I picked up THOR, GOD OF THUNDER #1 based purely on the merits of Jason Aaron as a writer. WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN is one of the books I look forward to most on my pull list and it was frequently due to the writing, as the art, good as it is, tends to jump frequently between artists. Whether or not that will be the case with this book remains to be seen, but I was pleasantly surprised with what my $3.99 bought me.

First off, I feel a very big connection to the character of Thor, one that I cannot say I have felt since the work of Walter Simonson (sadly, I missed out on the Straczynski run, so I cannot make any comparisons there). This connection is accomplished largely in part by bridging the story over three eras in the thunder god’s life in a singe issue. By utilizing medieval Thor, present day Thor, and old king Thor, Aaron provides the reader with a character whom we know almost completely. While there are gaps in the timeline, they function much as the gutters between panels, and the imagination of the reader can easily fill in the gaps. This technique also adds a nice bit of mystique to the storyline, as each version of Thor give us different clues as to the nature of Gorr the God Butcher, building a terrifying yet jarringly incomplete idea of the villain in our minds. It really is quite fantastic.

Esad Ribic does not disappoint here, either. This first issue is nothing if not gorgeous. The art works to not only display the grandeur and majesty that a character like Thor very much deserves, but also illuminates the terrifying aspects that the concept of something Gorr the God Butcher needs. Dean White’s colors are bright where they need to be and dark where they have to be and this issue can be very, very dark at times, but not unnecessary so.

THOR, GOD OF THUNDER looks to be a marvelous beginning to a new period for Marvel’s resident thunderer. I, for one, cannot wait to see what this team has to offer in the second installment and am thoroughly hooked straight out of the gate.