A bear hug? I say thee nay! Well, okay …

I honestly didn’t think it was possible for me to be any more excited about Thor: The Mighty Avenger, the all-ages series announced by Marvel at C2E2.

I like Norse mythology and, at least in theory, Marvel’s version of the god of thunder, so it has that much going for it from the get-go. Add to that the creative team of Roger Langridge (Fred the Clown, The Muppet Show) and Chris Samnee (The Mighty, Siege: Embedded), and the artist’s outstanding character designs –  the clincher is a reference to Namor’s “old pair of ladies panties” — and I’m verging on giddy.

But today Editor Nathan Cosby pushes me over the edge by unveiling Samnee’s line art for the cover Issue 4, which depicts a slightly embarrassed Thor gripped in a bear hug by Volstagg. It’s cute on an Asgardian scale.

Thor: The Mighty Avenger debuts in July.