Thor #606 Review

Thor #606

The final battle between Dr. Doom and Thor!  In Thor #606, Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan amp up more action as an Asgardian group of warriors plan to put an end to Doom’s horrific experiments on their fellow countrymen and women.

As Thor decides he’s most needed to handle Doom’s Destroyer armor, it’s up to Balder to retrieve the heart of the angelic Kelda.  Balder journey’s into Doom’s castle and finds Kelda’s heart, but also stumbles upon more of Doom’s creations yet to be released.  The new Lord of Asgard puts the tortured Asgardians out of their misery before they could be transformed even further.

Thor’s rage powers him through his battle and he destroy’s the armor Doom is wearing.  Before he could make Doom pay for his experiments, Doom disappears, leaving only the husk of the Destroyer behind.  Loki revives Kelda using his magicks, but she comes back with a broken heart over her lover’s death.

Balder decides to move his people back to Asgard to begin the mending of his people’s broken spirits.  Thor, still honoring his exile does not return with the party going back to Asgard.  Loki is shown speaking to Dr. Doom about how the plan worked out for both of them.  Loki claims that with his revival of Kelda, he’s returned to the good graces of Balder and that Doom should not be considered defeated.  Doom himself has something he can say he’s been able to take away from the recent events as a keepsake (I’ll save the details for you to discover on your own).

The arc wraps up with Jane Foster arriving in Broxton, Oklahoma to see Donald Blake and Balder contemplates his legacy as the leader of the Asgardians.  Loki approaches and attempts to comfort Balder by saying he’s assured that the future is as bright as he could imagine while the text at the bottom of the last panel warns “Next: Siege!”

I found myself to be slightly disappointed in this final issue of one of the most exciting arcs Thor has had since his return.  There isn’t anything to necessarily point at as being specifically disappointing, but I guess I had imagined the final battle between Thor and a baddie on the level of Dr. Doom to be a little more than what I got.

I’m not concerned about Gillen’s writing moving forward.  He’s got a great understanding of what a Thor book should have.  He’s very respectful to each character and he’s electrified the series.  Tan’s art is working out quite well for the series too.  At first, I wasn’t so sure about Billy Tan, but only because some of his earlier work didn’t excite me.  However, color me impressed with his work to this point.

Overall, I just think I may have spoiled this for myself by wanting too much.

(Image courtesy of Marvel Comics)