Review: Thor Vol. 2: Who Holds the Hammer?
Written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by Russell Dauterman, Thor Vol. 2: Who Holds the Hammer? finally reveals the woman behind the mask. Collecting issues 6–8, Who Holds the Hammer? finds Thor battling not only Odin, but a growing personal threat as well.
Opening with Dario Agger’s tragic backstory, the crooked entrepreneur is then joined by Malekith the Accursed, who is looking to strike a bargain with Agger. Bent on getting his revenge, Malekith offers to help Agger take control of the nine realms, in exchange for a weapon that Agger has recently unearthed. Dauterman’s drawings of Malekith consistently evoke the same level of playfulness and cruelty that is conveyed in Aaron’s dialogue. We’ve already seen Malekith cause a wide variety of pain and destruction, and it appears the dark elf has no plans of slowing down.
Meanwhile back on Asgard, Thor, who is now going by Odinson, is still determined to discover the identity of new-Thor. His quest for the truth is quickly interrupted, when he is informed that his former lover, Jane Foster, has taken ill. Foster is battling breast cancer, and although she’s staying on Asgard, she is refusing to accept any kind of magical healing. Odinson does his best to convince Foster that magic is the only way, but she won’t allow it. As Foster takes her leave, Odinson crosses her name off his list of growing suspects.
Back on Earth, Thor arrives at Agger’s headquarters having sensed Malekith’s presence. What transpires is an epic battle between Thor and a deadly weapon known as the Destroyer. Controlled by an enraged Odin, the Destroyer has the ability to kill the most powerful of gods. Determined to stand her ground, Thor faces the Destroyer head-on, but soon finds herself outgunned after the Destroyer gains control of her hammer. The pages that follow are beautiful.
Coloured by Matt Wilson, Dauterman’s drawings are truly captivating. Every punch thrown between Thor and the Destroyer comes alive, as the two warriors fight to the death. The true highlight of the electrifying battle comes near the end, with the surprise appearances of some well-known Marvel ladies.
After taking back her hammer from the Destroyer, Thor prepares to end her battle with the enchanted suit of armor, when suddenly Odinson arrives with the likes of Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, and Queen Freyja. It’s a fantastic scene, with various female Marvel superheroes coming to Thor’s aid. Eventually the Destroyer is summoned back to Asgard, and Thor lives to see another day. Sadly the feeling of triumph is short lived.
Returning back to Asgard, we watch as Thor relinquishes her hammer to the cosmos, and reverts back to her human form. There kneeling on the floor, is Jane Foster. It’s a powerful reveal. The image of a strong Thor transforming into a sickly Foster is both shocking and heartbreaking. We feel for Foster, but we’re also moved by her as well. It’s rare in comics to see ill or disabled characters, especially women, be given such incredible narratives. The fact that Foster is willing to risk her life as Thor, all the while dying from cancer, is wonderfully staggering.
Thor Vol. 2: Who Holds the Hammer? is an incredible book, filled with both power and heart.
