Thor: God of Thunder - Godbomb (Volume 2)

In this series' second volume, Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic continue what might be the single greatest Thor story arc since writer/artist Walt Simonson's classic 1980s run. If you're old enough to remember Simonson's glorious tenure, take a moment to let that comparison sink in. If you're not, be prepared to see a Thor tale unlike any you've seen in a modern comic book.The enigmatic Gorr has slaughtered entire pantheons of gods across the cosmos, and Thor, Norse god of thunder, is determined to end Gorr's bloody campaign. Thor has fought Gorr before, though, and is destined to fight him again: the story of their epic confrontation unfolds worlds apart, in three different time periods. Their centuries-long battle culminates in the distant future, on a desolate world where Gorr's immortal slaves have been forced to build the very means of their ultimate destruction. The finale virtually redefines the "cosmic epic" approach to comic book storytelling; it transcends the superhero genre and charts bold new territory somewhere between grand science fiction and ancient mythology.This series has an incredible sense of scale. Aaron and Ribic use the infinite possibilities of the medium to maximum effect. They don't overlook the power of the quieter moments, though; the series is populated not just by grand heroes and villains, but also with colorful supporting characters who are instantly enjoyable and memorable (my personal favorite is the so-called Lord Librarian). THOR, GOD OF THUNDER must be read to be believed.

It has become evident to me over the past year that Jason Aaron is one of the best writers in the history of Marvel's Thor. Seriously, he belongs in the upper echelons of great Thor writers, alongside  Stan Lee , J. Mike Straczynski , and even the great  Walter Simonson . I say that because, in the entire 11 issues revolved around  Gorr, the God Butcher , there isn't a single page that isn't riveting and wondrous to take in. The first half of this tale was fantastic, and I'm happy to say that Aaron and Ribic definitely delivered the goods in volume 2, Godbomb.Anyone looking at Godbomb is undoubtedly familiar with the premise. The first volume featured a new villain in the Thor pathos named Gorr, a chilling, frightening foe with an unequaled hatred for all gods in the universe. Practically a god unto himself (but don't ever tell him that), Gorr spent thousands of years butchering countless pantheons across the universe, until Thor stood against and supposedly defeated him. Unfortunately, he accidentally gave him a newfound focus and grander sense of purpose instead. The story featured Thor at three different points in his life, all equally likable and with the same core personality but with enough subtle differences to make each version a unique character. Time travel is involved and the storytelling is actually sharper because of this and not in spite of it. Godbomb ups the stakes tremendously and progresses this tale to its inevitable, epic conclusion. Here we see all three Thors at the end of time, united through the magic of time travel, mounting one final assault on Gorr as he prepares his ultimate victory over every god through time and space. Epic!I absolutely love Jason Aaron as a writer for Thor. He has a genuinely fantastic grasp on the pathos of Thor and what makes him such a unique and exciting character for a comic book and that is wholly evident while reading Godbomb. There's a perfect mix here of superhero tale, epic fantasy, and exciting Sci-Fi. The writing all comes together so well, making for a genuinely thrilling epoch filled with mystical wonder. Godbomb (as well as the first volume) contains a cinematic flair that makes the entire story an absolute delight to take in. The story flows very smoothly. There's a great amount of depth to reflect on. There's plenty of humor interspersed among the action and drama too, making for a perfect balance to the story. I'm also very happy to say that, despite intense build-up over many issues, the ending is incredibly satisfying. It just amazes me how well paced the entire story is over 11 issues, with every single one maintaining the same top-tier quality. That's super impressive. Aaron, if you ever read this, know that I both love and admire your work immensely. Your name deserves to be mentioned with glory in the dining halls of Valhalla, truly.Esad Ribic returns for issues 7-11 and once again, he hit it out of the park. I've always loved Esad's  past work on Thor  as well as  his other Marvel stuff , and he is truly at the top of his game in these God of Thunder stories. His line work is just so sharp and organic, and the art is vividly colorful and pops out of the page. His powerful artwork rises to the cosmic grandeur of Aaron's writing beautifully. I really love this creative team for Thor.Issue 6 almost feels out of place in the volume. Acting as an origin of sorts for Gorr's character, its writing is consistent with the rest of the volume, but it does feature a different artist. This can be a bit distracting, as the heavy-handed, gritty art style for this single issue is drastically different (and to be honest, inferior) than Ribic's fluid, painterly art. Really though, that's not enough to take down the volume's overall quality. It is worth noting, however.All-in-all, Aaron/Ribic's first major arc with Thor is a triumph in storytelling. All 11 issues revolving around Thor's battle against Gorr are of the highest quality you could hope for from a Thor story. It just nails the Thor pathos so perfectly, while adding quite a bit to it as well. Godbomb acts as an awesome conclusion to the compelling tale of Gorr, a new Thor villain I hope to see again sometime down the road. If you have any interest in Thor whatsoever, I'd say buying both  The God Butcher  and Godbomb is a decision you won't regret. So what are you waiting for? Buy it, steel yourself for an epic adventure, and witness how Thor became the god of gods!

I have always wanted to be a Thor fan. As long as I've been reading comics, it always bothered me that I knew nothing about the Asgardian god of thunder. Sure, I tried to read the characters modern series, but the tone of the character changed so drastically from writer to writer, I just couldn't get a handle on him. I wanted to collect his older works, but I don't have Omnibus money, and don't have time to track the series down otherwise. Thankfully for me, and prospective Thor fans everywhere, Jason Aaron was kind enough to write an amazing series that doubles as a perfect starting point.In this volume the three Thors must battle Gorr the god butcher, a truly fearsome foe. I had my younger brother and father read this volume and they felt that Gor was TOO fearsome, taking away from the overall experience. I see where they were coming from, but happen to disagree. Not so much so though that I won't mention it hear, as a warning. If you like your comics to have heroes easily overcoming every obstacle, look elsewhere; there be blood in these waters.It has always been my opinion that the darker the villain the greater the heroes get to shine, and that is certainly the case here. All three Thors are absolutely essential in overcoming this foe, and it will take everything they have to do so. This series captures the epic cosmic feel that so many before it failed to grasp. Thor FEELS like a god and Gorr is a villain that you simply can't see Iron man or Hawkeye being able to defeat.The art is picture perfect. Dark, moody, yet vibrant and kinetic. The battles practically leap off the page, while the quieter moments have the impact they're supposed to. If you're a fan of Thor you should absolutely buy this. If you want to be a fan of Thor then this is required reading. This book is a must buy.

Jason Aaron's simply superb take on Thor continues in this collection, the second part of the God Butcher storyline.In the previous volume we followed Gorr's, um, gory travels across the cosmos, slaughtering deities as part of his obsession of killing all gods. The action slows slightly at the beginning of this book as we get more background on what drove Gorr to turn murderer. On a barren planet far in the past, we see his tribe suffer and die in the face of pitiless drought and ravenous beasts, with his pregnant wife being among those to succumb, despite her unbending faith in her people's pantheon. Gorr's heretical conviction that there are no such gods leads him to be cast out, where he comes across the end of a battle between two gods, fallen to his world. Taking up one's weapon - the black sword which has given him his powers in the previous volume - he departs to begin his campaign of carnage.Back in the main narrative, our three hero Thors eventually come together and make haste to Gorr's World, where he has built an enormous bomb which will ripple back through time, killing all gods. In a sad pastiche of his previous family, Gorr has a new wife and child - or does he? - waiting in an ivory tower for him to complete his work. But the Thors and their three warrior maiden grandchildren have other ideas - and the final battle begins.Aaron continues to craft an incredible path for the God of Thunder here, expanding the mythos. King Thor is perfect, Odin-like in appearance but wiser and more compassionate. Young Thor is mostly still a surly whelp, but is brave and brash. Meanwhile, Avenger Thor - who, of course, the story is really about - is forced to confront the possibility that Gorr may, in some twisted way, be right: that "the gods have never created or cared for anything, except themselves", and that they may be holding mortals back.The audacity of Aaron's vision rolls over from the previous volume - Omnipotence City reappears briefly; the notion of Thor's shield maiden grandchildren is a fantastic one, and their story is picked up later in this run. Occasionally, dialogue is sacrificed for clever narrative to a slightly greater degree than in volume 1, and there are one or two points where less would've been more, but it's the most minor of quibbles. Butch Guice draws the issue focused on Gorr's past and does a decent job, but it's when Esad Ribic picks up his pencils again that the picture is complete. Once again, his work unfolds like a mythic canvas - not least in his truly extraordinary cover art. If you collect Thor issues at all, then this run simply must be part of your collection. Superb.

Thor at the height of his powers and the world he inhabits at it's most fantastical. The conclusion of this exciting arc brings home some insane battles brought to life in impossibly impressive art. The sheer scale of some of the page-long spread made me wonder why it wasn't in a gallery somewhere. If you're into Fantasy action and maybe not a comic reader, I promise this shows you what you imagine when Gods clash. Fantastic work

This and the first volume are great reads. The story is adult enough and well structured to keep you wanting to turn the page. The action is well developed as well as the characters and Gorrs motivation is well explained.

Like I needed any more motivation to read Thor stories. The writer and the artists who work on this wonderful comics did a fantastic job. A joy to read.

Just buy all 4x of them and read them back to back. And why do I say this? Well they are all connected, with stories from Thor's past, present and future, but all of them are linked. This conclusion to the Killer of Gods story is brilliant, the best yet.