Published On: 2016-10-19 by Marvel
Artist: Russell Dauterman
Colorist: Matt Wilson
Letterer: VC's Joe Sabino
Catch-up on Last Issue
In The Mighty Thor #11, Lady Thor and SHIELD saved New York City from Agger, the Exterminatrix and Silver Samurai. Impossibly, Jane Foster saved Lady Thor’s life. See the full The Mighty Thor #11 review.
In This Issue of The Mighty Thor #12
A few issues ago, we had a two-issue historical story with Bodolf the Viking. The Mighty Thor #12 follows that same pattern with Lady Thor and Mjolnir in the present being told a story of Mjolnir’s past. To give you an idea of the magnitude of Mjolnir’s story. Bodolf’s story set the stage for five issues of stories. The story in The Mighty Thor #12 is so big it will affect at least three years worth of Thor comics. It’s a huge development and a good read.
What Else Happens in this Comic?
The Mighty Thor #12 is the resolution to one of the major plotlines from the previous eleven issues. It doesn’t have a b-story, but it does set two things in motion for the future of Lady Thor. Look at the books in the library for clues.
How's The Mighty Thor #12's Writing?
The Dialogue
This is the first time we meet the Lord High Librarian and Jason Aaron imbues him with the personality of a crotchety old librarian using words and actions we’d expect from a creature in that position.
Mjolnir’s tale is told as if it were a living myth with grand words. It fits the mightiest of weapons and is a tale well told.
And we get a bit of humor. Mjolnir apparently doesn’t believe in doors (or has a beef with the Lord High Librarian).
Showing Versus Telling
Myths are often told to us as if they happened in the past. It’s the only way to tell a myth. Despite that, Jason, Russell, and Frazer did a lot of showing in this issue.
The Vibe
The Lord High Librarian’s story reads like an old Norse myth. You could jump from that story to any library book about Norse gods and flow seamlessly between the tales.
Comic Art Review
Having two artists in one comic is always difficult. There’s an editorial choice to make. 1. Use two artists who are very similar and split the comic book in half. 2. Pick two artists who are different and have them illustrate different chapters of the book. Russell Dauterman and Frazer Irving definitely fall into the second choice. There’s a stark contrast between the two artists and Marvel’s editorial team used the differences wisely. Russell tells the present day chapters of The Mighty Thor #12. Frazer Irving tells the story of Mjolnir. Frazer has an epic style that worked for an epic story of Odin creating Mjolnir.
Both artists bring us captivating character designs. Frazer Irving’s designs remind me of classic Thor comics.
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- Mighty Thor 12 Cover
On the Cover
The only cover for what may be the most important issue of The Mighty Thor shows us the top of Mjolnir just as it smacks us in the face. Out of all the things we could have illustrated from this issue, it’s a silver rectangle. It wasn’t satisfying at all. The second to last panel of Frazer Irving’s historical section with young Thor looking at Mjolnir would have been a solid cover.
The Comic Panel by Panel
I’ll have to watch more closely moving forward. In the Mighty Thor #12, Russell uses full background pages with panels floating over the base picture. The first is deep space. The second full background image is the library. Third is Omnipotence City. The full image backgrounds make for large scale, huge and important visuals.
Watch the frame borders as we transition between the Librarian’s story and the present. The magic flows.
Frazer Irving also uses large panels to depict large action. It doesn’t get much bigger than space sharks!
World Building
We are introduced to the Halls of All Knowing in Omnipotence City, the Nexus of all the Gods. Put this one in your memory cache. We’ll learn more about it later in The Mighty Thor.
Collect the Mjolnir
Live the Mjolnir
Norse Mythology Metal Mjolnir Thunder Cosplay Adult Hammer 1:1
Who's In This Issue of The Mighty Thor #12
- Mjolnir
- Lord High Librarian
- Ulik the Troll
- Odin
- Dwarves
- Young Thor
The Big Question for Next Issue
How long has Mjolnir been whispering in the dark looking for the right champion?
Hear the Mjolnir
I name thee Mjolnir, the thunder weapon. First among hammers. The breaker of all things.
Who Will Like The Mighty Thor #12?
Those readers that enjoy myth building episodes will find The Mighty Thor #12 is a must-have issue. The tragic history of Mjolnir gives depth to the hammer and transforms it from a hunk of metal into a character with motivations all its own.
I Need More Content like The Mighty Thor #12
If you didn’t read The Mighty Thor #6 and #7 and you enjoyed the story-in-a-story of this issue, go back and check it out. The historical artwork by Rafa Garres is very similar to Frazer Irving’s art.
Find more Frazer Irving art on Tumblr. Or visit Frazer’s Instagram to find an image of Lady Thor.
LibriVox has dozens of free audio books about Norse mythology. Hours of listening to some of the best stories ever told.
Should You Buy This Comic Book?
This may be my most favorite issue of The Mighty Thor. The myth weaving and the world building made an excellent comic book. The last page has a few Easter eggs for future plot developments. The mighty hammer Mjolnir picked Jane for something special and invites us to stick around for the another year (or two) of Lady Thor stories.