If you've never read an Ultimate comics, don't worry — I haven't either. That didn't affect my enjoyment of this book, the first of a four-issue miniseries by Jonathan Hickman. Keep reading to see why you should pick this book up and eagerly await the next issue.
Ultimate Comics Thor #1
- Written by Jonathan Hickman
- Pencils by Carlos Pacheco
- Inks by Dexter Vines
- Colors by Edgar Delgado
- Cover by Carlos Pacheco, Dexter Vines, & Frank D'Armata
I started reading Jonathan Hickman's work when he started on Fantastic Four. I had fallen in love with the Fantastic Four already, and all I needed as an excuse to start following the series was some really good words about the opening issue or two of his run (this was when I'd just started expanding my comics intake beyond a couple of books a month plus the odd trade here and there). I quickly fell in love with Hickman's writing, as well, and (though I have yet to look at Secret Warriors — I had other interests that precluded my picking up a book midstream like that) I was eager to pick up S.H.I.E.L.D. as soon as I heard about it. And I've been looking out for any new projects Hickman might have coming out.
So, I was eager to take a look at Ultimate Comics Thor. But I wasn't sure if I'd want to get it: I've never read any Ultimate books, and everything is Thor these days (they're working on a movie? Really? I couldn't tell) so I'm apprehensive about getting books that seemed green-lighted for movie-marketing purposes. But …. It is Hickman. So, I was at least going to take a look in the store. And it's only four issues, so it's not a major commitment (which always makes it easier to justify). Well, obviously, I picked it up, and I'm very glad I did.
Hickman, as is his wont, gives the book a very epic feel. He opens with a single page with the text Do you lack faith, brother… or do you believe?
Next, there's two pages with a series of images and vague descriptions. I like the look of these two pages. The first is blue-grey tones (stone), and the second is red tones. It's a nice contrast, and it moves well into the two-page spread that follows. This is Ragnarok, but a Ragnarok with WWII-era German soldiers moving in on Asgard along with some Frost Giants. Thor and what looks to be the Warriors Three are making a last stand, with many bodies strewn about before them. This spread echoes the previous two pages with it coloring — a nice addition. We then get a two-page title page in the same style as the opening page, closing off the introduction (and helping to give an epic movie-trailer feel).
The rest of the comic starts laying out the pieces that, it seems, will come together as the Ragnarok scene. We get short scenes from three different time periods: Now,
1939,
and Eons ago.
First, Now
— Thor is not in the place you'd expect (unless you would expect this having read other Ultimate comics; I don't know), and I'm interested to see where Hickman goes with this. Obviously, the scene in 1939 begins to set up the German soldier/Frost Giant alliance, with Baron Zemo spearheading that effort. The third scene has the most character work and also the most action. We get to see the relationships in a different “Warriors Three” — Thor, Balder, and Loki. Hickman spends the most time with this scene, and it's obvious from the solicits of the next issue that Thor and Loki's relationship, especially will be very important. The rest of the issue continues the 1939 thread, finishing with an awesome splash page.
Speaking of splash pages, the art is wonderful. There are a couple of really awesome splash pages, but the rest of the art is just as good. Some of the expressions are just perfect, even if it's just the way someone is holding their body. The action scenes are full of life, and the more static scenes have vitality, as well. There is one mistake: when Thor goes into battle, he somehow loses his facial hair, but that's minor. As I mentioned above, the opening looks wonderful and has a great use of colors, and the rest of the book does very well, also.
This is the opening issue of a miniseries, and it does very well at that. If you're familiar with Hickman's work, you know he likes to throw out hints of this and that that will come together later. We get that here, and it gives enough mystery to keep me interested, but not so much that I feel lost, even though I know nothing of the Ultimate universe. While this could, on the surface, seem like just another “Greatest Hits of Thor” comic — Ragnarok; Frost Giants hate Asgard; the Warriors Three; upcoming betrayal by Loki — there's plenty of twists to make it so much more. From the Frost Giant-Nazi alliance to the Thor, Balder, and Loki version of the Warriors Three this book has enough of the old to make it feel like a Thor book, and enough of the new to make it worth your while. I can't wait for the next issue.
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