Revamp : Thor

J. Michael Straczynski (JMS) has received a fair old amount of stick lately, particularly for starting two epic DC storylines and then bailing. I haven't read Grounded but the idea of a non-flying Superman reconnecting with America by walking across it reminds me very much of the crazy conditions imposed on Kevin Smith when he was working on a Superman film script in the 90s.

But JMS can create likeable characters that you can relate to as well as stories with depth.
Look at the start of his Amazing Spiderman run. It is a class above preceding writer Howard Mackie's material (though I also get the sense that JMS wasn't having to shoehorn in editorially mandated references to other characters/storylines)

When JMS took over Thor, the character had been out of use for three years, killed in the fan-fic-esque Norse god slaughter-thon that was Ragnarok.
Instead of just reviving all the gods and Asgard, JMS has Thor reappear in the sleepy town of Broxton, Oklahoma. This cuts away at some of the aloofness of the deity concept. Through vignettes we see the long-term residents' sense of wonder as they encounter the gods in town, especially when local lad Bill meets the enchanting Kelda in a run-down carpark. It also doesn't cheapen the Norse gods. We do see them in townhall meetings but we don't see them, say, take human jobs. When we see Hogun walking back from Texas, boar on his back, he refuses lifts as he tries to be Asgardian in this new framework.
There is almost a lyrical quality. (And a debt to Neil Gaiman's Sandman superficially at least)
Yes, there are pacing issues. That first issue has Thor in limbo wrestling with demons and not an awful lot happens. I bought it at the time but was underimpressed until reading the following issues a while later.
There is also litle interaction with the rest of the Marvel world in the first few issues bar a very personal fight with Iron Man. Whilst other characters' fans won't be brought into the book, this is wise as it enables Thor's new readers to learn their way through all the new (to them) characters as well as get to know the locals.
It is a refreshing more poetic take. I was particularly moved by the story of Thor's father Odin and its' theme of paternal responsibility, especially when you see the flashbacks to Odin succeeding his own father Bor.
JMS's dialogue is also mercifully free of the cod-Shakespeare that Thor has been associated with.
All told, it's a solid reimagining.

Thor : review

Man I had high hopes going into this.
Thor on paper should be one of my favourite characters.
Me, I love mythology.
Unfortunately, Walt Simonson's run aside, I have been kind of unlucky when I had sampled individual issues. (I hopped on in the run up to Heroes Reborn when Thor's own title didn't have him in it)
I also tried J Michael Straczynski's first issue and, well, 'twas not for me.
JMS was co-writer on Thor's movie debut, which didn't bode well.
And you know what, the script worked.

Personally I think the movie is strongest in the fantasy sequences. (It is after all what makes Thor distinctive - and Asgard and Jotunheim are gorgeous).
Maybe there might be a bit too much fish-out-of-water in the second quarter.
But overall it works as an introduction for newbies.

Chris Hemsworth is surprisingly good as Thor. Cocky. Angry. Funny.
His romantic lead, Natalie Portman, channels her Garden State performance somewhat which is kinda all that's needed.
But the revelation is Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Yes, he is very reminiscent of Michael Sheen in places but that is no bad thing.

Some sections of the UK press have attacked director Kenneth Branagh for wasting his talents. Sure, it's watered down Shakespeare at times. But there is a real gravitas to the Asgardian sequences.
There are some decidedly cheesy contrivances but, just like the first Iron Man movie, this is much better than it needs to be.