Thor #21 Review

Writer: Donny Cates

Art: Nic Klein, Matt Wilson, and VC’s Joe Sabino

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Release Date: January 26th, 2022

Mjolnir has become… alive! It’s sentient and controlled by… itself! More importantly, it’s out of control destroying anyone in its wake. Most recently, it’s destroyed the Dwarves of Nidavellir, the Frost Giants in Jotunheim, and now it’s worked its way to the Town of Broxton in Midgard. No one is safe… not even THOR. But how did this happen and why? Everything went pair-shaped once THOR became King. Does that have anything to do with this? Let’s dive into THOR #21 by Donny Cates and find out!

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THE DISPATCH

Well, if it’s answers you want then it’s answers you’ll get this week. Readers will discover why and how Mjolnir is acting this way. And, to any long-standing THOR reader, Cates does a great job of squaring the circle. Logically, the narrative makes sense and fits with the anecdote. To any fan who’s been following along since Jane Foster was once THE MIGHTY THOR, the pieces will blend perfectly well. To anyone just joining in recently, take a trip back to THE MIGHTY THOR #705 to see what I mean.

Look, as a THOR fan who’s read countless issues and tales, I love when writers connect the dots from past writers through to the present. It shows that they’re invested in the character and have done their homework. Additionally, Cates has been known to explore his own stories a bit too deeply forgetting about what’s happened or happening in the current Marvel Landscape. What readers will witness in THOR #21 is Cates recognizing what’s transpired in the past while also progressing his own story in the present in a fantastic blend that feels similar yet different at the same time.

CONCERN

My biggest concern is actually a pretty large flaw in many writers’ arsenals right now, including Cates within THOR #21. It frequently happens when the writer paints the protagonist into a corner with their abilities making it almost impossible for them to win without some type of extra external force that flies in to save the day at the last minute. For example, look at Cates’ recent KING IN BLACK event to see exactly what I mean. Some type of cosmic, never-referenced-in-his-run force had to come into play within the final chapter for VENOM to win. Heck, Cates has already done this very thing within the pages of THOR. Look no further than the Donald Blake arc to see what I mean.

My point is that Cates does it again in THOR #21 by making Mjolnir practically unbeatable. Now, the King of Asgard, the God of Thunder, the little “g” god that can go toe-to-toe with the HULK somehow doesn’t stand a chance against Mjolnir? Again, after you see the issue it will make more sense as to why Mjolnir has gone off the rails. However, after THOR #21 concludes, I find it rather difficult to picture a situation where THOR could defeat Mjolnir… unless some type of magical force that’s never been heard of before enters the picture making him super-duper, unbelievably strong. Get the picture?

ART

Can I just talk about the cover by Nic Klein for a minute? The sheer detail and creativity to practically mimic a scene straight from the issue with such detail takes some immense talent. The cover really makes the reader question who could do such a thing to THOR. Moreover, the way Mjolnir literally annihilates THOR is uncanny. From one panel to the next, THOR propels across each page like a meteor flying through the sky and crashing through the Earth. Yet even after all I just mentioned, the scene everyone will be talking about is the graphic nature of the “failed punch” by THOR. God or not, he’s not recovering from that for a long time!

FINAL THOUGHTS

THOR #21 has all the makings of a pretty killer story with some amazing reveals that pay homage to THE MIGHTY THOR run by Jason Aaron. Cates creates his normal fast-paced, high-octane adventure that reads extremely well in one sitting and ends with a powerful cliffhanger. Additionally, Nic Klein’s rendering of a bruised and beaten THOR is what makes the issue so powerful and is ultimately what heaps on the impossible nature of the $&@$ storm THOR finds himself in. Nevertheless, I simply hope Cates can logically and creatively get THOR out of this in a way that makes sense and doesn’t use some type of convoluted warp whistle or FINAL CRISIS wishing machine to escape. But, I can’t fault Cates for something that hasn’t yet happened nor transpired within this issue. It’s just something to think about for the near future. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!