Al Ewing has been at the helm of Immortal Thor for two years now. In that time, we revisited the God of Thunder’s roots in Norse Mythology, his forgotten son, and saw Thor fight late-stage capitalism with a sickle-less hammer. With his journey nearing its end, Immortal Thor #24 attempts to display a final battle worthy of titans, with varying success.
Wrapping up the story, Ewing calls back not only to previous Thor runs but also his work at Marvel, casually bringing back concepts like the Eternity mask from his Defenders. There’s also a moment reminiscent of Jonathan Hickman’s Infinity, showcasing Thor’s battle prowess in an epic sequence, though it doesn’t carry the same gravitas due to a lack of buildup.
Marvel Comics
After ending the God of Violence, Kemur’s life, Thor faces off against Mejed, the God of Mysteries. Knowing Thor’s end is coming, the fight is imbued with tension, however, the consequences that could come of his defeat aren’t as properly set up as they could have been. Utgard Loki also makes a return appearance, toying with the fourth wall as he is prone to, utilizing the comic book form to its creative limits.
Jan Bazaldua is at her best when depicting Utgard Loki. The Elder God jumps off the page, coming out of the panels and taking control of negative spaces. Unfortunately, that amount of detail isn’t equally distributed to every panel. Some moments with Thor, in particular, would benefit from more time in the oven, as it feels like her art is not done justice due to deadlines.
On Thor’s supporting cast, Ewing lets them have their time in the sun. Sif is especially given respect, almost getting her mythic relationship with Thor, until prophecy seems to prevent it.
Amidst all the fight scenes, there’s a nagging sense of melancholy throughout. Ewing tells this through captions fit for fables. By the end, the comic will make you feel sorry for a god, and wonder what he’s done to deserve his fate.
The end, though telegraphed, is still abrupt. Makes you wonder if unresolved plotlines, such as Dario Agger, will carry over to the next series. Hopefully, the last issue delivers a satisfying conclusion that leads up to a refreshing new run by Ewing in Thor #1.
Immortal Thor #24 marks the penultimate issue of Al Ewing’s tenure on this version of Thor, but not close to the last time he’ll be writing the character. One issue left, it’s still unclear how Ewing will reinvent Thor for his new renumbering – who holds the hammer, if they are worthy, and what story he wants to tell. What’s certain is this: he’s taking the immortality out of the god.
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