THOR: GOD OF THUNDER #19.NOW

All-New Marvel NOW! finds its way to Midgard to sweep up the thunder god in "Thor: God of Thunder" #19.NOW, wherein Jason Aaron reacquaints readers with Roz Solomon, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent whose specialty is environmental law. Thor took a shine to her back in "Thor: God of Thunder" # 12, which is enough to fuel good-natured teasing from Phil Coulson.

In the first three pages of "Thor: God of Thunder" #19.NOW, Aaron jams in a memo from Roxxon Energy Corporation's new chief executive officer, a glimpse into the lonely depths of space and a "You speak whale" declaration. Aaron also throws in a flying S.H.I.E.L.D. car, some dead planets, giant subs and underwater ninjas. Under Aaron, Thor isn't simply limited to encounter other Norse gods or even gods from other pantheons, but rather against anything and everything Aaron can think of. In this comic, Aaron uses Thor to define the world around the thunder god. Thor seeks to make the world a better place and wishes for companionship along the way. That doesn't define Thor, but it does provide topography to his world.

With a capable creative crew composed of artist Esad Ribic, colorist Ive Svorcina, and letterer Joe Sabino answering every single one of Aaron's creative challenges, "Thor: God of Thunder" #19 is a spectacular looking book. The distant future of King Thor is orange, hazy and hot, serving a solid contrast to the sickly green barrenness of the issue's opening scene. Everything in between is gorgeously rendered, beautifully colored and playfully lettered. The sound effects of Mjolnir destroying gigantic whaling submarines in the ocean's depths are akin to those kids would make creating the same confrontation in the depths of a backyard swimming pool. Thor clocking a frost giant is given a full page, delivered only with images, no lettering necessary to relate the events of that image. These three visual artists do not hesitate to unleash their creativity, expanding the artwork to fill the adventure, giving one another space or augmenting the very best in their collaborators.

Taking on environmental or social issues in a comic book can be a dicey proposition with a slippery slope. Thor upstages Roxxon, but the manner in which that is accomplished is sure to leave readers wondering why that wasn't done sooner or can't be done more often. Aaron is competent enough to put a price behind Thor's gift. The writer also removes the face of the foe of environmental upheaval. Sure, there are proxies to punch, but the real problem is bigger than Thor, more widespread and more tenacious. Thor's ties to humanity may not lead to his downfall, but it will leave to heartache, as Aaron has already shown in previous appearances of King Thor. Environmental issues, fallen frost giants and returning resource plunderers make for quite a wide array of content in the pages of "Thor: God of Thunder" #19. NOW which serves up an in-progress jumping on spot for fans of the thunder god.

Source:  Doug Zawisza,  CBR

THOR: GOD OF THUNDER #18

Under an Esad Ribic cover worthy of a Molly Hatchet album, artist Das Pastoras joins writer Jason Aaron for "Days of Wine and Dragons" in "Thor: God of Thunder" #18. In this issue, the Thor in the spotlight is the younger Thor from just after his first confrontation with Gorr. This issue, however, is less burdensome than the tale of the God Butcher or even the recently concluded "The Accursed" storyline. It's a done-in-one story that Jason Aaron uses to deepen the canvas of Thor's existence. In celebrating the boisterous Thor of 894 A.D., Aaron continues to showcase the Nine Realms and the mythology surrounding Thor and his Norse brethren.

"Thor: God of Thunder" #18 features the telling of Thor's friendship with Skabgagg the dragon. Sure, the issue opens with ill portent as Thor wakes up in Skabgagg's mouth, covered in mead and vomit, but Thor and the dragon make amends as the Thunder God attempts to prove Skabgagg's innocence to the she-Vikings of the Faroe Islands. As Aaron does so frequently with the adventures of the Odinson, he provides yet another fun, well-rounded character that instantly becomes a fixture in the legend of Thor.

In addition to contributing polished characters to "Thor: God of Thunder," Aaron continues to illustrate the humanity of the blond-haired son of Odin. "Thor: God of Thunder" #18, like so many others in Aaron's run, illustrates the consequences of Thor's decisions, both to the Thunder God and to those around him. In this case, Skabgagg reaps some consequences of his own doing, but they are in no small part tied to Thor. In tying the two characters together, Aaron crafts a bond that goes deeper than his words conscribed to the page. Indeed, the pictures in "Thor: God of Thunder" #18 tell a powerful story.

The end of this issue is sure to tug at readers' hearts as artist Das Pastoras hits all the right notes, packing the thunder god full of emotion and restrained power. That power is present throughout "Thor: God of Thunder" #18 as Pastoras showcases the strength of mighty Thor in the god's actions and poses. Pastoras' style has a raw quality that looks like inspired ballpoint pen drawings colored with crayons, but composed in such a manner that the paper these drawings are on curls at the edges from so much attention and energy being poured upon it.

"Thor: God of Thunder" #18 is yet another example of what Jason Aaron brings to the character and the mythology of Thor. Once again, Aaron's artist rises to the occasion, providing a magnificent sample of collaborative excellence for the adventures of the Thunder God. In the text page at the conclusion, Aaron notes that the issue draws his initial exploration of the Nine Realms to a conclusion. From here, Thor is bound for an adventure on Midgard -- but to this point, Aaron has enhanced the Nine Realms for readers and continues to do so magnificently in "Thor: God of Thunder" #18.

Source CBR

THOR #17

THE GRAND FINALE OF THE ACCURSED!

Thor’s desperate tour of the Nine Realms brings him to Midgard, to Earth, where he makes his final stand against Malekith and the dark forces of the Wild Hunt.

But what has become of Thor’s newest compatriots, the League of Realms? Who stands revealed as the traitor in their midst?

And what bloody victory has Malekith already won?

THOR: GOD OF THUNDER #16

JASON AARON (W) • RON GARNEY (A)
Cover by ESAD RIBIC
• The penultimate chapter of THE ACCURSED!
• Death comes to in the mountains of Jotunheim…
•..and there is a traitor among Thor’s newly formed League of Realms!
• As Thor prepares to execute one of his own comrades, Malekith stages his final bloody raid... on Earth.

NOV 2013 THOR BY WALTER SIMONSON VOL. 3 TPB

Written by WALTER SIMONSON
Penciled by WALTER SIMONSON & SAL BUSCEMA
Cover by WALTER SIMONSON
Few people have ever left their mark on one character quite the way Walter Simonson has. His work on the Mighty Thor swept the Norse God of Thunder to heights never before seen and rarely achieved in his wake. Spanning epic tales of heroism and treachery, love and war, Simonson’s work is often considered the definitive Thor. From the majesty and mystery of fabled Asgard to the gritty streets of New York City, Thor was never the same. That is the mark of a true visionary. This third volume continues the collection of Simonson’s epic run — completely remastered from the original artwork and newly colored by Steve Oliffe! Collecting THOR (1966) #357-363 and BALDER THE BRAVE #1-4.
264 PGS./Rated T …$29.99

THOR: GOD OF THUNDER #15

JASON AARON (W) • RON GARNEY (A/C) • The hunt for Malekith the Accursed continues! • Thor and his newfound compatriots in the League of Realms chase the Dark Elf marauder across the Nine Realms: From the exotic fairy gardens of Alfheim to the frozen mountains of Jotunheim, where giants dwell. • But when one of the

League falls…will it mean war for all Realms?