Al Ewing’s Thor has been compelling, grounding Thor as a street-level character who knows nothing of his legacy. He’s a street-level character with a godly mystery hanging over him, but The Mortal Thor #4 is something completely different. Set entirely in Asgard, the story focuses on Thor’s son and the meddling of Enchantress.
The latest chapter in Ewing’s ongoing exploration of Thor feels like it could have been plucked from a classic Epic Collection. Not only is this tale self-contained, but it features your usual Thor tropes of old-school speech, meddling characters, and the desire for power from the villains. The story focuses on Thor’s son, who doesn’t want to be king of Asgard. Meanwhile, his mother, Enchantress, wants him to take power and, thanks to some spies, concocts a plan to inspire Thor’s son to become the hero and leader she wants him to be.
Outside of this tale, digging into Thor lore like Ulik’s past exploits, this is simply a good comic that reads quite well. From the use of Blackjack, who totally feels like a stand-in for Ewing’s favorite character, Rocket Raccoon, to heroes finding a new gear to smite their foes, this story is satisfying from beginning to end.
You’ll want a Blackjack series after this.
Credit: Marvel
Juan Cabal draws a great issue, too, with a bit more detail and crowded scenes than we’ve seen from him in the past. There are occasional flat empty backgrounds, but his style feels a bit updated and changed. The opening full-page splash of Thor’s son picking up Volstagg is a good example of their level of detail, character work in how characters react, and a well-framed moment.
As for the larger story, I did find myself wondering where Thor fits into all this, especially since the cliffhanger was quite enticing. Most of this issue feels entirely separate, save for a slightly delicious conniving moment to end the issue from Enchantress. A bit of patience and I’m sure Ewing will connect the dots.
The Mortal Thor #4 is a charming detour; a self-contained, Asgardian tale steeped in classic Thor tropes, sharp character work, and Enchantress-fueled mischief. While it stands apart from Ewing’s street-level reinvention of the character, the issue offers satisfying lore, lively art, and a compelling tease of where things may connect next.
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