The path to worthiness begins here.
If there's one sure bet in the new Marvel NOW lineup, it's The Unworthy Thor. This mini-series serves as the latest branch in Jason Aaron's sprawling Thor epic, one that finally puts the spotlight back on the Odinson rather than Jane Foster. It also features the return of Olivier Coipel, perhaps the greatest and most influential Thor artist of the last decade. It's a terrific pairing, and one that predictably results in top-notch comic book-ery.
When last readers saw the Odinson in Aaron's run, he was being tortured in a mysterious, remote prison and coveting the hammer of the Ultimate Universe's Thor. When the real Mjolnir won't answer your call, an artificial approximation is the next best thing. This issue initially picks up where that tease left off, but Aaron quickly dials the clock back several months to explore how Thor landed himself in that predicament in the first place. It's basically the Marvel equivalent of that "*Record Scratch* *Freeze Frame*" meme that's all the rage on Twitter these days.
That approach is a little worrisome given that this series is only five issues long. It suggests that the Odinson acquiring Ultimate Mjolnir is the end destination of this story rather than the start of his journey. But in the end, that question becomes irrelevant. Aaron knows how to spin a great Thor yarn, and the plot is secondary to Aaron's rock-solid characterization and Coipel's gorgeous visuals.
The title of this series is very appropriate. The defining theme of Aaron's Thor run is worthiness, and what it means for a god to be worthy. This script does a fantastic job of showcasing the Odinson's decidedly unworthy mindset as he drinks, sulks, battles trolls and daydreams about recovering his hammer and his good name. Aaron has brought this hero low, but still a glimmer of the old thunder god remains. Between that characterization, the callbacks to Original Sin and Secret Wars and the long-awaited return of a major Thor character, there's a lot for fans to sink their teeth into even if the series is taking the slow, methodical route.
And really, what more do you need to know than "Olivier Coipel drawing Thor"? Coipel's art is every bit as bold, detailed and epic as it was on J. Michael Straczynski's Thor and Matt Fraction's Mighty Thor. And because Coipel is inking his own work here, there's no danger of finer details being lost or drowned out. Coipel brings a sense of raw fury to Thor's battles with the trolls, but also an intimate, haunting look at a fallen god trying to rebuild his life. Matt Wilson's colors bring life to the cold, outer space setting and help the book feel more of a piece with its sister series. Basically, if you're reading one Thor comic, there's no reason not to be following the other.
The Verdict
The Unworthy Thor #1 is a surprisingly slow start to a comic of such modest length. But even so, the appeal of having Jason Aaron and Olivier Coipel teaming up for a new adventure starring the Odinson is undeniable. This first issue looks fantastic and features a haunting look at the fallen thunder god.
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