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Thor (2020) (Collected Editions)
Thor, Vol. 1: The Devourer King
The prince is now a king. All Asgard lies before Thor, the God of Thunder. And after many months of war, the Ten Realms are finally at peace. But the skies above the Realm Eternal are never clear for long. The Black Winter is coming. And the God of the Storm will be powerless before it. Before him lies the Black Winter; behind, a trail of death wrought by his own hand. The God of Thunder hurtles through the cosmos, searching for the power to save Asgard and all existence. But no power in the heavens can save a god - a king - from his bloody duty.
COLLECTING: THOR (2020) 1-6
COLLECTING: THOR (2020) 1-6
144 pages, Paperback
First published November 17, 2020
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524 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
August 23, 2020
Donny Cates is absolutely killing it. Thor is struggling with being the new king of Asgard. That's when Galactus shows up in Asgard missing an arm and talking about this star plague called The Black Winter that ended Galactus's old universe. I absolutely love the contentious relationship between Thor and Galactus.
Nic Klein's art is solid. Matthew Wilson does the colors and helps give the art a very classic Marvel look, almost like it stepped out of the 60's or 70's. I will say I'm not a fan of this new costume. Thor shouldn't ever have a headband.
The solicits say Thor #1-5, but the story is definitely Thor #1-#6. Read in single issues.
Nic Klein's art is solid. Matthew Wilson does the colors and helps give the art a very classic Marvel look, almost like it stepped out of the 60's or 70's. I will say I'm not a fan of this new costume. Thor shouldn't ever have a headband.
The solicits say Thor #1-5, but the story is definitely Thor #1-#6. Read in single issues.
June 9, 2021
Ready for the derpiest Thor there is? Heeeeeeere’s… Donny Cates! Durrrrr Black Winter coming. Duuuhhh Galactus need power to fight. Buuuuuuh. Thor help. Uhhhhh. Hit wiv hammer. Urrr… (overwhelmed with drool, fills nappy, collapses)
Wow. Jason Aaron’s Thor was more bad than good but it was never this bad. Cates’ Thor is so dumb. It’s just Thor and Galactus fighting a black cloud against a space backdrop (so black on black - great visual) shooting laser beams at it and yelling. There’s nothing compelling about it.
Why did they team up to begin with? Galactus had a vision of his death and Thor was there. So rather than put some distance between him and Thor and maybe avoid that vision’s fate, he has him right by his side because that makes sense.
I guess some spoilers for the next part but it’s not really. I mean, does anyone think Thor ISN’T going to save the universe from the villain of the week?
It’s just pointless filler. Galactus and Thor fight. Galactus sucks up another world while Thor complains and evacuates people. Galactus and Thor fight, repeat. Who. Cares. Isn’t all the fighting counterproductive anyway - doesn’t Thor want Galactus to be as strong as possible to fight the black cloud? There’s more filler as Beta Ray Bill rocks up for an issue-long fight that goes nowhere. Sif also fights Thor for a bit. So much rubbish filler.
If all you want to see is Thor - in a new, temporarily clean-shaven/Swedish death metal outfit - fighting every Galactus and his (cosmic) dog, boy oh boy are you in for a book. But I was thoroughly bored of this utterly empty, worthless story every step of the way. Thor, Volume 1: The Devourer King is duuuuuuuuuuuuuh out of duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh stars for me.
Wow. Jason Aaron’s Thor was more bad than good but it was never this bad. Cates’ Thor is so dumb. It’s just Thor and Galactus fighting a black cloud against a space backdrop (so black on black - great visual) shooting laser beams at it and yelling. There’s nothing compelling about it.
Why did they team up to begin with? Galactus had a vision of his death and Thor was there. So rather than put some distance between him and Thor and maybe avoid that vision’s fate, he has him right by his side because that makes sense.
I guess some spoilers for the next part but it’s not really. I mean, does anyone think Thor ISN’T going to save the universe from the villain of the week?
It’s just pointless filler. Galactus and Thor fight. Galactus sucks up another world while Thor complains and evacuates people. Galactus and Thor fight, repeat. Who. Cares. Isn’t all the fighting counterproductive anyway - doesn’t Thor want Galactus to be as strong as possible to fight the black cloud? There’s more filler as Beta Ray Bill rocks up for an issue-long fight that goes nowhere. Sif also fights Thor for a bit. So much rubbish filler.
If all you want to see is Thor - in a new, temporarily clean-shaven/Swedish death metal outfit - fighting every Galactus and his (cosmic) dog, boy oh boy are you in for a book. But I was thoroughly bored of this utterly empty, worthless story every step of the way. Thor, Volume 1: The Devourer King is duuuuuuuuuuuuuh out of duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh stars for me.
November 24, 2020
I was a little concerned for anybody taking on Thor after Jason Aaron’s epic run and some of my concerns were manifest in this volume. Donny Cates immediately does what I hate new writers doing: he wastes no time in entirely sweeping away a lot of the big changes the previous writer made. So, one issue in and Thor’s already got his arm and eye back. (Not a spoiler: it’s on the front cover.) Sigh... I do wish new writers would change a character’s status quo organically, gradually rather than just setting fire to their predecessor’s work with a dismissive grunt.
This gripe aside, I did quite like parts of the story. It certainly wasn’t lacking in action and it sowed some interesting seeds. If anything it was too epic, too quickly; it didn’t feel like the ‘epicness’ was earned, if you know what I mean. Honestly, I was sucked into the story at first but the more I think about it, the less I like it. Oh, and I hated the ending.
The artwork was really good, though; I have no complaints on that front. Nic Klein did a great job.
Story: 2 stars
Artwork: 4 stars
Overall: 3 stars
This gripe aside, I did quite like parts of the story. It certainly wasn’t lacking in action and it sowed some interesting seeds. If anything it was too epic, too quickly; it didn’t feel like the ‘epicness’ was earned, if you know what I mean. Honestly, I was sucked into the story at first but the more I think about it, the less I like it. Oh, and I hated the ending.
The artwork was really good, though; I have no complaints on that front. Nic Klein did a great job.
Story: 2 stars
Artwork: 4 stars
Overall: 3 stars
November 11, 2020
Thor feels the weight of a King now as he sits on the throne. When Galactus comes to him, not for a fight, but pleading for his help, the King of Asgard has a mission that might be too much even for him.
Thor is on a mission to stop the Black Winter from coming. A force so powerful it'll wipe out everything. Galactus and Thor together go to planets so Galactus can feed off them to get stronger. However, Thor always gets people off the planets before he does such a thing. When the Black Winter arrives will both of them be able to withstand it or is it too powerful?
One thing I love about this run so far is the art. Epic would be the word to describe it. And with that awesome art, Cates pushes Thor as a true God, able to show his power in in full force. The threat is probably the weakest part as the reveal isn't as fulfilling as I wanted. But the path there is filled with great moments and the very last couple of pages gets me hyped of what is to come.
Thor is Cates newest Marvel project and it is shaping up to be as strong as his other work. A 4 out of 5.
Thor is on a mission to stop the Black Winter from coming. A force so powerful it'll wipe out everything. Galactus and Thor together go to planets so Galactus can feed off them to get stronger. However, Thor always gets people off the planets before he does such a thing. When the Black Winter arrives will both of them be able to withstand it or is it too powerful?
One thing I love about this run so far is the art. Epic would be the word to describe it. And with that awesome art, Cates pushes Thor as a true God, able to show his power in in full force. The threat is probably the weakest part as the reveal isn't as fulfilling as I wanted. But the path there is filled with great moments and the very last couple of pages gets me hyped of what is to come.
Thor is Cates newest Marvel project and it is shaping up to be as strong as his other work. A 4 out of 5.
October 30, 2020
Thor finds himself fighting alongside the World Devourer himself as the universe-ending Black Winter sets its sights on the Earth. But can even the Odinforce and the Power Cosmic stop something that powerful? And will Galactus' secrets save or destroy he and Thor's alliance?
...I like Donny Cates' writing, a lot. But this book feels a little off. It's like he saw Jason Aaron's run on Thor and thought 'I can do better than that!' and set out to outdo him in his first six issues. This story doesn't feel like one Cates has earned the ability to tell just yet - as a result, the conclusion of it all feels hollow, and the consequences of it aren't half as interesting as they could have been.
Taking Thor away from Asgard right away feels like a misstep. In fact, you could probably swap Thor out for another high powered cosmic character and still told this story, like the Silver Surfer. It's just...yeah, not as impressive as I wanted it to be.
The art's great though - Nic Klein's flashy, splashy style is a good fit for the cosmic insanity of the later issues of the story, and he draws some cracking fight scenes. It should be difficult to make Thor punching a cloud look good, but somehow he manages it really well.
Despite the art though, Donny Cates' first Thor volume doesn't feel quite right just yet. It goes too big too quickly, and skips past all the good character stuff that makes these big superhero moments worth getting to. Hopefully he can course correct for the second volume (which it looks like he will, given the first few issues), and put another great Thor run up on the shelves next to those who came before him.
...I like Donny Cates' writing, a lot. But this book feels a little off. It's like he saw Jason Aaron's run on Thor and thought 'I can do better than that!' and set out to outdo him in his first six issues. This story doesn't feel like one Cates has earned the ability to tell just yet - as a result, the conclusion of it all feels hollow, and the consequences of it aren't half as interesting as they could have been.
Taking Thor away from Asgard right away feels like a misstep. In fact, you could probably swap Thor out for another high powered cosmic character and still told this story, like the Silver Surfer. It's just...yeah, not as impressive as I wanted it to be.
The art's great though - Nic Klein's flashy, splashy style is a good fit for the cosmic insanity of the later issues of the story, and he draws some cracking fight scenes. It should be difficult to make Thor punching a cloud look good, but somehow he manages it really well.
Despite the art though, Donny Cates' first Thor volume doesn't feel quite right just yet. It goes too big too quickly, and skips past all the good character stuff that makes these big superhero moments worth getting to. Hopefully he can course correct for the second volume (which it looks like he will, given the first few issues), and put another great Thor run up on the shelves next to those who came before him.
July 22, 2020
Man I had such high hopes for this since I’d been hearing such great things. This was just Ok. The set up was the best part. Really cool thing Cates does with Galactus’ origin. After the first issue or two I was sold. Then the rest of the book happened. The fight between Beta Ray Bill and Thor was so F’ing pointless. Wether it’s comics, TV shows or movies, I flarkin hate it when people fight over something that could have been explained in 5 seconds. Thor easily could have told Bill what Silver Surfer told him about the black winter and Beta Ray would have been like, “well damn, let me help then.” I mean they are friends!! Thor could have just sat him down and filled him in. No, instead the just fight. Then Sif steps in with her 2 cents when she knows the seriousness of Thor’s quest. Man I had to stop reading the comic and scream at the ceiling for a second. Then the end is more of what I just read in Jason Aaron’s run, Thor fighting some all black thing covering everything but with a slight sputter of an ending. Man this one hurt me a little bit. I know everyone loved this but I guess I’m in the minority, no pun intended. Hopefully this will find better footing in the next volume.
P.S. sorry for the rant.
P.S. sorry for the rant.
January 2, 2021
I admire Donny Cates for beginning his Thor run with the sort of universal extinction event that most writers would spend years working toward. (Though the whole "Winter is coming" thing seems familiar.) If this is where he is starting, where can he possibly go next? Anything is possible! Nothing is off the table!
My problem is I'm not a fan of Marvel's cosmic mythology: Galactus, his heralds, and all that fiddle faddle. And while this is not bad cosmic glop, it is still a lot of cosmic glop to have to swallow in a sitting.
And Thor as a character is just depressing to visit with his brooding and darkness and daddy issues. I think it is time to take another extended break from his title.
My problem is I'm not a fan of Marvel's cosmic mythology: Galactus, his heralds, and all that fiddle faddle. And while this is not bad cosmic glop, it is still a lot of cosmic glop to have to swallow in a sitting.
And Thor as a character is just depressing to visit with his brooding and darkness and daddy issues. I think it is time to take another extended break from his title.
September 29, 2020
Thor as an herald of Galactus, nuff said.
June 25, 2020
A universe destroying mega-entity threatens all of reality! I'm other words, an average Tuesday in the Marvel universe.
Fun enough story and good art (although Thor's new look reminds me of when comics went EXTREME in the 90s), but it just feels like Marvel is pushing the same plot out to us over and over and over and...
Fun enough story and good art (although Thor's new look reminds me of when comics went EXTREME in the 90s), but it just feels like Marvel is pushing the same plot out to us over and over and over and...
Read
December 8, 2024Nicely reminiscent of the early arcs of Jason Aaron’s run on Thor in terms of scale, tone, and style. It’s bold, epic, and galactic, and also has a nice injection of humour (especially in the very first issue). But some of the design and narrative choices were kind of silly and I found myself enjoying it less as it went on. A knockout first issue with diminishing returns.
January 31, 2021
What a story! It tells the tale of a God made king and then when suddenly Galactus falls on his new Kingdom, all it brings is death and the meeting of the four heralds happen and we learn of the Black Winter, the thing that destroyed Galactus reality and so its upto Thor to become his new herald of thunder and feed him energies from five planets and he does and saves the people of the first, faces off against Beta Rey Bill and Sif too just showing maybe he has fallen too far and then the final planet but he can't save them because the Black Winter is here and he has to face off it and learn what it really is meanwhile there is an epic moment wherein he does something to Galactus which was shocking and then faces off against all his enemies (they are projections shown by BW) and then BW himself and sees his one true end and it was epic!
This volume starts off like all big Donny Cates stories, big, action-heavy focusing on clues of things to come and teases a lot of things and always has cool moment for the central character like Thor with BRB or Galactus and then with the throne on Asgard and the way he makes him so OP its epic! The art is sublime, simply outstanding and Nic is the perfect artist for this run!
This volume starts off like all big Donny Cates stories, big, action-heavy focusing on clues of things to come and teases a lot of things and always has cool moment for the central character like Thor with BRB or Galactus and then with the throne on Asgard and the way he makes him so OP its epic! The art is sublime, simply outstanding and Nic is the perfect artist for this run!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2020
*Looks at comics* *Blinks*
*Looks at Keyboard* *Blinks*
*Looks at comics* *Blinks*
*Looks at Keyboard* *Blinks*
Ummm. I need more stars. 5 doesn't cut it.
*Looks at Keyboard* *Blinks*
*Looks at comics* *Blinks*
*Looks at Keyboard* *Blinks*
Ummm. I need more stars. 5 doesn't cut it.
January 12, 2023
Following in the footsteps of Jason Aaron after his classic lengthy run on the THOR title could not have been easy. So, Donny Cates goes big with an epic story but thankfully not epic in length. This one wraps up in six single issues, which make up the story arc collected here in The Devourer King.
Thor is now the king of Asgard during a time of peace across the Ten Realms. The quiet is very short-lived, as the Black Winter is coming which threatens to wipe out everything. Galactus shows up and enlists Thor in his attempt to stop the Black Winter. He gives up some of his cosmic power to Thor, and makes him his new all-powerful herald. Thor has to find five planets for Galactus to devour, gaining him enough strength to take on Black Winter.
Can you ever really trust Galactus. Before this ends, there are several surprises including Thor having to battle friend and lover (Beta Ray Bill and Sif) because they don't understand his involvement. The ending is especially unexpected, and I hope it sticks (but I doubt it).
Seems like Cates will be exploring the lofty aims of Thor as king as well as how he handles the awesome responsibilities. The art is equally epic in scope and gorgeous to ponder over. Some of the early panels in Issue One are expository in nature, and really create that mythological feel aided by the art and font style that recall a Classic Illustrated feel.
This was a welcome change of pace from standard Thor fare.
Thor is now the king of Asgard during a time of peace across the Ten Realms. The quiet is very short-lived, as the Black Winter is coming which threatens to wipe out everything. Galactus shows up and enlists Thor in his attempt to stop the Black Winter. He gives up some of his cosmic power to Thor, and makes him his new all-powerful herald. Thor has to find five planets for Galactus to devour, gaining him enough strength to take on Black Winter.
Can you ever really trust Galactus. Before this ends, there are several surprises including Thor having to battle friend and lover (Beta Ray Bill and Sif) because they don't understand his involvement. The ending is especially unexpected, and I hope it sticks (but I doubt it).
Seems like Cates will be exploring the lofty aims of Thor as king as well as how he handles the awesome responsibilities. The art is equally epic in scope and gorgeous to ponder over. Some of the early panels in Issue One are expository in nature, and really create that mythological feel aided by the art and font style that recall a Classic Illustrated feel.
This was a welcome change of pace from standard Thor fare.
August 20, 2020
Další Catesův zářez pro Marvel a hlavně další dílek do jeho vesmírné skládanky.
Zase se tu opakuje to, co předtím. Donny si vezme sérii, udělá si z ní vlastní hračku, rozestaví si figurky, dá nám ne úplně očekávatelné scény, občas dokonce nějaké kulervoucí a pak jde zase dál. Je humorné, že je momentálně takovým Thanosem Marvel univerza, který sbírá jednotlivé série, aby dokončil svoji vlastní rukavici. A já se sakra modlím, aby to byl nakonec v kompletu jeden velký masterpiece a nejenom mega kvalitní rozjezd a pak uspěchaný, nedopečený konec (což pronásleduje hodně jeho věcí).
I když to tak možná do teď neznělo, tak jsem pořád sakra rád, že se ujal Thora, protože je radost to číst. A hlavně pokud jste četli ostatní jeho věci z "vesmírného Marvelu", tak prostě jenom potkáte všechny obvyklé podezřelé a zase si trochu upevníte celkový obrázek. A pořád je to dobrá akční jízda s parádníma scénama a co by člověk vlastně potřeboval víc?
Zase se tu opakuje to, co předtím. Donny si vezme sérii, udělá si z ní vlastní hračku, rozestaví si figurky, dá nám ne úplně očekávatelné scény, občas dokonce nějaké kulervoucí a pak jde zase dál. Je humorné, že je momentálně takovým Thanosem Marvel univerza, který sbírá jednotlivé série, aby dokončil svoji vlastní rukavici. A já se sakra modlím, aby to byl nakonec v kompletu jeden velký masterpiece a nejenom mega kvalitní rozjezd a pak uspěchaný, nedopečený konec (což pronásleduje hodně jeho věcí).
I když to tak možná do teď neznělo, tak jsem pořád sakra rád, že se ujal Thora, protože je radost to číst. A hlavně pokud jste četli ostatní jeho věci z "vesmírného Marvelu", tak prostě jenom potkáte všechny obvyklé podezřelé a zase si trochu upevníte celkový obrázek. A pořád je to dobrá akční jízda s parádníma scénama a co by člověk vlastně potřeboval víc?
January 30, 2025
An expansive and epic tale to kick off what promises to be a terrific run. More of this, please!
December 8, 2020
I love this so much.
It’s such a unique take, and yet completely worthy of it’s predecessors. A fitting continuation of Jason Aaron’s run.
What I wasn’t expecting was to learn so much about Galactus! There were some amazing callbacks to previous runs, some very fascinating foreshadows that I simply can’t wait to see brought to fruition.
Nick Klein’s pencil work is great, and dare I say it? It gives the great Esad a run for his money!
Bring on more Thor!
It’s such a unique take, and yet completely worthy of it’s predecessors. A fitting continuation of Jason Aaron’s run.
What I wasn’t expecting was to learn so much about Galactus! There were some amazing callbacks to previous runs, some very fascinating foreshadows that I simply can’t wait to see brought to fruition.
Nick Klein’s pencil work is great, and dare I say it? It gives the great Esad a run for his money!
Bring on more Thor!
December 5, 2021
I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that Donny Cates decided to take Thor in a cosmic direction. Fortunately it's much more successful than Mark Waid's attempt to do the same in Doctor Strange by Mark Waid, Vol. 1: Across The Universe (and the rest of that run, which even included Galactus in the magic realms).
Cates makes a great use of Galactus and his mythology and creates a huge turning point for Galan. (Sadly, just like the "good" Galactus of Ultimates, this will probably be swept under the rug in a few years.) We also get an intriguing Thor, in his role as the High Father and his look at the future. Overall, a strong start to a new run that builds on what came before and also differentiates itself.
Cates makes a great use of Galactus and his mythology and creates a huge turning point for Galan. (Sadly, just like the "good" Galactus of Ultimates, this will probably be swept under the rug in a few years.) We also get an intriguing Thor, in his role as the High Father and his look at the future. Overall, a strong start to a new run that builds on what came before and also differentiates itself.
September 19, 2023
This is my first dive back into reading Thor comics since I read all of Jason Aaron’s Thor about a year ago. This run by Cates has been hyped up in a big way for me since then and finally getting around to it, I can definitely see why! The challenges and world this first volume has set up has me so excited to see what will go on in this run! Art was great in this one especially. The contrast of light(ning) and The Black Winter was done so well!
March 24, 2021
I liked this...have been looking forward to this retake on Thor ..now a slightly angsty King.. and then Galactus shows his face..
Intrigued to follow this and I will...
Intrigued to follow this and I will...
February 25, 2023
A hell of a start to this new era of Thor. Intriguing story and strong art makes this all a winner.
December 30, 2020
*read as single issues* Unfortunately this volume for me just felt fine. It was clearly supposed to be this epic story and the art really made it look great but I just didn’t really care about any of it. For me there was just too much action and not enough character. For example it mentioned numerous times that Thor is struggeling with his new role as king but it’s never really explored further. Still there were some interesting things in this (e.g. Loki) so I‘m interested to see where this is going. 2.5*
February 27, 2022
More of a 3.5 rating.
Really enjoyed this. It gets big. Sort of redefines Galactus. Interested to see where Donny Cates takes this.
Really enjoyed this. It gets big. Sort of redefines Galactus. Interested to see where Donny Cates takes this.
Read
March 29, 2021The opening of this is gorgeous, Klein and Wilson following Mjolnir's journey across the Ten Realms as they rebuild. '"We have, all of us, warred enough for a thousand lifetimes," the hammer speaks.' Yes! War Of The Realms wasn't a bad idea, but it didn't half drag on. Let's have a different flavour of Thor book, one about the reconstruction; about Thor, now Odin has gone, uneasily settling into the royal role. There's a promising bit of bickering with Loki, himself now a reluctant monarch elsewhere (though it has to be said, he's veering a bit back towards his ugly old self here – maybe he's just meant to look tired, but I still wouldn't want to risk the massed anger of the Hiddleston fans like this myself). There's even the nice touch that, rather than Thor simply being able to lift his hammer or not according to binary worthiness, differences of degrees might come into it – "I don't recall you ever...grunting when you used to pick it up..."
And then, before the first issue is even finished, Galactus drops into Asgard, causing devastation. Not deliberately, just because he's a big lad who does a lot of damage when he falls over, beaten and maimed. How so? Turns out there's something far worse than Galactus out there – "The Black Winter killed the universe before ours, Thor. As Galactus devours worlds...the Winter devours realities." So yeah, apparently we're coming straight off one apocalyptic Thor run, and right into another. The insistence that this is far bigger than all previous apocalypses, that this is far worse than Ragnarok (which, to be fair, is a pretty regular occurrence in Marvel Asgard) can't help but feel like it's trying too hard, Cates desperately insisting that this end of the world is one louder. And fundamentally, we've seen Yggdrasil assailed so often these past few years that scenes of it rotting, again, are going to elicit more yawns than deep breaths from anyone bar that most mythical creature of all, the new reader of long-standing superhero books. What makes it all the more frustrating here is that there are some amazing bits and pieces scattered around. There's a spread musing on what immortality must be like, how Thor has been in what ought to be legendary battles and entirely forgotten them, "Lost, in the ocean of his immortal mind." There's one cheeky page illicitly blowing up the DCU just to emphasise the threat level, and another which is as breathtaking as the whole story wants to be, Galactus dwarfed and Thor a dot in the face of the enormous, looming Winter. There's Beta Ray Bill, always a thoroughly welcome presence, even if his appearance here is a fairly pointless 'you've changed, Thor' interruption while Thor plays Herald and leads Galactus around a series of power-up planets like he really is just a world-ending Pac-Man. And if one of those planets, Sylus, is "an uninhabitable and miniscule mesoplanet", then what are the jellyfish-type critters being evacuated over Bifrost? Because they look an awful lot like...inhabitants? I was left with a sense of a writer who has lots of cool ideas for what to do with Thor, maybe has done for years, and has just chucked them all at the page, little considering how well they fit together with each other, let alone what's come before. Cates wouldn't be the first writer of good indie stuff to come a cropper like that at Marvel. Hell, it's not even the first time he's had that problem himself; just look at how rapidly his Venom run went off the rails into bigger, badder, more nonsensical revelations. But this instance is all the more frustrating for the suspicion that if he'd only had a stronger editorial hand, there's some really strong stuff here, and a very effective art team, which could have been the core of something special.
And then, before the first issue is even finished, Galactus drops into Asgard, causing devastation. Not deliberately, just because he's a big lad who does a lot of damage when he falls over, beaten and maimed. How so? Turns out there's something far worse than Galactus out there – "The Black Winter killed the universe before ours, Thor. As Galactus devours worlds...the Winter devours realities." So yeah, apparently we're coming straight off one apocalyptic Thor run, and right into another. The insistence that this is far bigger than all previous apocalypses, that this is far worse than Ragnarok (which, to be fair, is a pretty regular occurrence in Marvel Asgard) can't help but feel like it's trying too hard, Cates desperately insisting that this end of the world is one louder. And fundamentally, we've seen Yggdrasil assailed so often these past few years that scenes of it rotting, again, are going to elicit more yawns than deep breaths from anyone bar that most mythical creature of all, the new reader of long-standing superhero books. What makes it all the more frustrating here is that there are some amazing bits and pieces scattered around. There's a spread musing on what immortality must be like, how Thor has been in what ought to be legendary battles and entirely forgotten them, "Lost, in the ocean of his immortal mind." There's one cheeky page illicitly blowing up the DCU just to emphasise the threat level, and another which is as breathtaking as the whole story wants to be, Galactus dwarfed and Thor a dot in the face of the enormous, looming Winter. There's Beta Ray Bill, always a thoroughly welcome presence, even if his appearance here is a fairly pointless 'you've changed, Thor' interruption while Thor plays Herald and leads Galactus around a series of power-up planets like he really is just a world-ending Pac-Man. And if one of those planets, Sylus, is "an uninhabitable and miniscule mesoplanet", then what are the jellyfish-type critters being evacuated over Bifrost? Because they look an awful lot like...inhabitants? I was left with a sense of a writer who has lots of cool ideas for what to do with Thor, maybe has done for years, and has just chucked them all at the page, little considering how well they fit together with each other, let alone what's come before. Cates wouldn't be the first writer of good indie stuff to come a cropper like that at Marvel. Hell, it's not even the first time he's had that problem himself; just look at how rapidly his Venom run went off the rails into bigger, badder, more nonsensical revelations. But this instance is all the more frustrating for the suspicion that if he'd only had a stronger editorial hand, there's some really strong stuff here, and a very effective art team, which could have been the core of something special.
March 30, 2021
Pretty good intro to this new era of Thor. I’m a Cates fan, but would love to see him do some more grounded stuff. I mean, does everything have to be an apocalyptic threat?
October 19, 2022
This is a great start. I picked a good time to start reading Thor, between this and the Gorr arc, it's all so excellent. There are so many ways to focus hero comics, it's fun to fall back on one that shows characters at their peak just slamming each other with ABSOLUTE POWER. Bonus points for bringing the Silver Surfer Black into canon from Cates' previous work.
September 14, 2020
The years-long run that Jason Aaron (and his stellar team of artists) had with Thor is one of my favorite in comics. So, while I like what I've read of Donny Cates, I was apprehensive about anyone trying to follow-up on the saga Aaron penned and didn't let myself have very high expectations. But man, if this first volume is any indication of what we can expect from Cates' and Thor, I'm all in.
The Devourer King doesn't have the immediate air of something iconic like the God Butcher storyline did when Aaron first started writing Thor, but it does have all of the mythos and mystery that a Thor comic should. It's bold and exciting, and I love the ideas Cates introduces here. He doesn't explore all of them with as much nuance as I wanted, and the primary threat never feels like a real danger, but the premise itself is phenomenal. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I love the character dynamics Cates introduces and love how his script allows for just as action-spectacle as it does for high-stakes debates between old friends (and enemies). Cates' voice is right at home in the pages of Thor, and I am 100% sticking around for whatever he's cooking up.
The real star of this first volume is the art, though. As much as Cates' script succeeds in balancing the familiar with the new and unknown, Nic Klein and Matt Wilson's art is thrilling ways that feel entirely appropriate for the God of Thunder while still managing to feel like distinct from what's come before. Klein's linework is top-notch, and he draws his characters with a mythic scale and gravitas that is just as exciting to look at in action as it is in quieter moments of dialogue. And Wilson's colors are, as always, stunning, and his ability to bring Klein's work to vibrant, dynamic life is next-level stuff.
The Devourer King may not rank among the best introductory arcs ever, but it offers a new take that's at once exciting in its ambition and familiar in its spectacle. I can't wait to see where this creative team takes Thor.
The Devourer King doesn't have the immediate air of something iconic like the God Butcher storyline did when Aaron first started writing Thor, but it does have all of the mythos and mystery that a Thor comic should. It's bold and exciting, and I love the ideas Cates introduces here. He doesn't explore all of them with as much nuance as I wanted, and the primary threat never feels like a real danger, but the premise itself is phenomenal. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I love the character dynamics Cates introduces and love how his script allows for just as action-spectacle as it does for high-stakes debates between old friends (and enemies). Cates' voice is right at home in the pages of Thor, and I am 100% sticking around for whatever he's cooking up.
The real star of this first volume is the art, though. As much as Cates' script succeeds in balancing the familiar with the new and unknown, Nic Klein and Matt Wilson's art is thrilling ways that feel entirely appropriate for the God of Thunder while still managing to feel like distinct from what's come before. Klein's linework is top-notch, and he draws his characters with a mythic scale and gravitas that is just as exciting to look at in action as it is in quieter moments of dialogue. And Wilson's colors are, as always, stunning, and his ability to bring Klein's work to vibrant, dynamic life is next-level stuff.
The Devourer King may not rank among the best introductory arcs ever, but it offers a new take that's at once exciting in its ambition and familiar in its spectacle. I can't wait to see where this creative team takes Thor.
September 11, 2021
Not Bad. I had been hearing so much about how great Donny Cates writing for Marvel has been. It is really top-notch. Everything is firing on all cylinders in this first arc for CAtes thor. What can you throw at a character as powerful as Thor? Cates pitted the planet eater against Thor. Cates does a great job with the dialogue and the action. I really felt Thor's struggle to find purpose. He may have been reluctant to be king, but it is clear that odinson will step up to face any challenge. That's what being a hero is all about. I enjoyed this story immensely. It was great to see a few of the support characters I had not seen in a while such as Sif and Beta Ray. The artwork was pretty good here as well. The colors were the real star of this collection. I am looking forward to reading the next volume.
June 19, 2021
U Catese je fascinující, že prakticky po každé přinese to stejné a člověka to furt baví. A Donnyho rukopis je tu hodně silný, zase totální přepálenost, bitky kde to jde, odkaz na "CatesVerse" a podmanivý vizuál s barvičkama. Thora moc nemusím, ale strašně jsem se u toho bavil.
September 8, 2020
Donnie Cates is a writer less than the sum of his parts...and those parts are Mark Millar and Scott Snyder.
February 2, 2023
Some epic stuff here, indeed. Truly epic. Like way too much epic so soon so fast. Like Cates played his last cards in his very first arc. I mean, . What’s supposed to stop him now?
And it takes 6 issues including fillers-Beta Ray Bill, Sif...- to get there.
It’s also pompously wordy. A bit like Jason Aaron except that Aaron did it better.
And the glimpse of the one responsible for Thor’s foreseen downfall made me cringe. Does it really need to be this character?
After all the above niceties why the lenient 3* you might ask.
Firstly, the plot isn’t so bad. Like I said truly epic. Lots of huuuge Booms and Ka-Booms all over the place and the Black Winter’s actual goal is actually an astute twist. Thor’s personality is rather well addressed too, with his concern about being the new all-father.
Secondly there’s the art. Nic Klein, wonderfully enhanced by Matt Wilson’s colours, is simply amazing and perfectly suited to draw this kind of story.
And it takes 6 issues including fillers-Beta Ray Bill, Sif...- to get there.
It’s also pompously wordy. A bit like Jason Aaron except that Aaron did it better.
And the glimpse of the one responsible for Thor’s foreseen downfall made me cringe. Does it really need to be this character?
After all the above niceties why the lenient 3* you might ask.
Firstly, the plot isn’t so bad. Like I said truly epic. Lots of huuuge Booms and Ka-Booms all over the place and the Black Winter’s actual goal is actually an astute twist. Thor’s personality is rather well addressed too, with his concern about being the new all-father.
Secondly there’s the art. Nic Klein, wonderfully enhanced by Matt Wilson’s colours, is simply amazing and perfectly suited to draw this kind of story.
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