Following the incredible satire of Roxxon Presents: Thor, Immortal Thor #10 picks up the story and is out this week. Al Ewing and Carlos Magno team up on a surprise match of Roxxon Thor versus Marvel’s 616 Thor in another meta comic book-reading experience. It’s filled with action and thought balloons in an era of comics when thought balloons are a no-no!
Immortal Thor #10 opens with Thor looking at the cover of Roxxon Presents: Thor. Captions from an unknown third party detail what is going on and how this is no mere comic but a magic artifact. Smash cut to the next page as we see Roxxon Thor himself facing Thor. He’s standing amongst Executioner, Enchantress, and Dario Agger, Roxxon’s CEO, which seems quite a formidable lineup of villains for Thor to be facing.
Instead of this issue devolving into a stereotypical slugfest, Thor soon realizes his inner thoughts are distracting him. They’re also incredibly cliched and obnoxious. It seems the cliched, satirically over-the-top Roxxon Presents: Thor has infected his mind! While Thor labors to make sense of what is happening and clear his mind, Roxxon Thor is all bravado and confident.
It’s through these thought balloons that Ewing will make you laugh and generally think about comic storytelling up until now. It’s a commentary on comic cliches of the past and how forced they may seem. So far, this series has played with thought balloons before, but here we see him push things to the limit.
One detriment of this issue’s hook—that Thor can’t control his pointless thoughts—is that it’s a one-joke point repeated over and over. Comics are short, though, and it doesn’t wear out its welcome too much. It’s also one of the only points this issue makes, save for the cliffhanger.
Control thy thoughts, Thor!
Credit: Marvel
The art is in-your-face in a Marvel style that pleases. The heavier ink creates a darker tone for the fight as if Thor is in a kind of nightmare. Thor and his Roxxon counterpart are rippling with muscles with a solid rendering, and there is a difference between them. The villains take the cake, though, with Dario looking horrific, Enchantress giving off major psychotic vibes, and Executioner generally quite forlorn and ominous.
Color artist Matthew Wilson gives Enchantress a lot of pop with her green lipstick and magic effects. Meanwhile, the electricity effects throwing off Thor are quite cool and epic.
Oh, and one last thing. I don’t often mention covers in my reviews, but the Alex Ross cover of Thor and Executioner going at it in an office is delightful. From Thor’s blue glow, to Enchantress losing her patience as she listens to Dario at the water cooler is a chef’s kiss moment.
Fans who grew up with comics will adore the commentary Al Ewing is bringing to Immortal Thor. This series has felt elevated as it takes a meta approach to Thor exploring his past, developing new lore, and making commentary on comics in general. Immortal Thor is clever, brilliantly mind-bending, and everything a longtime superhero fan should read.
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