The Good
THOR #5, I think I'm in love with you. The issue isn't as explosive as the previous chapters, but it more than makes up by that with a superb script and some wonderful visuals. It had me bursting into laughter, totally engrossed in conversations, and beyond thrilled about where this story is going to go. Seriously, I don't know how Jason Aaron is able to blend comedy, plot progression and character so well, but there you have it.
Does it bother me how Thor Odinson became unworthy? Yes, it does and if we were talking about the issue it happened in it would definitely impact the score. However, the follow-up in this issue is really well executed. Odinson's accepted the Goddess of Thunder as being of worthy of Mjolnir, but that doesn't mean he's completely okay with it. Aaron displays this in a tragic yet hilarious way. On the surface, it's hysterical watching Thor get drunk and demand more mead, but it's also emotional because you know the dude's a mess right now. He doesn't need Mjolnir to be formidable and worthy of our praise, but whatever Fury said -- something we need to learn more about very soon -- really shook him up. He's beyond lashing out and shutting down, but you can still feel how he's not the same man he once was. This is sure to leave fans divided, but I think it was handled extremely well in this chapter and I found his progression to be compelling.
There's an impressive amount of plot progress here and it all has me wanting to read the next issue right away. Odison and the Goddess of Thunder receive about an equal amount of attention and, while there isn't any significant progress with the identity of the new Thor (one option is addressed in a sharply written scene), there's plenty of exciting stuff going on with Odin. And here I was thinking Malekith was the biggest threat facing these characters. Perhaps he still is (the last cliffhanger certainly implies a dark future) and he isn't forgotten, but Aaron does a fine job giving this new arc a different and equally promising direction. Thou hath captured my attention. Okay, I'll leave the Asgardian talk to Aaron.
I'm not sure if you've heard by now, but some people aren't exactly cool with what's going on in this title. Aaron addresses some of the common complaints in a thoroughly amusing and smart way. The opening sequence with the Goddess of Thor is intelligently written, gives a positive message, and is incredibly entertaining. Even if the rest of the chapter was total nonsense, this sequence alone was worthy of the cover price. Some of you will probably give the scene a slow clap and rightfully so.
Jorge Molina's pages really won me over. The style is a little more cartoonish than the previous chapters, but the characters and locations are crisp and full of life. Did anyone else see there's just a dude chilling in Times Square and reading a paper as a clash between titans is going on? Funny stuff. My only complaint would be people occasionally lack depth, but that's vastly outweighed by the moments that sold the various expressions, comedy and bigger moments especially well. If you're the kind of person who loves finding facial expressions for new avatars, you're going to find more than a few in this one. Spoiler alert: go for the drunk Odinson or a smiling Goddess of Thunder.
The Bad
Minor criticism: I still have no idea why the new Thor feels the need to hide her identity. It makes sense after hearing about Odin, but what was the reason prior to that? It's not made clear why its so important to her. You know, aside from making it a mystery for readers, and many of us are feeling certain it's
Oh, and the people who aren't a fan of this title will really loathe this issue. But if you're not a fan, why waste your time reading it? Why not just wait until "old" Thor gets Mjolnir back and, until then, not pay attention to this? Not saying you can't voice your complaints, but it's odd to me that someone would continue to follow a title despite clearly disliking it. But hey, to each their own, I guess.
The Verdict
THOR #5 is full of laughs, clever commentary, solid artwork, and a whole lot of promising plot progression. It may not be as action-heavy as the previous chapters, but that hardly matters because the narrative and dialogue is handled excellently. This issue had me totally absorbed and I'm ready for the next one. It may be too dialogue-heavy for some, but I loved it and I'm left with no major criticisms. THOR #5 has it all. Unless you're strongly against the concept, you need to strongly consider buying this comic. It's worthy of your love, people.