Sorry about the late first post today. We had a new fridge delivered and, as you might expect, my dog peed and pooped all over the floor at the very sight of the movers. Oh, did you not expect that? THEN YOU DON'T KNOW MY DOG.
Thor: God of Thunder 8
Aaron (w) and Ribic (a) and Svorcina (c)
The older Thors sail for Gorr's godbomb while the young Thor tries to break free from his captors. Before he can make a significant attempt, three goddesses stop him, saying that all his attempt will bring is the crucification of other gods. He unhappily lets up the rebellion to later find that those three goddesses are, in fact, his granddaughters. Together with the other gods, they plan a full scale rebellion to be put into place immediately, as the godbomb is only days from completion. Their plan involves using the unstable cores they've secreted away during all their expeditions for Gorr to destroy the godbomb. Knowing that the successful detonation of the cores will cost whichever god attempts it his life, Thor's granddaughters ask who will be the one to sacrifice himself for the rest of them. Of course, by this time, young Thor has already taken the cores and is heading for the godbomb. He launches it into the bomb and is blown from the planet and sent hurling into the debris around the planet (which contains a whole slew of slain gods already). He happens to catch on to the ship the other Thors are traveling on and they bring him aboard, after a quick shark attack. The three prepare to team up and fight against Gorr as we push forward.
This is all rising action and it's all important to keep this exciting story going. It does mean we're taking a little longer than you might want to reach the team-up we've all known is coming since present Thor stepped out of the portal to find future Thor. Still, it seems we're there and there are a lot of irons in the fire for this team-up as future Thor seems to resent both other Thors and young Thor is apparently jealous about present Thor having control over Mjolnir, which young Thor regretted not being able to lift prior. On top of that, we've seen some of the other gods on Gorr's planet, all of whom are unable to use what powers they might have aside from a short burst from Thor, who manages to call down lightning and fire (a new trick). So there's a lot to like about this issue, even if it kind of leaves us where we expected to be all along. As ever, though, the book has lighter and more fun moments and has phenomenal art from Esad Ribic that comes out particularly strongly when he draws the three Thors and Thor's granddaughters and young Thor. Another solid entry.
Iron Man 258.2
Michelinie (w) and Ross and Layton (a) and Sotomayor (c)
Finally got around to getting the details on this story, beyond where it fits into the series as a whole. This is a four issue limited series that will run probably into June, as issue 258.3 comes out in two weeks. Good thing, then, that it's developed into a pretty interesting story after a somewhat inauspicious start. The brilliant but moral-less Tony Stark in the computer system of Stark Enterprises (referred to as the Entity) has successfully framed Iron Man for the murder of Doctor Sondheim (at the end of last issue) and given reason enough to keep himself isolated (as he's pretending to be Tony Stark right now). The real Tony, in the Iron Man suit, manages to get word to Rhodey about what's happening and brings Rhodey to a secure off-the-map location he had built in case he couldn't access Stark Enterprises the normal ways. While the two are there (with Rhodey maneuvering in the secret base while Iron Man pilots him from outside), an explosion erupts from the city. Iron Man leaves Rhodey behind to fly to the scene where he finds love interest Rae Lacoste in battle with Stark-built army vehicle the Behemoth. Tony is unable to prevent the Behemoth from blowing up Rae's car, killing her in the process (though the audience sees that she's apparently a robot, Tony flies away before her flesh melts and reveals the metal inside). He dismantles the Behemoth and flies back to Rhodey in sadness, where he's informed that the Entity has labeled three people who could bring down his plans (and who therefore have to be eliminated). They are Doctor Sondheim, Tony himself, and Justin Hammer, forcing a presumable team-up between Iron Man and Justin Hammer.
There's certainly enough going on here to keep the reader interested and it's a classic Iron Man story in the way of Tony faces off against himself. It's quite literal this time, as the Entity seems to be Tony without the scruples. Iron Man stories tend to be at their best when facing off against something he doesn't quite understand or someone whose intellect matches his. That's the conceit of most major Iron Man storylines and why his biggest villains are the likes of the Mandarin and Justin Hammer. To make the villain Tony himself both limits what Tony can do within Stark Enterprises and forces him to square off against the only person he'd admit was as smart as him. It's an interesting enough story to keep focus and a four issue arc gives ample time to set up and close down shop without too many extra bells and whistles.
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