Valkyrie: Jane Foster #2: Review

Aug 2019

?, Cafu

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Story Name:

The Sacred and the Profane Part II

Review & Comments

Rating:

Valkyrie: Jane Foster #2 Review by Peter Silvestro (February 25, 2020)

Review: A spectacular battle sequence makes this issue, full props to Cafu, heretofore mainly a DC and Valiant artist. A nasty villain is taken down and, in a surprise move, Heimdall dies; long-running characters usually don’t get killed in another hero’s second issue and it’s a poignant moment, or at least as poignant a moment can be when one remembers that death isn’t permanent in comics. In fact the whole issue is a meditation on death, with Jane learning to let go of mourning Brunnhilde by sacrificing her sword, and watching the symbols of impending death over the heads of the innocent bystanders.

Comments: Yes, the final line is a shout-out to Thor’s original title, a bit more relevant than its appearance in the first Thor movie. Jane knows the circumstances of Gwen Stacy’s death, even that Spider-Man killed her with that sudden stop; should she? Jason Aaron and Al Ewing are co-writers.

From Our Blog:

Gwen Stacy, beauty queen of Standard High School, was Peter Parker's (alias Spider-Man) first great love.

Gwen Stacy: Classic Beauty

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Valkyrie: Jane Foster #2 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Valkyrie is facing the evil Bullseye over the fallen Heimdall, with the villain in possession of the sacred sword Dragonfang. Val and the baddie spar with the sword but then Jane is kicked in the head by the winged horse and Bullseye makes his move—but the wounded Heimdall rises to strike the villain who again skewers him with the sword. Val seizes Bullseye’s hand, snapping the wrist and forcing his to drop the sword—so the baddie kicks Heimdall off the roof. Val uses her wings and Undrjarn to catch him and lower him safely to the ground. The dying guardian tells her that she has to learn to let go and then Val sees the skull icon over a homeless beggar’s head suddenly grow and she is able to yank him out of the way as Dragonfrang pierces the wall where the man had been sitting. The villain is able to summon it back to himself and the duel continues. Bullseye boasts of the havoc he will cause with this weapon so Val launches herself at her foe—and with a word of apology to Brunnhilda—smashes the sword in Bullseye’s hand, effectively letting go of her late friend. The battered Bullseye is collected by the police and the dying Heimdall has one last request: not to be taken to Valhalla because he has already seen it and all other worlds to the end of Forever. He wants to see what lies beyond so she commands his spirit to rise and they set out on a journey into mystery….

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