Official Thor Thread

[Blader5489]

At least he'll be actually giving it an ending, unlike Supreme Power.

 

[Keyser Soze]

JMS is leaving the book in September.

That's a shame to hear. J Michael Straczynski's run on Thor is what has made me a fan of the character. I'll be sad to see him go.

However, seeing that these ridiculous delays have lasted through two artists, perhaps the delay is on the writing end. If that is the case, maybe getting a more prompt writer on the book will let it get back to a monthly schedule.

I only hope they can get a good writer on the book with the departure of JMS. Matt Fraction and now Peter Milligan have both had respectable dress rehearsals with their recent one-shots, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them is being groomed for the spot.

Losing JMS is a big blow to Thor, but I hope the quality of the book isn't hurt too much.

 

[Vartha]

Yeah that's my worry getting a writer that's not up to par for Thor.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm glad JMS will be giving his run a proper ending. That should free up whoever comes next to take the series in whatever direction they wish. I hope it's someone good, although Thor's sales imply it'll be a big name, at the very least.

 

[Eros]

I have noticed over the past few years, every time a head writer leaves a book he or she relaunched, the quality and popularity takes a massive fall sometimes. especially when the writer is replaced by a less popular writer.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I've noticed the popularity takes a dive if the departing creator is a big name. The quality is more debatable.

Anyway, Thor's a comic that traditionally sells somewhere in the 50s on the top 100. The recent sales success of JMS' run is nice, but I never believed it'd be a permanent boost. So long as Thor's sales are good enough to ensure he still has an ongoing comic this time around, I'll be happy. Maybe we'll luck out and get a great writer who makes the book a critical darling but doesn't do much to help sales, like Brubaker on Captain America (for the issues not involving Steve's death, anyway). I'd prefer that over someone like Millar keeping the numbers strong but writing the book into the ground.

 

[Varient]

To maintain sanity,.. I color using the most primitive "Paint Program" @ work,..

I thought I'd post this here since I've not seen her in a good long while in Thor:

I'll be finished probably by next wednesday (based on workload)

 

[Keyser Soze]

I've noticed the popularity takes a dive if the departing creator is a big name. The quality is more debatable.

Anyway, Thor's a comic that traditionally sells somewhere in the 50s on the top 100. The recent sales success of JMS' run is nice, but I never believed it'd be a permanent boost. So long as Thor's sales are good enough to ensure he still has an ongoing comic this time around, I'll be happy. Maybe we'll luck out and get a great writer who makes the book a critical darling but doesn't do much to help sales, like Brubaker on Captain America (for the issues not involving Steve's death, anyway). I'd prefer that over someone like Millar keeping the numbers strong but writing the book into the ground.

Agreed! A nightmare scenario would be a Millar, a Bendis or a Loeb being brought in to keep the sales high, and the book losing all the nuance that has made this run so great.

Matt Fraction seems to be getting groomed for A-list writer status within Marvel, but he could be getting stretched a bit thin with all the plates he's currently spinning. The other Thor one-shot writer - Peter Milligan - is a dependable enough old hand - I loved Sub-Mariner: The Depths, and he's proved capable enough at writing Thor. But as a name, he could be a bit underwhelming following JMS, which could hurt sales.

What's Walt Simonson's relationship with Marvel these days? Get him back.

 

[Keyser Soze]

To maintain sanity,.. I color using the most primitive "Paint Program" @ work,..

I thought I'd post this here since I've not seen her in a good long while in Thor:

I'll be finished probably by next wednesday (based on workload)

Nice work!

And Hela's not been around because she's jumped over to DC to be the mastermind behind Blackest Night.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Agreed! A nightmare scenario would be a Millar, a Bendis or a Loeb being brought in to keep the sales high, and the book losing all the nuance that has made this run so great.

Matt Fraction seems to be getting groomed for A-list writer status within Marvel, but he could be getting stretched a bit thin with all the plates he's currently spinning. The other Thor one-shot writer - Peter Milligan - is a dependable enough old hand - I loved Sub-Mariner: The Depths, and he's proved capable enough at writing Thor. But as a name, he could be a bit underwhelming following JMS, which could hurt sales.

What's Walt Simonson's relationship with Marvel these days? Get him back.

Walt's said that he has no interest in going back to characters he's worked on before, including Thor.

Personally, Mike Oeming would be my first pick to replace JMS, but I doubt that'd ever happen.

 

[Vartha]

Walt's been pretty busy on DC story's according to his posts on Face Book.

 

[kguillou]

Well Marvel once again screws up a good book because of an event, JMS explains why he left here: http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21780

This really sucks man. I think the only writer capable of continuing JMS' legacy would be Matt Fraction. Here's hoping he continues the book...

 

[The Mighty Thor]

That's worrying

 

[Keyser Soze]

Really interesting interview. Sheds light on the cause of the delays, as well. Apparently, neither writer or artist were responsible, but rather it was an editorial decision to spread out his remaining issues until they could find a replacement writer. Good to know that there was no bad blood involved in his departure, though.

Here's the worry I have, though. This may be foolishly idealistic, but I think when a writer is doing a run on a character, be it Thor or whoever, the story should stem principally from them. An event in the book should stem organically from the story being told, rather than the story needing to be tailored to an editorially-sanctioned event. No matter how talented the replacement writer is, I fear for them. Because rather than coming in with their own vision, they are being brought in to put into action this big storyline decided by the big guns at one of their creative retreats.

 

[Varient]

Well Marvel once again screws up a good book because of an event, JMS explains why he left here: http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21780

This really sucks man. I think the only writer capable of continuing JMS' legacy would be Matt Fraction. Here's hoping he continues the book...

Sigh.
Maybe McDuffie should have smmozed and talked himself down and kissed a little booty while he complained about Editorial practices - he would've kept his job,....

 

[kguillou]

I really dont know why Marvel continues to clash with Stracysnki's methods. Whenever he's on a book, the sales go way up. You'd think marvel would just leave him alone and let him do his thing. When he was on spiderman he was on a roll and then they crapped all over it with events. Now Thor's suffering the same fate...sad.

 

[Watchman]

Well Marvel once again screws up a good book because of an event, JMS explains why he left here: http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21780

This really sucks man. I think the only writer capable of continuing JMS' legacy would be Matt Fraction. Here's hoping he continues the book...

Sad to see JMS leave. Here's hoping for Fraction or Milligan. The good news to come out of this, I'm really looking forward to whatever JMS's Superman project is.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Really interesting interview. Sheds light on the cause of the delays, as well. Apparently, neither writer or artist were responsible, but rather it was an editorial decision to spread out his remaining issues until they could find a replacement writer. Good to know that there was no bad blood involved in his departure, though.

Here's the worry I have, though. This may be foolishly idealistic, but I think when a writer is doing a run on a character, be it Thor or whoever, the story should stem principally from them. An event in the book should stem organically from the story being told, rather than the story needing to be tailored to an editorially-sanctioned event. No matter how talented the replacement writer is, I fear for them. Because rather than coming in with their own vision, they are being brought in to put into action this big storyline decided by the big guns at one of their creative retreats.

The problem with that is that events sell and publishers are greedy, just like every other business. Thor's sales are great, but imagine how much better they could be if the book's tied to an event! Enough is never enough in such scenarios.

Anyway, shame to see JMS go but I'm more worried about who they'll replace him with. I bet they'll be replacing Coipel too. A shift in one creator tends to create a shift in the others lately. Nice that JMS at least acknowledged the lateness of the series and will try to curb any future delays by sticking to mini-series.

 

[kguillou]

They need to give thor to matt fraction, he seems to know how to handle the character well.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Fraction wouldn't be my first choice, but he'd probably do well with the main series.

 

[The_Mighty_Thor]

The problem with that is that events sell and publishers are greedy, just like every other business. Thor's sales are great, but imagine how much better they could be if the book's tied to an event! Enough is never enough in such scenarios.
.

Problem is if they ruin the series tying it into the big events sales will drop off afterwards whereas they would have stayed strong long term if they left it alone. Publishers are greedy but also short sighted, and forgetful!

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Personally, I don't mind an event with Thor. As much as I like JMS' run, Thor is a major hero in the Marvel universe and he needs to be out there meshing with the rest of the characters. The guy's one of the founding Avengers, yet he's spent more time off any version of the team than on for the past decade.

 

[The_Mighty_Thor]

Oh I'd Love to see him back in Avengers with a good team around him but I've never been a huge fan of these big multi title crossover events that last for months. Not only do they suck in and of themselvs but they ruin any good story telling in the individual titles.

 

[kguillou]

Well to play devil's advocate, big events have helped alot of obscure characters and titles become more popular in recent years. Look at Ironman who's more popular than ever because of Civil War. Or look at Hercules. Civil war gave him the spotlight a little bit and now his book is a blast. Look at the thunderbolts. The thunderbolts were incredibly popular because events gave them a chance to shine.

Events are a double-edged sword, they're annoying and ruin some titles, but they can also help nurture other titles that were never popular in the first place. I think half the reason people are interested in Thor again is because he was gone for 4 years after Ragnarok. That event definitely benefited him i think.

 

[THANOSRULES]

Well Marvel once again screws up a good book because of an event, JMS explains why he left here: http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21780

This really sucks man. I think the only writer capable of continuing JMS' legacy would be Matt Fraction. Here's hoping he continues the book...

I don't know I don't really blame Marvel...JMS was given a nice long bit of sequestoring his THOR run from the Marvel U proper..he can't be expected to ignore crossovers forever.

It also frees up Thor to get involved with some Team books..I know he's made appearences in Avengers, but he could and should be on one of the teams....not that I've hated JMS run but i think it's been somewhat overrated. The art has been fantastic, but I feel the pacing has been a bigger detriment.

Thor is a "big Marvel book" and it should be relevant. I'd certainly doubt that Marvel would put another writer like Millar in his stead as he comes with similiar MO in his arcs, and usually doesnt like crossovers unless there his crssovers.