If you guys haven’t had a chance to look at Marvel’s November solicits on the Mothership, one particular listing really caught my eye — the fact that Kieron Gillen will be taking on Thor!
According to solicits, Gillen will be teaming up with Billy Tan to create some “STATE-OF-THE-ART SLEDGHAMMER SKY-SCRAPING SUIT-SMASHING SUPERHEROICS,” with the God of Thunder taking on the monarch of Latveria himself — Doctor Doom!
This is a pretty big coup for the guy, who is hitting three Marvel books (Thor, Dark Reign: Ares, and S.W.O.R.D.) all at once, while still working on Phonogram for Image. Of course, Gillen has a tough act to follow, since he will be assuming the reins of the series after Babylon 5 mastermind J. Michael Straczynski. This isn’t the first time that Gillen has hit Asgard, however — he held Stormbreaker earlier this summer, writing Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter. The run is currently listed as six issues. Stay tuned to the mothership for more info soon.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I thought Fraction was writing it?? What happened?
August 18th, 2009 at 10:40 am
It’s about time someone replaced Straczynski. His run was great, but come on!!! He barely got the book out on time!!! Now all marvel has to do is FIRE Jeff Loeb from Hulk. That book has been GOD AWEFUL since day one. Come on marvel. Tell us who the Red Hulk is already, KILL HIM OFF, and get someone else to write the damn book. The Hulk is a great Character, and deserves to be treated better. Option 2 is cancel Hulk, and just keep pak on Incredible, as he’s been the best Hulk writer since Peter David.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I’m not familiar with Gillen’s work but I do know his has some pretty big Asgardian boots to fill. I’m sure Tan will do a good job on the book as artist, though. It still sucks that JMS is gone but oh well, I hope Thor continues on in good hands.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:50 am
He said in an interview that he’s only on the book for a 6-issue stint. Marvel’s gonna give the book to an all-star creative team who doesn’t have a hope in Hell of hitting a monthly deadline, and within a year, Thor will once more slip beneath the waves of late books and unprofessional conduct.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:54 am
I thought this was just a temp run. He’s ongoing?
August 18th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Oh, and BTW, I do find it funny that Thor drops back to $2.99 with departure of JMS.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:05 am
And don’t forget his involvement in Rock Paper Shotgun.
Sadly I dislike the current Marvel Universe a lot (only Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy on my pull-list) but congratulations for landing the gig.
Phonogram is one of my favourite book of the year.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Hmm… I was expecting Fraction, so I’m a little bit disappointed, but Godhunter is a good read, so I’m gonna give Gillen’s Thor a chance.
Peace.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:09 am
???
The soccer player from West Ham United?
August 18th, 2009 at 11:17 am
And lo, Marvel gobbles up another great indy-ish talent to do an ongoing book or three for them. Jason Aaron, Hickman, FVL, Diggle, Fraction, Remender, etc. etc.
I don’t get how someone wouldn’t be excited to be a Marvel reader right now.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:20 am
They knocked the price down a buck too.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:30 am
I am interested to see where Gillen takes the book with JMS gone…but Billy Tan? C’mon…I can’t get away from that guy. First he’s on Uncanny, then New Avengers now Thor…crapsteaks. After some amazing stuff from Olivier Coipel and Marko Djurdjevic…oh well.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:35 am
“Oh, and BTW, I do find it funny that Thor drops back to $2.99 with departure of JMS.”
Haha, yeah seconded.
August 18th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Nice work C-Monster - nice to see you moving up in the world after writing for ‘Amiga Power’. Though, let’s face it, few things can beat AP.
August 18th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
great move dropping the price. don’t know jack about the writer though and am so so an Tan.
August 18th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
dropped. gillen’s work is so uber precious i can;t stand it
August 18th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Slowly but surely, the old Warren Ellis Forum is taking over the Marvel Universe. Who saw that coming?
Kieron writes about his gig using a Pulp refrence HERE
And PROOF that he can write an amazing Thor written HERE
August 18th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Really? I’ve never heard of this guy.
August 18th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Well, there’s 3 extra dollars I’ll have a month.
August 18th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Well, there’s three less dollars I’ll have a month.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Who now…? This guy doesn’t ring any bells whatsoever..
Are we sure he’s REALLY as good as JMS?? I mean, I was expecting someone like Bendis, or Millar, or Peter David or something. And Billy Tan is capable, but he’s not a superstar even CLOSE to Coipel or Djurdjevic’s amazing capabilities.
I have to admit… I am a bit disappointed by these news.
August 18th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
@Esteves
No, that’s Kieron Dyer.
I have no idea who this “Kieron Gillen” is.
August 18th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Nice! Haven’t really liked any Thor I’ve seen since Simonson but I’ll check this out. Not a huge fan of Tan though…
August 18th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
“Are we sure he’s REALLY as good as JMS??”
In my opinion? He’s better.
August 18th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
@jason, If it’s so precious, why would you drop it?
August 18th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I was under the impression the only reason the book was running late recently is that JMS was leaving due to his refusal to be dragged into Marvel’s planned “Siege of Asgard” or whatever it was going to be called mega-event. JMS finished his last issue and allowed Marvel to delay release between titles to allow them time to find a replacement. I’m now interested in seeing where Olivier Coipel heads to next and sincerely hope he doesn’t become a cover artist machine like Jim Chang has done. That guys work on Young Avengers was incredible and I’d love to see him on a monthly soon. I’m loving what’s gone on with Thor recently and will definitely give the new guy a shot and wish him the best. Impress us, dude!
August 18th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Billy Tan is absolutely horrible…go look at his New Avengers run…crap on a stick…can’t believe he turned it in
August 18th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Well he’s only on for 6 issues so either he’ll surprise ppl and be good and then he can extend his run or he could bomb and the next creative team will be higly anticipated. Im hoping it’ll be Fraction and Zircher or Braithewaithe after this. Their one-shots were great!
August 18th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
This is excellent news. I was hoping for Fraction but that was only ever an educated guess, and I really love the way Gillen’s been writing the larger-than-life cosmic drama in Godhunter; I’ll bet he’s a perfect pick for Thor. So perfect in fact that I’m frustrated the run is only listed as 6 issues so far. The best runs are when an writer has time to build some momentum.
I’m sad to see JMS leave but this is gonna be good hands; hopefully they’ll keep it there.
August 18th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Fonso, Jim Chueng (not Chang) is currently hard at work on an 8-issue Young Avengers mini-series due for release next year, with Alan Heinberg writing. I don’t know if it’s been officially announced yet, but I had the chance to talk to Jim at Comic Con Chicago last weekend and that’s what he told me he’s currently in the midst of.
August 18th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Funny the price dropped as well. I’ve always wondered if a books cover price had anything to do with the cost of the creative talents behind the books? With this makes me wonder more if the personal are the reasons for some comic cover prices? Not familiar with this guys work. He’s the temp writer? Who’ll be the regular writer? Very sad JMS is leaving but within 2 years the book ain’t even at that amounts worth of issues released. Yet you see Dan Jurgens on the previous Thor Vol. 2 series and he went for like 6 years straight of 79 issues. Thats just horrible from JMS in terms of output.
August 19th, 2009 at 4:49 am
@Shane: Forgive me for being somewhat pessimistic, but that’s precisely what they said about Dwayne McDuffie’s Fantastic Four, yet it more or less bombed. And I personally disliked that run quite a bit.
I’m sort of getting the same vibe from Gillen here.
@dk2: Funny, I know quite a few people who would say Dan Jurgens produced a quite horrible output as well, but in a different way.
Seriously… the later half of his run ( basically, as soon as JRJR left) was pretty bad.
August 19th, 2009 at 5:26 am
I can’t believe how many readers believe that it was JMS’ fault that Thor was late. Coipel and Djurdjevic produce meticulous (and slow)but mesmerizing art, which often results in a book being late. Anyone out there think that Mark Millar is the main reason Old Man Logan (another terrific read well worth the wait) is late?
I am disappointed but not stunned that Marvel did not put Fraction on as writer and Zircher on as penciller. Both collaborated well on the Thor Ages of Thunder one-shots. I will not be continuing to purchase Thor (even at $2.99), as I am protesting Marvel’s decision to pressure JMS to cave to its big crossover on a multiple Eisner nominated book.
August 19th, 2009 at 8:13 am
People believe that it’s JMS fault because JMS said it was his fault, no?
August 19th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Hopefully Marvel will continue the great THOR work that has been done (JMS and the assorted one-shots)…
August 19th, 2009 at 9:30 am
For those who haven’t heard of Gillen it’s because he’s….gasp…new! Oh no, we can’t have that! New writers! That just won’t do! A hard act to follow to be sure, but how about we give him a chance before condemning him.
August 19th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I gotta say, Tan apes Coipel very well with that cover. That just shows how important the right inker and colorist are to the final product.
That said, the new team does have their work cut out for them. Though some people may have argued about it being slow, the book was critically and commercially a success.
And yes, superstar creators like Bendis and Millar do cost more.
August 19th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Predabot, it’s okay that you disliked my run, but it hardly “bombed,” sales were very slightly lower than Civil War (I’m not counting my Civil War and anniversary issues, they did great), and on average, about the same as Millar and Hitch’s highly-promoted run. Anyway, Gillen isn’t me, shouldn’t he get a fair shot?
August 19th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
It’s Dwayne McDuffie! I just wanted to say that I liked your FF run.
August 20th, 2009 at 8:34 am
I liked your run too Dwayne !
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:46 am
@McDuffie: I stand corrected. I should have checked my fact there.
I’ll probably hold on Gillen’s run, read some reviews of it first. I’ll look at it as an all-new series, in a way. So like with many new series I’ll give it a shot if the reviews are favourable.