in Loki's armor, highlighting the underlining emotional damage the God of Mischief tries so hard to mask. Loki pretends to be impervious to pain, desiring his enemies to believe he is above any sort of emotional baggage, but here Straczynski allows the character to become unhinged. He allows Loki to show a rare bit of vulnerability, playing with the relationship between the character's tough demeanor and his psychological scarring.
When you couple this skillful examination with Coipel's beautiful pencils, what results is a near perfect comic book. As a vetted professional, Straczynski has had his hands in a number of notable franchises, spanning both decades and mediums. So it is notable that what he continues to do with Thor is amongst his very best work. If you've yet to jump on board, do yourself a Christmas solid and catch up.
Review Score: 9.5 Incredible
A brilliant mish-mash of modern fantasy and respectful nostalgia, you'd be hard pressed to find a better monthly comic than J. Michael Straczynski's Thor. Everything about the series is exemplary. The pacing. The dialogue. The art. So keeping such lofty, persistent accolades in mind, the fact that Thor #12 might be the best issue of the series to date is a real testament to the author's continued mastery of his re-imagined domain. What Straczynski accomplishes here in the confines of a single, self-contained story, is nothing short of amazing.
Lots of comics succeed on atmosphere, snappy dialogue or high-adventure. But the comic that triumphs in all of the above - the comic that broadcasts a wholly tangible ambience alongside its firm grasp on the basics – that's a rarity. What Straczynski has done with the series - notably in his most recent installments - makes it increasingly hard to suppress hyperbolical praise. Every issue he seems to come up with a fresh way to approach the material without ever abandoning his basic framework.
In this case, with Thor #12, Straczynski adds a new layer of vulnerability to a character already well established over multiple millennia of stories. Not only does he target Loki's basic motivations, but he also presents a coherent, nearly comprehensive definition for the character which serves as a basic blueprint for what makes him tick.
Fitting for the season, Straczynski's time-travel schematic also serves as a twisted analogy for Charles Dickens's Christmas Carol. As Loki transports in and out of the time stream, he approaches a number of the seminal events in his life, using the experience to exude a compensational arrogance towards the most important figureheads of his childhood. What results is an entertaining journey, but also a touching one.
Straczynski manages to direct the reader towards the chink in Loki's armor, highlighting the underlining emotional damage the God of Mischief tries so hard to mask. Loki pretends to be impervious to pain, desiring his enemies to believe he is above any sort of emotional baggage, but here Straczynski allows the character to become unhinged. He allows Loki to show a rare bit of vulnerability, playing with the relationship between the character's tough demeanor and his psychological scarring.
When you couple this skillful examination with Coipel's beautiful pencils, what results is a near perfect comic book. As a vetted professional, Straczynski has had his hands in a number of notable franchises, spanning both decades and mediums. So it is notable that what he continues to do with Thor is amongst his very best work. If you've yet to jump on board, do yourself a Christmas solid and catch up.
Review Score: 9.5 Incredible
