I don't know if anyone else has picked these two books up this week. I thought Thor came out this week as well, but turns out it is next week.

Hercules: Fall of an Avengers #2

This issue has less to do with Herc's funeral and more with power struggles between the gods. Namely Athena and Apollo. Rather than battle directly they engage through mortal proxies.

Apollo has some nice moments hear and demonstrates a variety of powers that show he is more than a mere brick. I suppose it is possible Athena could have just blasted him into submission, but Apollo points out how dangerous he control of the sun truly can be. I can also see Athena engaging him indirectly as he makes her less of a tyrant, satisfies Apollo's challenge, and encourags less rebellion. That and either killing or imprisioning a long-time god like Apollo would upset the pantheon even more.

The choice of champions among the gods and the taking of sides was interesting and partly random. It looks like it was almost random. Poseidon sides with long-time rival Athena by selecting Namor. Artemis sides with Apollo. Hebe sides with Cho considering him her foster son. There is a surprise appearance by one night goddess and her champion that I no way saw coming.

One thing I liked is Pak and Lente got out of the way one thing I had been wondering. Why didn't they just go to the underworld and retrieve Hercules the same they did with Zeus? We get a satisfactory answer here that is opening up more story opportunities down the road.

Artwise, to me Olivetti's art is a mixed bag. I liked the attention to detail in some areas such as Athena'a shield when she is declaring herself the new queen early on. Other times he facial expression seemed a bit awkward or off. I did not care much for the depction of Apollo as a bodybuilder. He is supposed to be physically fit, but here he looked huge. More Hercules than Apollo. One scene has Namor shooting water from his hands instead of the trident. There is also a lack of backgrounds in some cases. This art also goes to show why I have issues with a double lance being Athena's weapon. She treats it like a staff.

Overall, I like this issue. This was the first time in a long time I think gods have been depicted like gods. Even the defeats of Apollo and Pluto were handled well. I have also surprised at how much pak and Lente crammed into this issue. If a few other writers were writing it I could see it being a four or five issue series instead of two.

Story: 9/10
Art: 7/10
Overall: 8/10

Regarding poster Ragnaork, I sometimes review past posts and stumbled upon this posted a few months past:

http://www.comicboards.com/php/show.php?rpy=thor-2009121415255561&search=Apollo

Agents of Atlas back-up:
I think its possible I enjoyed this as much if not more than the main feature. I continue to really enjoy both the work of Paul Tobin and Reilly Brown. The this conclusion adds a new layer of depth to Hercules I never thought he had. We are all familiar with Herc as the mighty monster slayer. He never stops bragging about it. But here we see another side of him. It also answers a question in a way we should have wondered about for a long time.

The only minor criticism I have of it is they get one of their creatures wrong. They refer to a Centaur as a Minotaur.

Artwise I am liking Brown's art more and more. I am glad he is going to be the closest thing this series has to a regular penciler. Kudos to the entire art team.

Overall: 9/10

Sif #1

This is one of those books one would probable pick up only because they have interest in either the character or the universe of that character.

This tale was written by the wife of Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue Deconnick. If this is a sampling of what Fraction would bring I think Thor's future is in safe hands. For only one issue that had to stand-alone I think Deconnick did an excellent job.

The tale is about Sif trying to come to terms with what Loki did to her. She is so messed up she can't even stand to be in Asgard and with no noble quests to occupy her spends her time at the local bar. When a quest finally comes she overcomes her trauma. She does it with the therapy most common to Asgardians: violence.

I think Deconnick did a good job of having Bill and Ti Asha Ra included. Some writers have problems making a character of significantly less power than be of use in a battle situation next to one who is much greater. With only a short amount of time to tell the story I think Deconnick did a good job.

As much as I liked the story I think part of it may have been overshadowed by the art. Some may think the slightly mangaesque of the art does not work. I think Ryan Stegman's pencils worked well. This is the first time I have seen Sif in something close to her red and white costume that did not look ridiculous. Every other time I preferred her in her silver armor.

In a story like this that has to convey emotions without a lot of words the facial expressions are more important than in other stories. The combination of art and dialogue served well in that case. A few favorties of mine were Sif's looks of annoyance at encountering Bill new girlfriend, to her further looks of ranging from annoyance to "Are you blind!? I'm right in front of you" when discussing Thor's absence.

Overall, I liked this. I think for a stand alone one-shot it did an excellent job both story and artwise. It showcased not only how other Asgardians besides Thor have heightened biologies, but can fight as well. At the same time it explored the emotional side as well and showed what a strong woman Sif is and how she is capable of holding her own alongside Thor. This gave her some depth beyond Thor's love interest.

There are only two things left I want to say. One, twice Sif refers to herself as "rock and wheat and fire." I understand she is being metaphorical, but I don't quite get the wheat part. I can only think it refers to her status as a goddess of fertility, but I don't think that has ever been referenced in comics.

The other aspect is Bill when he first announces his presence. He comes bursting in and I swear doing a Brian Blessed impersonation in this big dramatic moment only for it to be deflated by finding Sif therre. I found that scene to be hilarious. That and how he seemed to maintain that mindset through the meeting with Sif.

Story: 9/10
Art: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.25/10