It’s safe to say Thor has never been as grounded as he is in The Mortal Thor, making the series feel truly unique for a god-caliber character. Adding to that grounded nature is the brutal violence, which Sigurd Jarlson implores with unflinching force. That violence is meant to make a point, while also ensuring Sigurd doesn’t die at the hands of villains, and that level of violence continues in The Mortal Thor #3.
After the brain-bashing action of the last issue, The Mortal Thor #3 brings a lot more pain and ups the ante quite a bit, adequately increasing the stakes and melodrama of a god who thinks he’s mortal. Frankly, I was shocked to see even more faces split open by Thor’s hammer in this issue, but I’m not complaining.
The issue opens with a cult of serpent persuasion. The leader is looking for Thor and knows he’s under a new name. Very quickly, he plucks one of the names, and his goons are sent to a construction site to stop him.
Meanwhile, Thor is having the wildest dreams, first remembering the mayhem he inflicted on some bikers, but soon seeing himself in a godly way as lightning strikes. Between this and a scene with Loki, it seems the godhood of Thor may not be tamed for much longer. Speaking of Loki, his presence is fun, with a lighthearted moment that helps Thor get a job, and the character continues to make you ponder what he’s up to.
Bad dreams spell foreboding.
Credit: Marvel
The lengthiest portion of this issue is in the action scene, and Pasqual Ferry draws another great sequence. The fight choreography is great fun to read, as Thor dives off girders and swings his way to victory. There’s a good sense of realism from colorist Matt Hollingsworth. While the issue is 99% grounded in realism, there’s a character design that works really well on the final page. It’s part mythical, and part rustic.
If the issue sounds short, that’s because it feels like it’s outside of the action scene. For all intents and purposes, this issue sets up more than it progresses in plot, although the action more than makes up for it in the entertainment category.
The Mortal Thor #3 doubles down on its gritty realism and bone-crunching action, delivering another visceral and thematically rich chapter that keeps Thor’s struggle between man and god at the forefront, even if the story slows for setup.
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