Book Review: Essential Thor Vol. 3 by S. Lee et al.

Essential Thor Volume 3 written by Stan Lee and art by Jack Kirby

This extra-thick volume includes issues 137 to 166 of the original Thor comic. These stories were published from 1967 to 1969. The story starts with Thor admiring fellow Asgardian deity Sif, who takes over as his romantic interest now that Jane Forster is out of the picture. The origin story of Thor (which is recounted in this book) has Thor banished to Midgard (that's Earth to us Earthlings) with amnesia by Odin, the main god and Thor's father. Thor shows up as Donald Blake, a medical student with a bum leg. He graduates from medical school, has a successful practice, and learns humility and service for others along the way. Blake takes a vacation in Europe and winds up in a cave where he finds a walking stick that, once struck to the ground, turns Blake into the Mighty Thor.

In these issues, he faces a good variety of opponents and challenges. Loki, Norse god of mischief, is a key background player. He endows the Wrecker with magical power at a time when Thor is deprived of his divine power, so the battle is close, but naturally Thor wins. He also faces Galactus (a world-devouring giant), the Ringmaster (a criminal mastermind who runs a carnival as a front), Kang the Conqueror (a time traveling villain), and the Super-Skrull (a Skrull who has all four powers from the Fantastic Four), among other villains. He also faces the loss of his powers because he's not obedient enough to Odin; the kidnapping of his girlfriend more than once; and a short stint in jail(!). Through his persistence and courage, he manages to win out every time.

The stories are interesting but have a particular style. Sif is a goddess and warrior who does a lot of fighting, but she's also an object of affection for Balder the Brave (another Asgardian hero). The situation is not so much a love triangle as an unrequited love on Balder's side. Sif is probably too self-assured and aggressive for stereotypical modern-day conservatives and too protected and submissive for stereotypical modern-day liberals. A lot of the dialog is pseudo-Shakespearean, with nods to the King James translation of the Bible thrown in. The style is fun but it gets a bit thick at times. Reading it once a month rather than back to back might make it easier. The outfits look a little weird. I understand they are supposed to be otherworldly but the minor characters look a bit blocky and awkward. Sif and Balder have caps that look dorky by modern standards. The action sequences are fun and have a good variety. Thor doesn't always win by brute force; sometimes he uses his wits too.

A set of thirty comics is bound to have better and lesser stories but overall I found these enjoyable if quaint.

Slightly recommended.