Jane Foster: Valkyrie #4 // Review
Jane Foster can’t have pets in her apartment. She’s got a horse, though. It’s okay: it talks. It’s really well-mannered. A strange four-legged roommate is the least of her worries in Jane Foster: Valkyrie #4. Writers Al Ewing and Jason Aaron engineer a crossover with a physician of the mystic arts in an issue drawn with considerable wit and dramatic depth by CAFU. The difficulties in Jane Foster’s life get all the more complicated in a fun twenty pages with Marvel’s latest Valkyrie. The series regains some momentum as CAFU puts in some very, very deft work.
The devil. In the Marvel Universe, he’s known as Mephisto. These days he’s slumming it in an office in Vegas. He’s taking a meeting with a villain who calls himself The Grim Reaper. Mr. Reaper is there to make a deal with the devil that involves taking over Jane Foster’s mantle. He tracks down Foster as she has come to take-in a hopefully enlightening lecture by a specific expert. She’s pre-empted by the sudden appearance of Dr. Strange, who is there on entirely different business, which could prove to be very dangerous for everyone involved. Foster’s Valkyrie has never met Dr. Strange before. They are about to work together under very stressful circumstances.
Ewing and Arron lead Foster in a fun, little direction. She’s an enchanted hero who is rather new to her role in the Marvel Universe, so naturally, she’s going to have to check-in with Doctor Strange sooner or later. It’s a brilliant and snappy meeting that comes after some enjoyable scenes with Foster, her best friend, her horse, and a remarkably funny bit of business between Mephisto and Grim Reaper. The script gets a bit silly in places. There’s no reason for Grim Reaper to quote Blue Oyster Cult, but there’s no reason for him not to either. Mephisto’s dialogue comes across very, very slick. Ewing and Aaron are smart to treat him like the sleazy businessman he’s always been.
CAFU rides the line between fantasy and contemporary reality quite well in an issue that places the fantastic in mundane places like a lecture hall, a small apartment, and an office in Las Vegas. The drama fills an intriguing mingling of moods for Foster, Strange, Mephisto, and a talking horse (among others.) All of it feels so vivid. All of it feels so fresh.
The series continues. Foster is being pushed in quite a few different directions this issue alone. She’s just learning the ropes. The challenge is going to be letting her gain some proficiency and wisdom on the job. Without maintaining the earthbound charm that the series has been gliding through so fluidly so far. The fourth issue is a fun mix of different elements. If they can maintain that mix going forward, this particular Valkyrie could have a nice, long life.
