The Mighty Thor #14 Review

2012 is quickly turning into the year that powerful superheroes are betrayed by their human alter-egos. Bruce Banner has become Hulk's great nemesis in the pages of Incredible Hulk, and now Dr. Donald Blake is plotting against Thor in The Mighty Thor. It's a testament to Matt Fraction's writing that I haven't once questioned Blake's motivations as I have with Banner. It's just a shame that this new arc couldn't focus more fully on Blake's descent into madness and godhood.

As with last issue, too much of the story centers around Thor's strange journey in Nidavellir. While this conflict has grown a little more surreal since last month, it still amounts to little more than Thor and the dwarves walking around in a dazed state. Blake's half of the story is just much more compelling from a visual and storytelling standpoint. On the plus side, Fraction introduces a third plot thread involving a disaffected Broxton teen. It's not exactly clear how a troubled, makeup-wearing, death metal-loving high school student figures into the ongoing direction of the series, but no doubt Fraction has something kooky in mind.

Pepe Larraz continues to settle in nicely on the series. His art style is very reminiscent of Pasqual Ferry's (particularly as Frank D'Armata is still coloring), but he shows a stronger grasp of facial work that really pays off in certain scenes. Like Olivier Coipel, Larraz can deliver some amusing, almost caricature-ized human characters that contrast nicely with the physically imposing gods in Broxton. Unfortunately, his art isn't put to the best use in the murky, ill-defined halls of Nidavellir.

I'm very keen to see where this arc is taking Blake, but unfortunately, the series' title character seems to be jogging in place at the moment.




Source : http://www.ign.com