With the creative team of Matt Fraction and Olivier Coipel, I was expecting this series to dazzle. But after a strong first issue I’ve yet to be wowed by this book.Thor plus Galactus should automatically equal success but I’m starting to wonder.

I felt Fraction’s story hit a speed bump in issue #2. It had it’s moments but was overall underwhelming. This issue does pick up the pace a bit but feels all over the place and almost disjointed at times. From Volstagg’s “war” with a harshly stereotyped small town preacher and his Broxton followers to young Loki’s quest for a lock of the naked Sif’s hair to the preperation for war with Galactus, nothing really feels cohesive. Then there’s Thor’s “change like the weather” personality. He’s ready for war in one panel but flippantly takes time to indulge himself with Sif a few panels later. Now there is a slick action sequence involving Silver Surfer but it’s not enough to ultimately cover the rest of the flaws.

I was also surprised at Coipel’s art. The normally rock-solid artist is pretty good here but doesn’t really offer much. There seems to be a lack of sharp detail that I’m used to seeing in his work with the exception of two wonderful panels featuring Galactus. I don’t want to assume the issue was hurried but it just lacks the slick polished look of most of Coipel’s work.

I don’t know what to make of this storyline. After issue #1 I was really jazzed. I’m a fan of Fraction and Coipel and I love Thor and Galactus. The stars had aligned for a fantastic series. Unfortunately those stars are fading and I’m really up in the air about the direction of “The Mighty Thor”.