Okay, so I’m pretty sure I’ve read this comic 10 times in the past week. It’s that good. Thor #600 is action packed, entertaining, changes the status quo and not to mention GORGEOUS. Not only is this book a milestone (Marvel’s first 600th issue) it’s a bloody celebration of Thor and the Norse gods. This issue is massive. The lead story alone is 42 pages long with a back up story written by Stan Lee, and some better than average reprint material. The entire thing took me like, 45 minutes to read. So, while the $4.99 price tag is a bit steep, I had no problem shelling it out. Again, gorgeous. I’m not the biggest J. Michael Straczynski fan, but the yarn he’s spinnin’ in Thor has me riveted. It’s complex and every little detail in his 13 issue run has led to some excellent story points. This book is worth it for the machinations of Loki alone. As much as I love the character, and as much as I’m enjoying the story, the thing that gets me reading this book first every month is the art of Olivier Coipel. Just the way he would draw the Oklahoma desert had me floored. I’m sure the colors of Laura Martin don’t hurt either. Issue 600 has all of the regular art teams greatness, with the added bonus of Marko Djurdjevic turning in some pages. (The plot device that allows for the mix of pencilers is genius, by the way.) These guys bring it home for what is definitely a renaissance for the thunder god. I’ve always liked Thor, but with this creative team, culminating in this issue…I’ve never liked him more.
P.S. – I would’ve spent the 5 bucks on this issue even if it were only the 7 page Mini Marvel back up story by the amazing Chris Giarrusso. If you haven’t read Mini Marvels, you’re making me cry.