Review by Ian Keogh
Heaven and Earth is four unconnected stories by Paul Jenkins supplying four very different views of Thor, what he stands for and how he’s seen by others.
Ariel Olivetti draws the first, supplying a stark version of the standard Asgardian grandeur, supplied by acrylic paints (or digital equivalent) and possibly an influence on the later Thor work of Esad Ribić. It can lack weight and backgrounds, although some aspects are notable, not least his depiction of an exceptionally brutish Thor complete with stubble. He’s contrasted by an extremely thin and weak looking Loki, so when Thor beats him up instead of it being the usual justified thrashing there’s a feeling of the bully preying on the weak. The core concerns lies told and when they can serve a higher purpose. It’s oversold, but as the Asgardians all accept prophecy as inevitable it feeds into who they are.
In the second story Thor is placed in a situation where his usual strengths will prevent him being harmed, but basic violence won’t save the lives of hostages. What follows is a clever extrapolation about the possibilities of the Marvel universe as viewed by ordinary people, although it would be more effective were Mark Texeira’s art nuanced instead of exaggerated. The Bob Dylan lyrics quoted at the end and providing the title are strained.
Pascal Alixe draws an uncomfortably squat looking Thor and over-renders his art in what’s otherwise the best of the four stories, again making use of ordinary people in the Marvel universe. It’s an intelligently handled theological discussion about the existence of god between Thor and a priest. Can Thor’s existence be reconciled with the priest’s beliefs?
Jenkins closes by explaining why the Welsh emblem is a red dragon. It’s the slimmest of the four stories with no great point to make, but Lan Medina takes the idea of the Asgardians dealing with a dragon and draws the hell out of it. There’s a well sold final twist as well.
Better art in some cases would have strengthened the stories, but they’re intelligent thoughts on Thor, and very different from the usual Thor, so worth a look on that basis alone.
