Thor & Loki: Double Trouble
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Gurihiro
Publisher: Marvel Comics
How do you tell stories using the same character for over sixty years straight?
As one of Marvel Comics longest running characters still in regular use, Thor has not only captured the hearts of audiences, but the imaginations of countless creators. With roots in the real life deity of the same name, he has a history and fantasy unparalleled by other Marvel characters. Where Spider-Man has Queens and Captain America has Brooklyn, Thor has the majestic and ethereal Asgard. He spends his extensively long lifespan with his royal family, his warrior friends, his superhero team mates, and some of Marvel’s most interesting villains. Often regarded as the strongest Avenger, he can fly, he has super strength, he can control the weather, he has an incredibly strong hammer… In short, there’s a lot to work with when it comes to Thor Odinson.
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If you had to choose one factor that has kept him on comic stands for six decades it’s this: Thor has range. As a character there’s a lot to him, and that’s extended exponentially when including everything related to him. He’s a force of bombastic machismo, yet he has gained great wisdom as a hero who has spent millennia willingly facing the greatest threats of the universe. He’s predisposed to hit first and ask questions later, but is more than able to navigate the political difficulties that come with his high standing. He’s never ashamed to loudly convey that he’s nearly peerless as a warrior, but he can inspire those around him into being the best versions of themselves. He’s fun, and funny, and seemingly dim, but also regal, stoic, and clever.
For creators, taking on the character of Thor must be a liberating challenge. He offers the potential to tell whatever type of story you would like; literally whatever you feel would work best for the character. Action, drama, fantasy, comedy, adventure, tragedy, historical fiction, romance, sci-fi – all of these genres work for a Thor story, most commonly in combination. He’s at home on Asgard, on Earth, in space, and on any of the nine realms. He can be charming, silly, angry or forlorn, and all ring true. He can lead large scale epics, or support as part of an ensemble with small stakes. Thor offers such impressive variety - arguably more than any other major Marvel character - that as long as Marvel want to keep telling stories, there won’t ever be a point where they won’t have a Thor tale on the cards.
‘Thor & Loki: Double Trouble’ is a joy to read from start to finish. It’s an all-ages comic in the best sense of the term. It’s perfect for young first time comic book readers, its straightforward structure and basic tropes providing an easy to dive into read. Long-time comic fans are certain to recognise the skill required to deliver these beautiful basics, and are guaranteed a precise dose of fun, happy escapism. It offers a great contrast to the heavy violence and death prevalent in many of the most popular comic titles, but it would be a huge under-sell to merely regard ‘Double Trouble’ as some sort of palette cleanser. It’s the type of book that reminds you that reading comics is supposed to be enjoyable.
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Much beloved creators Mariko Tamaki and Gurihiro released ‘Spider-Man & Venom: Double Trouble’ in 2019, and their sophomore team-up is packed with similarities. Comparatively, it’s an improvement – a great achievement given the quality of the 2019 title. Thor and Loki’s brotherly bickering comes from a familial relationship with far more depth than Spidey and Venom as roommates. Their mischievous journey, stemming from accidents borne of their sibling rivalry, sees Thor and Loki fighting vicious dragons and testing their wits against female versions of themselves.
This isn’t to overtly criticise ‘Spider-Man & Venom: Double Trouble’, which is itself a very fun read. Just to point out that the danger and hijinks Thor and Loki find themselves amongst are far more compelling than the conflicts driven from Spidey and Venom’s ‘Freaky Friday’-esque body swap. It’s a bit like ‘Thor & Loki’ is ‘Nevermind’, and ‘Spider-Man & Venom’ is whatever the first Nirvana album is called.
Tamaki’s script is laugh-out-loud funny, offering far more giggles than the most popular cartoons on television. Her characterisation of both Thor and Loki rings perfectly true. It’s hard to imagine this Thor fighting Gorr the God Butcher any time soon, but fans of the movie ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ or the ‘Avengers Assemble’ animated TV series will immediately be on board with the lighter tone, bravado, and humour of this characterisation.
Strong as Tamaki’s script is, Gurihiro’s artwork is the real star of the show. The layouts, the facial expressions, the impactful action, the colour-work – everything combines into an incredible composition that few contemporary comic book artists would even dream of matching. Their drawings contribute just as many individual laughs as Tamaki’s writing, with their creativity never failing to offer something extra that lesser artists may not be able to comprehend. It’s the overall creative combination delivered through understanding and teamwork that really makes this a special book, and one highly recommended for any comic book fan. The only criticism it could even conceivably deserve is not giving readers even more issues to read, and the disappointment that comes with wanting more.
Want more of 2021’s greatest comics? Visit Amazon to purchase the full length ‘Best Comic Books of 2021’ book or eBook. It contains 45 detailed essays reviewing the year's best comic book titles.
After more comic book news and reviews? The Sea Shell mobile app is available worldwide as a free download on the App Store and the Play Store. Download it today.