Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Thor Annual #1
Marvel Comics
Punk, Stevenson & Aaron
The Thor Annual is one of the best annuals I've read in a while. The comic is what I look for in annual as it sets up things to come and celebrates the character(s) that typically occupy the title. The comic features a story from all three timelines that the main title has featured for the past couple of years. The book is set at the inflated price of $5, which is unfortunate because the book just doesn't justify the price point in terms of page count or continuity relevance. Nevertheless I enjoyed the book tremendously.
The first story is by Aaron and Truman and focuses on King Thor in the distant future. He is still trying to piece together what has happened to Earth. This story is a depressing one as Thor's birthday approaches and his granddaughters look to do something special for him in hopes of cheering him up. The only drawback to this story is the blandness of the three granddaughters. I don't find them to be distinguishable at all. This is a good story but the weakest in the comic.
The second story by Stevenson and Sauvage is fantastic. The new Thor is challenged by the old Thor buddies, The Warriors Three. The story is a lighthearted but sort of a necessary one as the two sides sort of feel each other out and test one another. This is a great ten-page story.
The final story is by CM Punk and Rob Guillory and is the best in the comic. The story is funny, entertaining and on-point. Thor from the past is still trying to prove he is worthy of the hammer he's yet to lift. He is challenged by a timeless Marvel Universe character in a fitting duel. The visuals by Chew's artist Guillory are perfect for this comic book. He brings the exact same style as seen in Chew and brings a new look to all of the familiar Marvel characters. If reading this doesn't make you wish for a Chew/Thor crossover then take another look.
The Thor Annual is a fun read. It's a dense read with three ten-page stories, but doesn't warrant the five-dollar price tag. The talent in the comic all bring their A-game in providing good stories and visuals. The book may not fold into continuity neatly but they all seem to have a place in the Thor lore. This is a great book to pick up.
4.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
