Thor Annual #1 Review

Writer: Aaron Kuder / Artist: Aaron Kuder / Marvel Comics When you give writers a one-shot, they are guaranteed to have some wild ideas. Annual issues tend to bring out the craziest concepts a writer can think up for a story. And the format lets them run with that idea full throttle. Thor Annual #1 is probably Thor at its best, adding to what has been a spectacular run on the comic. Writer and artist Aaron Kuder’s work complements Cates’ run by building on those storylines to create a great one-shot adventure. Thor Annual #1 places itself a year after the events of War of the Realms. The Light Elves of Alfheim are holding a gathering to celebrate the end of the war with Allfather Thor and representatives from each realm, including … well, Hawkeye. It’s here that I’ve realized how much of an effect Cates has had on Thor since his run started. He has really shaped Thor into the leader of Asgard. It’s only when this issue points it out that readers realize how much he’s grown into the role of King. There is a steep contrast to the Unworthy version of the character present for most of Jason Aaron’s run.

As always in comic books, nothing goes as expected. Something is bound to go wrong and that’s the exciting part about this issue. Kuder is pretty creative with it comes to this issue’s big bad. Vlag makes an impression and I’m hoping he’s more than a one-and-done villain. The whole concept behind who he is and how he tries to defeat Thor is pretty brilliant. I love ho…