This is the penultimate issue of the first story arc as Thor comes ever closer to wielding a hammer he can call his own. He just has the Collector, Thanos’ goons, and a whole lot of shame to work through first.
The Unworthy Thor #4 (Marvel Comics)
So what’s it about? Find out more in the preview.
Why does this book matter?
It’s safe to say Jason Aaron’s long game approach to Thor has paid off. With years under his belt, he’s created a compelling mythical story that’s weaved this way and that, which has made for epic storytelling. Add in current artist Olivier Coipel with the help of previous Thor artists like Frazer Irving, Esad Ribic, and Russell Dauterman and this issue brings it and then some!
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
It doesn’t budge for a reason!
I’m a sucker for comics that mix in multiple artists. The change in style at opportune times can really shift your perspective and help convey the differences between scenes. This issue opens with Irving drawing a scene that recounts Thor as a teen still not yet worthy of Mjolnir; his style lends the scene a legendary, dreamlike quality that suits it very well. Coipel handles the present and boy is the carnage and war fun to look at. Think Braveheart only with aliens. Then we have Ribic joining in with a key scene between Jane Foster and Thor when they were more romantic that reminds us Thor’s ever present fear of losing the grip of his hammer was a concern he always carried. Finally, Dauterman caps it off with a scene that shows us the result of Thor losing the hammer and the shame and anguish he’s in. It’s very cool this team of artists could combine, especially for those of you who have been reading this series since Aaron began.
Each scene serves as a memory of sorts as they cross cut with Coipel’s present day battle. It helps remind the reader the weight Thor carries and how much he deserves redemption. As he cuts through Thanos’ minions and attempts to wield what (he thinks) he deserves you get the grand sense that it’s all coming to this. It’s also a nice reminder that Thor has changed quite a bit over the years and more than likely there’s more change to come.
It can’t be perfect can it?
After consuming this delicious issue and ruminating on it a bit, I still found a slight sorrow in how it’s a bit of a filler issue. The flashbacks are fantastic, don’t get me wrong, but the plot doesn’t actually push forward as much as one might like. We’ve been waiting to find out what Nick Fury whispered to Thor, but we’ve waited more than 3 years now and we can wait a little more!
I can hear war drums when reading this. Just Awesome.
Is It Good?
The scope and storied past of Thor is rendered well in The Unworthy Thor #4 with the help of every artist who has been a part of Aaron’s magnum opus. It’s hard to find fault with what is accomplished here, though I do wish the plot in the present pushed forward a bit more than it did.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
