Thor: Vikings (Max) [ペーパーバック]

Thor: Vikings is very far from being the best Garth Ennis (Preacher, Hellblazer, Punisher) has to offer; it's an insignificantly entertaining action comic at best. Still, it shines with Garth Ennis's bleak and self-aware sense of the absurd, and even if it lacks severely in plot and characters, it's still a fun read, written with some wit and humor, with some wonderfully crafted action sequences. Ennis clearly had lots of fun with Vikings, and he completely let go with the absurd and ridiculously bloody violence and gore that he so loves.

The simplistic story is helped along by fantastic artwork by Glenn Fabry. Fabry is one of the most crafty masters of anatomy in the field (he even wrote a couple of instructive books for drawing muscles and human forms) and his highly detailed and sensitive art compliments the action scenes; it works particularly well in the wide, crowded panels, where Glenn gives as much attention to each and every bloody detail as he does to the overall compositions. The page layouts are fantastically dynamic, and all of that makes Thor: Vikings a quick and fun read that grabs hold of the reader and doesn't let go till the last pages. It's far from being a masterpiece, and it's certainly among Garth Ennis's lesser creations, but it's worth the effort for fans of Ennis's and of Thor's, and for those who enjoy well crafted and highly violent fight sequences.

I have followed the Thor series off and on since encountering it as a kid back in the late 60's, but I was quite stunned to see this shockingly offbeat, but utterly engrossing, take on the Thor universe from Marvel's "mature" imprint, Max. This series is as graphic in its depiction of violence as I've ever seen from a mainstream publisher and even underground grue legend S. Clay Wilson will feel like he's been outdone in some areas ! But no matter how over-the-top the violence is, it's integral to the storyline, in which a boatload of Undead vikings arrives in NYC to loot, rape, and murder to their heart's content. Thor's initial encounter with Jaeckelson, the viking leader, is memorable in its brutality and leaves the reader feeling like they've been punched in the stomach. The ensuing chapters detail Thor's collaboration with other Marvel universe heroes, and their efforts to defeat the onslaught. They also introduce some memorable new characters that I, for one, would like to see appearing in a sequel (?) at one time or another.

Glenn Fabry's artwork, while sometimes a bit awkward in rendering human forms in action, succeeds quite well in capturing the apocalyptic tone of the story. Whether focusing on up-close action involving hand-to-hand combat, or aerial battles that offer a relatively drastic change in perspective, the immediacy of the struggle between Thor and his adversaries is effectively communicated without being so cluttered or self-consciously "artistic" that the reader is left peering at the page and trying to puzzle out exactly what's happening. In light of how pervasive the cartoony, expressionistic style of comic art is nowadays, Fabry's straightforward, realistic draftsmanship is exactly what's required to give Ennis's plot the graphic intensity it needs.

Forget the overwrought, encrusted, heavy-handed melodrama so typical of much of Marvel's output over the past two decades. Thor: Vikings is an unadorned battle between good and evil and never shies from revealing how violent and cruel such a primeval conflict can be. The intensity of the conflict is relieved every now and then by some black humor, but upon finishing the book there was no avoiding the feeling that I'd just been treated to the Battle Royale of the Marvel universe.

Ennis keeps it straight and simple. No need to know all the intricate details about Thor's continuity. No need to buy all the Thor back issues by Walt Simonson to make heads or tails of the story. No need to buy a bloody Marvel Encyclopaedia hardcover to get background info on Asgard, Don Blake and the Thunder God's supporting cast. And screw Beta-Ray Bill's horse face already! All you know need to know is that Thor is going to get thy mighty ass kicked by zombie Vikings who live for the sole purpose of raping & pillaging.

The plot has the same effect of cranking up the classic Sex Pistols' album, Never Mind The Bollocks, at a party filled with virgin teenagers who adorn their walls with posters of Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias & Britney Spears. The dialogue is maniacally hilarious while the characters make Hannibal Lector look like a girl scout. If you are easily offended, faint of heart and believe that the bland, gutless writing style of a Geoff Johns is what will save the industry, then I suggest you crawl back into your parents' basement and await the next issue of Superman. The industry needs more talent like Ennis to shake its creative status quo. Enough of catering to the weak, feeble minded geekazoids already!

Glenn Fabry's painted artwork is always stellar but I have never been awe struck by his pencilling style. The interior pages of Daredevil: The Target & The Authority: Kev lack the intensity of his Preacher and Hellblazer covers. I expected to be disappointed by Fabry's pencilled renderings again but this time around, I am pleasantly surprised by the realistically portrayed details and background work within the interior pages of the comic.

What is also a vast improvement on Fabry's behalf is his storytelling skills. The panel designs make for a clear and concise flow of the script while the cinematic angles are dynamic enough to give Ennis' script the solid visual that it deserves. Paul Monts' coloring cannot be overlooked. His skills and hues brings a rich texture and depth to the final art work.

Thor: Vikings is a breath of fresh air from the diarrhoea type plot lines that have been constantly regurgitated in the character's ongoing series for the past 15 years. Finally, a different approach has been taken to tell a Thor story. One where the name of the game is to actually entertain the audience with a healthy dose of over the top action. After all, Marvel Comics' Thor is a super-hero character ... not a soap opera one!