Comic Book Resources has an interview with Matt Fraction, who has been announced as the new ongoing writer of one of Marvel’s best selling titles, Thor. He will be taking over after current writer Kieron Gillen’s six-issue stint is complete. While the artist on the book is still “top-secret” John Romita, Jr. will be drawing the cover of Iron Man and Thor for Marvel’s Free Comic Book Day issue.

Fraction has gotten to play in the Asgardian toybox before as writer of Secret Invasion: Thor, the God Sized Thor one-shot and three Age of Thunder specials which revealed untold tales of Thor’s fellow Asgardians. Still, he’s got some big shoes to fill. Though Gillen’s the one who had to follow in the immediate shadow of former writer J. Michael Strazynski, the popular comic writer and television creator’s run was widely considered one of the most popular runs of the character in years. And the effects of that run are still being felt during Gillen’s run.

From Comic Book Resources:

“Kieron graciously took on what is maybe the most thankless job in comics: following JMS. He’s tying up loose ends from JMS’s ‘Thor’ run and setting up things that need to happen for ‘Siege.’ It’s a brutal, grizzly and thankless job. Having read what’s been published thus far, and the stuff Kieron has written that hasn’t been published yet, I can say he’s exceeded my expectations of what he could accomplish. And I’m a giant Kieron Gillen fan,” Fraction said. “His series ‘Phonogram’ is a personal inspiration. I love the guy’s work, and the stuff that he’s doing here under the most difficult circumstances is just stellar. He’s writing a great ‘Thor’ storyline and a fantastic arc that should satisfy fans.”

Fraction plans on taking the momentum built up not only by JMS and Gillen’s run, but also the fallout from Marvel’s planned Siege event equate to a status quo for our favorite Norse god. Following all the recent events, from Civil War to Secret Invasion, then Dark Reign and then the aforementioned Siege, this is a new age for the heroes of the Marvel Universe.

From Comic Book Resources:

“The heroes of the world are standing up, dusting themselves off and feeling the sunlight on their faces for the first time in a long while. It’s a delicate and very exciting time,” the writer explained. “Right away, you’ll see the reality of both Asgard and Broxton post ‘Siege;’ where everybody is at and what they’re thinking. We’ll see how America comes together after ‘Siege,’ how Asgard comes together after ‘Siege’ and how Asgardians and Broxtonians come together.”

“I want to explore the Kirbyania science fiction side of Thor that we haven’t seen in some time. I want to write big, mind-blowing stuff like the best Thor runs are; ancient sagas reinvented as modern myths and superhero science fiction psychedelia,” Fraction remarked. “At the root of these colossal stories is a god with a man inside him and a man with a god inside of him and what the world means to them. What does it mean for man to look up to somebody like that? What does it mean for the Asgardians and their ilk to look down? And then imagine this picture – what would the Asgardians look up to? What is bigger than the Norse Gods? What is bigger than their myths? What if all these things collided all at once in a brain-battering blend of exciting elements?”

For the complete interview, including some incredible portents of good tidings for Fraction’s run, check out the full article at www.comicbookresources.com.

I’m pretty psyched about this. I really love Matt Fraction’s work and I have often told my friends that he is sort of like Marvel’s version of Geoff Johns. He really knows the characters and their histories, but more important, he seems to respect what has gone before. I’m not the biggest fan of Marvel’s books as of late, but JMS’s Thor was always at the top of my list. And the only things I am reading at Marvel right now are books written by Fraction (Uncanny X-Men and Invincible Iron Man, which is one of the best comics being published today!), so for me, this is a no-brainer. And I enjoyed Killen’s first issue a lot this past week, so it looks like I won’t even have to “suffer” through until Fraction starts.

Take a lesson from this Marvel: you keep getting talent like Killen and Fraction who can bring fresh ideas to old characters, you might find that more people will come back to the fold.