Classic Review: Marvel Masterworks- The Mighty Thor Vol. 2

Quick Summary

Pros: The battles and the villains instigating them are better than before. The comic’s larger narrative is more interesting. The “Tale of Asgard” stories hold up well to this day. Every page featuring Jack Kirby’s artwork is a treat.

Cons: Inconsistencies in the story are slightly frustrating. Some aspects of the storytelling feel dated.

Overall: This volume is a step up for the series as a whole that makes Thor worth reading for modern comic fans. The Silver Age adventures detailed here are exciting and come with visuals that make them even better. Plus, these adventures set the stage for more significant conflicts in the future, as a larger narrative unfolds in the background. All in all, those more seriously interested in Thor’s past might want to consider starting with this volume.

Story

Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 2, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, is a marked improvement for this series. It details adventures that are more enjoyable, has Thor face off against better villains, and continues the excellent “Tales from Asgard” stories. In addition, it refines the contentious relationship between Thor and Odin, brought on by the romance between Thor and Jane Foster. The only problem is that the volume is plagued with inconsistencies and dated views on science and gender, which slightly disrupt the story when they pop up. Overall though, this is an entertaining volume that renews the appeal for this series as a whole.

(spoilers start here)

The stories contained within The Mighty Thor Vol. 2 are almost instantly more enjoyable than the stories contained within The Mighty Thor Vol. 1 (Review). The action is more exciting, the adventures feel less constrained, and Thor himself is more likable. In addition, the villains are given more motivation and attention than before, making them seem like formidable antagonists rather than just bumps in Thor’s road to victory.

It also helps that The Mighty Thor Vol. 2 elaborates on one of the first volume’s primary positives, the complex relationship between Thor and Jane Foster and the repercussions it has on Thor’s life. The forbidden love aspect of the relationship is slightly compelling on its own, but the condemnation it generates from Odin makes it far more so. It almost turns Odin, a father-figure for the series, into a villain, which is an interesting twist for a Silver Age comic. I also found Thor and Jane’s relationship to be surprisingly comedic from a modern standpoint, even if it does have serious problems with sexism (discussed below).

However, these stories still contain plenty of flaws, especially in regards to consistency. On some pages, Odin is portrayed as the wisest being in all existence, forfeiting battles and crafting elaborate plots for the sake of the greater good. On other pages, he is portrayed as a dull idiot, immediately forgetting his own commands and inexplicably trusting Loki’s clearly malevolent advice. In addition, there are places where the actual story directly conflicts itself, such as when the length of the Grey Gargoyle’s powers shifts from sixty minutes to a full twenty-four hours. When these random contradictions occur, it makes the writing feel sloppy and takes away from the comic’s overall appeal.

In addition, there are still places where aspects of the storytelling feel dated. Bizarre scientific explanations are used to justify things that don’t really make sense. Plus, Jane Foster is still written in a way that makes her character seem ridiculous. These problems are pretty typical for Silver Age comics but are still annoying to see pop up.

Luckily, the best part of The Mighty Thor Vol. 2 is relatively devoid of these problems. The “Tales of Asgard” features, within this volume, are consistently entertaining whenever they pop up. They provide entertaining trips into Norse mythology with a classic Marvel twist to them. They also take time to highlight values that don’t appear elsewhere in this series, such as the importance of strategy, the pitfalls of underestimating others, and the courage required to fight a battle you don’t believe you can win. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed each of these short tales.

(spoilers end here)

Art

Like the story, the artwork dramatically improves in the transition from The Mighty Thor Vol. 1 (Review) to The Mighty Thor Vol. 2. This sharp increase in quality primarily comes from Jack Kirby’s increased contributions to the series. His work here is defined and allows the book’s various heroes and locations to stand out in a positive light. This is especially true in the case of the people and landscapes of Asgard, which look particularly nice in the “Tales of Asgard” stories.

Kirby’s work on the characters is also a huge benefit to the storytelling within this volume. His slithery depictions of Cobra make the character seem more sinister and threatening than any of the dialogue. His elegant take on the Enchantress makes her seem above everything occurring around her and is what primarily defines her personality. Above all though, Kirby’s work on Thor perfectly expresses the young god’s emotions, allowing elation or frustration to come out at a moment’s notice. These features enhance the story and, thus, make the entire reading experience better.

Continuity

Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 2 continues the story started in Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 1 (Review).

The story here continues in Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 3 (Review).

This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:

• Thor’s involvement with the Avengers is mentioned throughout this volume. His joined the group back in Avengers #1, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review).
• Specifically, Journey in Mystery #107 closes by referencing Avengers #7, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1 (Review). Avengers #7 features appearances from the Enchantress and the Executioner.