The Art of Thor Ragnarok by Eleni Roussos ~ a Review

by MK French

This art book shows production sketches, comic panels, and includes snippets of interviews by the art team. We have an introduction giving us the comic history for Thor's character, as well as the MCU version. The very different vision for Thor is explained there and in the foreword by director Taika Waititi. Jack Kirby's brightly colored art for the original comics was deliberately brought into the designs for Sakaar,  and the story in the movie was heavily inspired by the 1983-4 comic run.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

January 2025; Titan Books; 978-1803368504; print (336 pages)
movie production

In addition to the fun of seeing the designs and learning about the inspiration behind them, the book itself is also inspired by the same comic vibe. Costume variations, props, sets, and variations on the scene layouts are all on display here. I found it fascinating to compare notebook pencil sketches to paintings and the slight variations that the team had to pick from. (Helm vs no helm, which armor pieces to use, which color shades, etc.) Different artists have different interpretations, so seeing them side by side on the pages is really fun. Some of Hela's hairstyles are hilarious, and I enjoyed seeing the more punk and goth looks.

Thanks to this art book, I can really notice and appreciate the level of detail in every creature and costume. It's easy to miss with the frenetic pace of action sequences and focus on character beats when watching the movie. The quotes and blurbs let us know how much the director and actors tried to put their character knowledge to use with the designs, adding to the playful effect a lot of the movie has compared to the rest of the franchise. 

Buy The Art of Thor Ragnarok at Amazon

If you enjoy these behind-the-scenes books, be sure to check out the one I reviewed last month.

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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