The Unworthy Thor #1

By Jason Aaron, Olivier Coipel, Matthew Wilson, and Joe Sabino.

Ever since the Marvel event ‘Original Sin’, many comic fans have been wondering what Nick Fury whispered to Thor that caused him to drop Mjolnir and lose his worthiness. A couple of Marvel events later, and we finally have the series from Jason Aaron that will hopefully answer our questions. The Unworthy Thor sheds light on what life for Odinson is like without his famous hammer and what kind of crazy antics he has gotten himself into since he dropped the Thor. The Unworthy Thor #1 starts off with a lot of action as Odinson faces a nearly insurmountable adversary in his assumed current state, then we are taken back to three months ago just as the action starts to get good. Three months ago starts the journey of Odinson that leads him, and us as the readers, through his journey since losing his hammer and worthiness. Odinson learns of news that could mean a potential new beginning for Odinson: a new Mjolnir has fallen into their universe (from the events that happened in Thors from Secret Wars). Now we see the shape of the series, as Odinson finds a way to get back his worthiness and his hammer.

One thing Jason Aaron can do is write a helluva good Thor comic, and he certainly delivers in this first issue. It is clear from the tone of this book that this is not the Thor we are used to seeing; this is Odinson. He is not flying through the skies, commanding thunder, or taking out enemies with a single swing of his hammer. No, this is a man who the readers see struggle against defeating Trolls, doubt himself in the face of his enemy, and he rides a goat. Mind you, this goat is pretty badass, as far as badass goats go. His goat, Toothgnasher, is his mode of transportation and also his backup as we watch good ‘ol Gnasher take out a few trolls on his own. Also, the most notable difference between Thor and Odinson is the lack of Mjolnir, and we now have Jarnbjorn, his axe. Though it is fun to say Jarnbjorn, there is something lacking in watching Odinson slice and dice away with his axe. There was regality to the hammer, it made him appear like a legitimate superhero with his ability to wield this hammer and command thunder at will. The hammer of Thor is so iconic and so intertwined to Thor, that it makes complete sense this series is going to be centered around Odinson attempting to find a Mjolnir of his own.

The Unworthy Thor #1 features art from Olivier Coipel, colors from Matthew Wilson, and letters from Joe Sabino. The artwork in this book is nothing short of stunning, from the beautifully and carefully laid out pages to the incredible detail on each and every character. The Odinson we see in this book is certainly not the Thor we are used to seeing; his overall appearance has transformed as much as his attitude. We see Odinson as the hipster cousin of Thor with his hair unkempt and loosely fastened so just a few strategically placed hairs fall alongside his face. He wears a pair of pants that appear to be kept up with a piece of rope and his shirtless attire allows the glory of his chest and stomach hair to be exposed to help intimidate his enemies and entrance the ladies. The colors and designs throughout the book are truly beautiful, from the gross, disgusting design of the Trolls to the awe-inducing backgrounds of space. Even though this book is centered around the fallen Thor, Odinson, there is a majesty to the art that exudes royalty and grace.

From just this first issue, it’s plain to see that this is a must-read series for all fans of Thor, but it is also just a well-written story that is beautifully illustrated. Aaron is crafting a great story of a man who has nothing left to lose, so we want to see the heights he will climb to attain his godly status once more.