If you’re a fan of myth Immortal Thor #8, is going to delight you to no end. As the cover reveals, Thor is setting to meet the personification of Earth, Gaea. In a series that has revealed gods beyond gods to Thor, it’s time to go back to the source. Can she offer answers, or will she only bring more questions to Thor? Given Thor is about to be Roxxon-ified, all likelihood points to things are going to get worse.
I recommend doing some research on Gaea, who is Thor’s main focus in this issue. Writer Al Ewing plums the depths of what this god is all about while reminding us she’s also a kind of mother to Thor.
It’s pretty obvious at this point Ewing is recontextualizing what it means to be a god in the corner of Thor’s universe while piling new ones on. In effect, we’re getting something that’s old in a new way.
Past issues have revealed different forms of Thor and Loki, but now Gaea has revealed her evil intentions. Thor comes out as an ultimate hero and warrior for humanity and that helps elevate him in the pantheon of superheroes.
I wonder if Gaea knows Man-Thing.
Credit: Marvel
New godly figures are also introduced like Uknowable One and in the introduction of these characters new wonderment ensues. There’s so much we don’t know, it turns out, and Ewing is pleased to show us more indeed. It’s interesting to see old gods introduced, meanwhile, Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti are recontextualizing gods and science in their own ways. It seems Marvel is hot to trot on evolving and growing what we know of gods at Marvel.
Ibraim Roberson takes over on art in this issue and does not disappoint. The opening is epic as we see the cliffs outside a cave where Gaea lives. Gaea is epic and awesome in her own right thanks to Roberson’s great designs and the fabulous colors by Matthew Wilson. This creature truly looks and feels like a god. It also helps there’s tons of great detail in her roots, the skeleton army around her, and all the energy effects.
While Gaea is intriguing the issue does leave you wanting more Thor action and intriguing. He’s basically a bystander while she explains things and threatens Earth. He gets to throw hands a bit at the very end, but for most of this issue he’s passive.
This issue isn’t only about Thor confronting Gaea. The last few pages act as a bridge to the next issue and a confrontation between Thor and Roxxon. It’s been a while in the making so it’s nice to see things are coming to a head. It’s also epic how Roberson draws Thor. He’s spitting lightning in an impatient rush to confront the head of the company.
Immortal Thor #8 offers up a visually striking issue that builds on the mythic implications of Thor’s world. The series excites us as it builds out what we know of the old gods and while Thor is smaller than ever, he’s also the only hero standing in the way of destroying Earth. It’s epic in many ways.
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