“Mighty Thor” #2 is the second part of Matt Fraction’s story that could be summed up in three words: “Galactus is coming”. The first two issues are basically setting the table. There’s a lot of potential for a great story but I couldn’t help but feel this issue was a little slow starting.

Fraction is a fantastic writer and I’ve loved most of his work I’ve read. This particular issue starts off with a very underwhelming training session for the Brigade of Realms. About nine pages is devoted to this and I felt Fraction could have put this space to better use. But the story does pick up particularly with a great interaction between Odin and Heimdall, some good Silver Surfer scenes, and a very nice ending.

Olivier Coipel has done some great work with Thor. I wasn’t a fan of his work when I first found him years ago on The Avengers. But my opinion of his art has changed and I have loved what he’s done on Thor and Siege. That’s why I was dissappointed to find his art in this issue to be cluttered and inconsistent. I especially had problems with his page layouts. I know he’s trying to be stylishly different when structuring his pages but I actually had difficulty figuring out the reading order on a few pages. I also felt that some of his art looked rushed and lacked some of the “pop” he usually provides. But Coipel does give us a few of his excellent action panels, some great Silver Surfer art, and the best Heimdall I have ever seen. I just wish the art was consistent throughout the issue.

This isn’t a bad issue. In fact, after a slow start it really picks up and ends on a strong note. I still think there is a good story ahead and I’m still excited about what Fraction has planned. But I’m also still waiting for this book to move from ‘pretty good’ to ‘great’. The pieces are all there. Hopefully they will all fit together.