The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU) is Thor: Ragnarok. The third Thor film, this one follows the God of Thunder as he battles Hulk, befriends Valkyrie and attempts to save Asgard from the destruction foretold in the Ragnarok prophecy. It all sounds very serious, but it’s not. And that’s a great thing for viewers. 

Thor: Ragnarok is the most fun Marvel movie yet. Yes, even more fun than both volumes of Guardians of the Galaxy. Sure, it’s a superhero flick and continues the story arcs of Thor, Hulk and Loki, while also giving us an update on Doctor Strange, but at its heart it’s an action-adventure-buddy-comedy. And you know it’s a comedy from the first scene.

This is also the most “comic book” of any of Marvel movie to date. It’s not because the characters or story are directly from the pages of a comic – we get that with all of the MCU films. No, this time around there’s such a bright color scheme and intense visuals, plus over-the-top combat, that it feels like you’re viewing the panels of a comic book. This is in large part to the obvious influences of the legendary Jack Kirby style throughout the movie.

As for the characters, plot and pacing – they are all pretty spot on. The new characters are fantastic – Hela is one of the best villains in a long time and Valkyrie is a no-f**cks given warrior who is simply awesome. And finally seeing Thor as the God of Thunder has been worth the wait. Plus, more Heimdall! The story is easy enough to follow and works well as a standalone, while also making connections to the rest of the MCU. And the pacing is so good that I was surprised when it got to the climactic battle because it hadn’t felt anywhere near two hours long.

Thor: Ragnarok is not perfect. One thing I didn’t much like was the sudden cut-scene transitions that felt, in some instances, like part of the story was missing. But the fun and excitement of the movie in general more than make up for the minor issues. And I’d have to say it’s the best comic book movie of 2017.