Thor: Rebirth and Issue 4

Written by J. Michael Stracynzski

Drawn by Oliver Coipel,/p>

Published by Marvel Comics

This reprint of the sold-out first three issues, combined with issue 4, gives the reader a very clear idea of where Stracynski is going with the series and the result is both surprising and genuinely good news. The rest has done the Norse God of Thunder the world of good and this new, streamlined version has the potential to do genuinely great things. Picking up from Donald Blake's tantalising cameo in Civil War, the series follows Thor and his human alter-ego as they realise that a cosmic loophole in Ragnarok has not allowed them to return to the world but left them with no choice. But the Marvel Universe has changed since Thor died, the Asgardians are scattered to the four winds and as Thor soon finds out, not everyone is pleased to see him back...

This would have been incredibly easy to do badly and its a credit to both the central creators that it works as well as it does. Thor is a very difficult character to do well, but Stracynzski manages not only to bring the character to life but to give him and Blake very seperate identities. A lot of the credit here has to go to the speech patterns of the two characters and in particular, the lettering work. The two characters have definitively unique voices and whilst some old school fans will undoubtedly be disappointed at the end of the 'I say thee NAY!' school of dialogue, Thor is still as intimidating and, for want of a better word, godly, as he's ever been.

Coipel's art work is as close to perfect for this book as it's possible to get and he's as at home drawing character interaction as he with action. The scenes involving the recreation of Asgard are the highlight here, and the image of the Norse Gods' home being recreated under majestic mid-western skies is one that will stay with readers long after they've finished the book.

However, what makes the book truly fascinating are the twin threads of Thor searching for his fellow Asgardians and his desire to do some good in the world. Whilst some fans will undoubtedly accuse Straczynski of tub-thumping, the events of issues 3 and 4 are both deeply effective and affecting. Thor's confrontation with Iron Man in New Orleans in issue 3 in particular works on several levels, with the fight causing even more damage, neither man emerging as the hero and the Thunder God's shame at what the elements did in his absence visible on every panel. It's an incredibly brave move, putting a fictional character in a real context but here it works and works superbly well. Likewise, the Medecins Sans Frontieres sequence in the fourth issue serves not only to show that even Gods can't do everything but provides some welcome spotlight time for Donald Blake, sees the return of several fan favourite characters and also shows how Thor's direct methods aren't necessarily as stupid as people think.

Packed with epic-scale spectacle, heroism and an unusually grounded, compassionate world view this is a unique take on a classic character. So pick up Rebirth, which collects issues 1-3 and issue 4 and pay a visit to the new Asgard, trust me you won't be disappointed.