Jane Foster: Valkyrie – Glimpsing Transcendence in Death

The centerpiece of Jason Aaron’s epic seven year run writing Thor: God of Thunder/The Mighty Thor/Thor was Jane Foster lifting Mjölnir when the Odinson found himself unworthy to do so.  She became Thor, the Goddess of Thunder, and the stories that followed were the best Thor comics I’ve ever read.  It may be the best executed single story arc I’ve ever ready in any comic ever.  When the Odinson eventually reclaimed his title as the God of Thunder, Jane returned her focus to her civilian life, medical career, and – most importantly – fighting the cancer raging inside her.  However, her superhero career was far from over and the stories Jane Foster now finds herself in (written first by Jason Aaron and Al Ewing and now by Jason Aaron and Torunn Grønbekk) dance along the mysterious, wonderous, frightening, sacred threshold that is the dividing line between life and death.

Suit Up Riri, We Need You!

Wednesday saw the release of the first issue of Brian Michael Bendis and Stefano Caselli’s new Invincible Iron Man run.  In the book, Riri Williams officially takes over for Tony Stark as the Marvel Universe’s Iron Avenger, taking up the mantle of Ironheart.  The book blew me away…and now has me scratching my head trying to figure out how to make room for it on my pull list.  This short, not-quite-a-review piece is my warm welcome to both Riri Williams and the necessity of Ironheart in the Marvel Universe and in our daily lives.