Thor [2020] #34 - Marvel Comics

THOR No. 34, July 2023

It’s hard to believe that many readers of Torunn Gronbekk’s convoluted script for Issue Thirty-Four of “Thor” will actually have much of a clue as to just what is going on within this twenty-page periodical. Indeed, the Norwegian author’s seemingly merciless obsession to cram as many Asgardian gods, kings, werewolves, warriors and super-villains as she can messily muster within this single comic may well have given the odd bibliophile a debilitating Marvel-flavoured migraine; “We need to get out of here! It’s… weird out there… like, bonkers weird.”

Foremost of these utterly puzzling bemusements is probably the unlikely meeting of this publication’s titular character with Doctor Doom, Thanos, Laussa Odinsdottir, Hela and Bor Burison in Nifflehein. “Blood Of The Fathers” clearly plays it fast and loose when it comes to converging timelines and personalities bumping into one another out of chronological order. But how the monarch of Latveria is able to calmly step across reality from his Earth-bound kingdom into Bor’s Vault just as the Mad Titan is about to stab an infant Goddess of Death is never explained, nor is the Thunder God’s ability to intercede on Victor’s behalf with Mjolnir when the armoured monarch is savagely wounded by “one of the last sons of A'Lars.”

Almost as disconcerting is debatably this publication’s dialogue, which disappointingly may remind some bibliophiles of something penned in a fanzine. The second born daughter of All-Mother Freyja seems to particularly struggle with her words, nervously uttering “Eh, Hullo!” when as an adult she meets Thor at the lowest level of the universe and then later fangirling “Whaaaat?! Wolf-sword… Awesome!” over a possessed blade when she effortlessly hacks apart the supposedly great supernatural fighter Varg. 

Even this comic’s illustrations appear somewhat confusing with Juan Gedeon’s rudimentary pencils later being replaced by the much more stylish sketchings of Sergio Davila. The Buenos Aires-born professional’s panels disappointingly lack any real sense of movement, apart from when the Avenger is thwacking Thanos in the face with his hammer, and this lethargy sadly undermines any sense of tension during the “all-out war” which occurs. However, as soon as the sequential artist from Barcelona takes over the entire ensemble appear to jump into life, with a much younger Odinson clobbering a pack of unruly, blue-skinned trolls in an enthralling flashback sequence.

The regular cover art of "THOR" #34 by Nic Klein