On the Rack: Thor 2

Back in October we got our first look at the new Thor, but that’s all it was, a look. In issue two, Jason Aaron has unleashed the new Thor in all of her fury, and she is awesome. For anyone who questioned the validity of a female Thor, rest assured she can hold her own and she is just as mighty as the original Asgardian Avenger. Coupled with Russell Dauterman’s art, Aaron sets up his epic building on the foundation he laid during his time writing Thor: God of Thunder and catapults the reader into a story of mythic proportions.

There are a lot of highlights in this issue, but what really struck me was the way Aaron developed his new incarnation of Thor. She speaks with the cadence of an Asgardian, but she has an inner monologue that is distinctly mortal. While we still don’t know who she is, we do know what she is not; she is not Asgardian, she is not a god. My guess is that she is a well-loved character; in fact I am certain she is a certain crimson-haired Avenger, but that remains to be seen. More important than who she is, is how she carries herself, and Thor does not disappoint. She wields Mjolnir with all the fury befitting a Thunder God and moves fearlessly against her foes.

The most refreshing thing about Thor #2 is that this new Thor picks up right where the old Thor left off. Even her design is reminiscent of the old Avenger; she wears a conspicuously similar breast plate, helmet and cape to the original Thor. She is stepping in where he cannot act; she is worthy while he is not and she is almost literally filling his shoes. Of course the original Thor is still out there, and I suspect that he will come face to face with his successor sooner rather than later. They will meet, and it will affect Thor’s inevitable transformation.

We know Thor will change; he has to because Mjolnir has deemed him unworthy. In the meantime, this new, fierce, female version (or Thor 2.0) is doing the job for him and she is doing it well. She is fearless and she is powerful; she won’t have any trouble wearing the mantle until Thor is once again worthy and ready to reclaim his title. Lucky for us readers, she is also a compelling character and in a challenging situation. This second issue set the new Thor series up to be more than just a gimmick, but a promising story that will lay the foundation for the inevitable restoration of a key Avenger.