The Unworthy Thor

By all rights this story should have been part of Jason Aaron’s current run on “The Mighty Thor.”  I understand why that didn’t happen as it would’ve required the writer to put the ongoing adventures of Jane Foster on hold for five months while we caught up with the Odinson, who we find here to be in a very bad place.  After being informed by the Unseen (the Not-Watcher who is the-super-spy-formerly-known-as-Nick Fury) that another Mjolnir has landed in Old Asgardia.  The Odinson takes off after it in a flash only to find that Old Asgardia has been stolen away by the Collector who wants to secure the power of the hammer for himself.  Now a prisoner of the Collector himself, the Odinson finds himself in a daily struggle to reach the hammer in order to secure his freedom and worthiness.  He’d better hurry because a mysterious figure has also pledged to secure the hammer as a tribute to Thanos for his aid in some undoubtedly evil plan.

Aaron probably pads things out with more fighting than he needs to here, even if Oliver Coipel (with Kim Jacinto pitching in here and there) does make it look appropriately weathered and violent.  In between the fisticuffs, however, are some pretty important developments.  Chief among them being that we finally get to find out what Fury said to Thor to make him unworthy.  While it’s questionable that Fury had the authority to pull something like that off, the explanation actually fits well in the context of Aaron’s run.  Particularly the bits involving Gorr the God Butcher.  One of the more amusing bits from Kieron Gillen’s “Journey Into Mystery” run is imported here and there’s a most surprising hook-up between Thanos and a member of Thor’s Rogues Gallery that makes so much sense that I’m surprised no one had thought to do it before.

As for the matter of the hammer itself, the resolution is something of a cop-out.  Even if there is an explanation provided for the Odinson’s actions it still feels like a delaying tactic.  Albeit, a delaying tactic with repercussions as the epilogue informs us.  So if you’ve been following Aaron’s run on “Thor” and were thinking of skipping this miniseries — don’t.  It’s very important to the ongoing story he’s been telling and full of the humor, heart, and brawn that have made his run so enjoyable.