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Thor: Lightning and Lament #1
- Writer:
- Ralph Macchio
- Artist:
- Todd Nauck
- Letterer:
- VC's Joe Sabino
- Cover Artist:
- Ron Lim, Israel Silva
- Publisher:
- Marvel
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-06-29
- Colorist:
- Rachelle Rosenberg
Marvel has retold, reimagined, and recounted the legend of the Mighty Thor for so long that his comic book origin story has become more popular than his mythological counterpart. Back in August 1962, Thor made his first appearance in Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby's Journey into Mystery #83, from which point on, the title started featuring stories about the God of Thunder. With the latest MCU movie, Thor: Love and Thunder, imminent in just a week, Thor: Lightning and Lament #1, written by Ralph Macchio with artwork from Todd Nauck and Rachelle Rosenberg and lettering by VC's Joe Sabino, is a refresher course on the character's rich history.
Thor: Lightning and Lament #1 welcomes readers with a swashbuckling scene. Thor goes against his nemesis, the Absorbing Man, and defeats him. He then proceeds to revert back to his mortal persona, the reserved yet brilliant Dr. Donald Blake, as he has a crucial surgery to perform. Hours later, when he returns to his apartment, Donald reminisces on the time he found Mjolnir in a Norwegian cave. Just as he is about to doze off, Heimdall appears before him with grave news. The Troll empire has launched an offensive on Asgard in Odin's absence. Bound by duty, Thor leaps into the battlefield in a flash.
During the silver age of comic books, creators Kirby, Lee, and Lieber introduced Thor as a superhero sent to Earth to learn humility. While on Earth, the Thunder God felt the repercussions of having a dual identity as both Donald Blake and Odinson.Thor: Lightning and Lament #1 travels back to that era when the titular character's main conflict was his duties to both these worlds. The story opens in medias res, hooking readers with a strong opening. As it continues, the past unfolds, displaying a scene-by-scene recreation of the hero's origin. However, Macchio does not leave the story dangling in introspection as he takes a step further, sending Thor on a prodigal return to Asgard, where not only does his battle fury but also his steady hands as a surgeon come into play.
Artist Todd Nauck and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg place Thor at the center of the action and fill the surroundings with flashy battle scenes. Their artwork takes inspiration from the earliest Jack Kirby designs, down to the minute details, taking readers on a nostalgic ride. Nauck's intricate lines sway with every character's dynamic movements, with his inking adding depth to the pages. Meanwhile, Rosenberg's colors balance out the gravelly look of the pencils and add a bright sheen to the panels. Her use of bright colors, from the fiery battlefields to the golden halls of Valhalla, everything has the look of epic fantasy. Even letterer Joe Sabino joins in on the fun and alternates between regular fonts and the calligraphic ones associated with Thor.
Thor: Lightning and Lament #1 honors the past while driving towards the future. Macchio's script and Nauck's drawing leave a lasting impression. The one-shot does not make any substantial additions to the overall mythos. But Thor: Lightning and Lament #1 is a perfect place for new readers to start the journey into mystery with this iconic hero.