The A-Train’s Pullbox

Its only been a couple of days since I posted my review of Thor #8 but I just read issue number 9 and I had to talk about it. Olivier Coipelis back on the book! Even though Djurdjevic did a fine job on the previous two issues, it’s so good to see Coipel back on the book.  This issue is an interesting one, mostly because the title character is barely in it. The issue focuses more on Loki, Balder, and the other Asgardians.

Spoiler free review after the jump…

THOR #9

Written by: J. Michael Straczynski

Pencils: Olivier Coipel

Inks: Mark Morales, Danny Miki & John Dell

Colors: Laura Martin

Letters: Chris Eliopoulos

I must confess that while I was ecstatic to have Coipel back behind the pencils of this book, the art in this particular issue felt sub-par. That’s not Coipel’s fault though. It was a result of there being 3 different inkers on one book. I don’t know which inker did which pages but there is a noticeable difference in many of the pages and there’s a few that look straight up half-assed. I’m so proud of myself for noticing a difference in the inks, and identifying my problems with the art as ink related. I can clearly see the pencils and the inks as two separate works and styles. There was a time when I had no clue there was even the slightest difference.

The story was very interesting. I’m curious to see why JMS chose to change Loki from male to female. And I think we’ll get an answer to that before his run is over on the title, which will hopefully not be for a long, long time. I can assume it has something to do with the fact that Loki is now a rather hot chick and men wll do anything a hot chick tells them to do, which only adds to Loki’s abilities as the master deceiver and bringer of mischief. But there must be a deeper reason than that. Right? We’ll see.

The use of the other gods in this issue was a welcome departure from the Thor centric stories we’ve come to expect from the title. It still felt like a Thor story. Balder is an interesting character. This is my first time reading a Balder centric story and I’m curious to see where it goes.

The story is somewhat of a “filler” issue, without feeling like filler. It definitely sets the groundwork for future stories. Especially regarding Loki.

And the comic relief at the very end is brilliant. You wouldn’t picture gods stuck in that sort of a predicament. Thor’s in charge… and it’s obvious. Good stuff.

I’m not doing a recap for this issue. I feel like it being an exposition/filler issue, it doesn’t really merit a recap. But definitely pick it up. It continues to be a very entertaining read. Its always at the top of my stack, every month.