Thor in 1963
The series leans into Norse mythology this year, as it should, but not nearly enough. Don Blake’s personal life lacks any manner of distinction or interest at this point. There remain the occasional supernatural or sci fi story, though, and they are uniformly terrible.
I think I’m stumbling upon my major issue with this series in its early days. Thor has the clear (unused!) trump card of a massive world and characters that have come into Marvel fully borne, by virtue of a vast mythology. If done right, world-building could happen quickly and immediately, which is a great benefit that other series don’t have.
Most comics have to grow at a sluggish pace out of the gate with the origin story, the setup of the primary villain, the definition of the character’s drivers, the methodical introduction of a love interest, the coworker, the best friend, etc.
Yet this series spoils this opportunity right out of the gate, which reveals the key weakness about Thor during this era: no one in this series has a personal life. Blake never goes home. But, if Thor is sentient while Blake is himself, would he bear with Blake fixing himself dinner or reading the newspaper?
Secret identities serve to ground characters in real life. Some readers and creators don’t think the concept is necessary anymore, and several characters have dropped their secret identities in recent years. But the concept can definitely strengthen a series. Batman, for instance, has historically been at its best when Bruce Wayne’s personal life is also exciting.
Along those lines, the interplay between Blake and his assistant, Jane Foster, is about as simplistic as you can get. I’m starting to get the feeling that Thor is an analogue to DC’s superhero juvenalia in this era.
One interesting element here: both Blake and Thor share a body, yet they’re seemingly both sentient at the same time. It’s almost a reverse-Firestorm situation, right?
Anyway, moral: don’t do an alter ego just to check off a box. If half of the story would be doomed to be boring due to oversight, just don’t do the alter ego. I think modern comics have somewhat embraced the idea that mild mannered Mr. or Ms. So-and-so is not an essential element of a superhero story.
Oh, and as I also mentioned last year, the art is superb. Kirby’s the king.
