Just when you thought Thor couldn’t get any more epic, writer Al Ewing brings in the Thor Corps! Introduced in The Immortal Thor #4, the team comprises Storm, Beta Ray Bill, Loki, Thor, and Valkyrie Mr. Horse. They’re up against one of the first ancient gods, who is more powerful than a single Thor, but what about five? Those questions need answering in the first half of this week’s issue.
And the answer comes with plenty of blows from Mjolnir. Ewing and artist Martín Cóccolo play around with the rule that anyone who wields Thor gets the powers for 60 seconds. This means tossing the hammer back and forth to levy many more blows on the Elder God of Thunder Toranos. It’s a clever bit that turns into plenty of cool hammer-throwing action. It’s not just dumb action, either, as it all leads to a rather clever turn that leads to a battle-winner. Once again, Ewing is elevating Thor while delivering interesting plot twists.
The second half of the issue consists of table settings like reminding us what’s happening in Avengers Inc., for instance, or establishing how each of the Thor Corps exits the story. The final few pages build on the big meta reveal of the last issue, although it’s still too early to tell where the heck it could be going. That latter scene does promise Ewing has big plans for some firmly established Thor characters, which is exciting since he’s already put a few spins on the lore.
Have at thee!
Credit: Marvel
Speaking of lore, the opening of this issue is a great creation myth. We get a full backstory on the Godcreator and how Toranos came to be. At five pages long, it does a lot to establish a new stable of colorful characters with apt names who will likely play a big role going forward. Some might think we’re getting yet another “forgotten” beginning to these decades-old characters, but it’s exciting to see Ewing building a new layer to play around with. It also bookends well enough with the battle, promising a new and greater threat to be wary of.
Cóccolo’s art paired with Matthew Wilson is exceptional, especially when it comes to Toranos. His dark shadowiness is otherworldly and suits his larger-than-life villain role. You’ll also get a laugh out of the reveal of a new Thor, complete with costume. You have to love how he renders a swinging hammer in a solid circular form. Lightning also looks exquisite.
The Immortal Thor continues to live up to the high bar set by Ewing on Immoral Hulk. There’s a level of superhero writing here that pays homage to the past while paving the way for new and exciting stories. The Immortal Thor #5 delivers big action, new characters, and a continued interest in offering new ideas.
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