Page 45 Review by Stephen
There comes a time in any relationship which looks like it's getting serious, when you have to meet the in-laws. Such is the stuff of comedy. For it is a truth,, universally acknowledged, that every kind and compassionate soul mate is in possession of parents who are a minefield of hidden neuroses, overt prejudice, or just plain rude. And if you thought Robert DeNiro was difficult, you should meet Odin, Thor's old man and Asgard's All-Father.
At least, that's what Thor suggests to his beloved Jane Foster:
"Hey, sexy, come and meet Pops. He's an absolute sweetie. He's only down the road. Well, over the bridge - the rainbow bridge that leads to hallowed Asgard. It's beyond thy mortal ken... ye ken."
Alas, within seconds of being led into Odin's beardly presence - before a single cup of tea has the chance to be poured – Daddy dearest lands Jane Foster with the gift of "unlimited flight", and off she shoots over the rooftops, scared witless. And she's not given a moment to recover before her all-father-in-law sends a minion to summon the dreaded Unknown, a being so terrifying that the Asgardian serf (who's done no more than bang on a giant tuning fork) needs medical attention for a complete mental breakdown. So what does Odin do? He shoves the frail nurse into a locked room with the fearful creature. And Thor lets him do it!
It's a test, you see: a bit like DeNiro and the lie detector, only with added instant death. You can imagine the arguments when those two get home...
"Forsooth, nurse Jane, my beloved and betrothed, thou art a scaredy cat indeed!"
"Forsooth my arse, you sexist pig! Wait until I tell my mother!"
Anyway, that's just one of the two dozen godly get-downs on offer here in full colour. THOR #131-153 plus annual #2.
