The Mighty Thor #1

“Look up, think big, fight hard. These are god-scaled threats only gods are qualified to handle. This is beyond everything imaginable.”

So goes writer Matt Fraction’s mission statement for THE MIGHTY THOR, a new ongoing series starring Marvel’s Lord of Thunder kicking off this April. Following “The World Eaters,” Fraction and artist Pasqual Ferry’s introductory arc on THOR—which continues through March—the landscape for our favorite Asgardian has altered dramatically and can no longer be contained in a single chronicle.

“When the dust settles, not everyone goes home,” prefaces the writer of what’s still to come in “The World Eaters.” “The entire status quo of Asgard has changed. The whole citizenry of the World Tree [has] arrived on Earth for protection. Odin is back and angry about it. To say nothing of what happens to the World Tree itself.”

On that ominous note, we can disclose that Thor and his sometime lady love, the warrior woman Sif, will journey into the fractured nexus of nine worlds in the first arc of THE MIGHTY THOR. What they bring back will lure some truly monumental visitors who no sane resident of the Marvel Universe wants showing up on their doorstep. Need a hint? The story’s called “The Galactus Seed.”

“Galactus comes to eat Asgard because there’s something incredible that Thor has harvested out of the World Tree,” reveals Fraction. “Asgard vs Galactus! Thor vs The Silver Surfer! What’s not to be psyched about?”

One thing to be very psyched about: the return of artist Olivier Coipel, who helped re-launch THOR to great acclaim in 2007 and


THE MIGHTY THOR #1 variant cover

most recently graced the pages of SIEGE will bring this titanic struggle to life.

“Coipel so redefined [THOR] upon its initial re-launch only for, to my way of thinking, Pasqual to come and take it from him,” Fraction says. “So I think a big part of the freshness here is Coipel trying to take it back from Pasqual. This [story] has a definite science fiction bend to it that the book didn’t have when last Coipel drew it, so I for one can’t wait to see what he does.”

Of course there’s also the matter of that blockbuster “Thor” movie hitting theaters May 6, an event Fraction, who launched the acclaimed INVINCIBLE IRON MAN in concert with the “Iron Man” film in 2008, plans to capitalize on.

“A wave of civilians will be moved to check the book out, so a clear, clean entry point is always welcome,” he notes. “The first arc of THE MIGHTY THOR is [an] accessible ground floor storyline that veteran readers and neophyte movie fans alike can get into. With characters this great, there’s a reason they’ve lasted so long, why the myths still resonate, why [they] still thrill and move us. All you have to do is honor them and the rest is easy; terrifying, but easy.”

Even as Fraction launches the Thunderer into epic action in THE MIGHTY THOR, he’ll also be spearheading the massive Fear Itself event, in which Asgard proves a key touchstone for a threat that looms over every Marvel hero. Meanwhile, writer Kieron Gillen will inherit the reins on THOR, which goes back to its original title of JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY also beginning in April.

“We’ve got you covered and going 10 ways to Thorsday,” promises Fraction. “THE MIGHTY THOR is colossal cosmic comics. Fear Itself is the epic Thor in the Marvel Universe story to end all Thor in the Marvel Universe stories. And [JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY] covers everything that Fear Itself doesn’t, [putting] the focus on Loki and the Asgardians during the event.”

If Thor and Asgard can manage to survive the intrusion of Galactus and his loyal herald, what lies ahead for the Aesir and their greatest warrior?

“Pasqual [Ferry] comes back right after ‘The Galactus Seed’ and Fear Itself to tell the story of—well, those are so spoilery not even everyone at Marvel knows what’s up,” teases Fraction. “Anyway, when we get there, you’ll see why nobody else on Earth could draw the tale I’ve got cooking for Professor Ferry.”

THE MIGHTY THOR #1
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils & Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Variant Cover by TRAVIS CHAREST
Variant Cover by WALT SIMONSON
Blank Variant Cover also available
Thor Movie Variant also available
It’s a shining, golden, new age for the Thunder God and Matt Fraction and Olivier Coipel are back to lead the charge! Thor and Sif dive deep into the heart of the fractured World Tree to reclaim an artifact from beyond time and space, an artifact that attracts the attention of the Silver Surfer. And when a herald such as he arrives on Earth, the arrival of his master is certain to follow. Prepare for the return of the World Eater...prepare for the return of Galactus! Fans can’t miss an all new behind the scenes look at the highly anticipated major motion picture with a sneak peek at some of the art!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99