Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Jan Bazaldua
Color Artist: Matt Hollingsworth
Cover Artist: Alex Ross
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Reviewer: StoryBabbler
It seems that things have settled down for a while within the realm of Asgard, but last issue showed things won’t stay that way as the wheel of Toranos arrives. But it is not the usual messenger of destruction it once was. What will transpire between this new meeting of thunder gods? Find out in Immortal Thor #20.
Review:
So, this comic is a bit of a mixed bag. Once again for the Immortal Thor series, it’s not terrible, it’s not great, it’s just okay. This is mostly thanks to the art and that the main plot, the thing that was supposed to be the selling point of this series, is finally coming back into the forefront. Let’s not waste anytime, let’s get into the review.
Now, the comic starts with Thor meeting with his mother Freyja, who should’ve shown up earlier to be honest, donning the costume she had during the prior Donny Cates Thor run. The two have some catching up to do, talking about the dangers of the Utgard-Gods, the challenges of being ruler of Asgard. Oh, and Thor finally tells her about his son from the alternate timeline, Magni. But Freyja was not having it when she found out the mother is Amora the Enchantress. That part was admittedly hilarious.
However, this conversation is oddly full of callbacks to Donny Cates’ Thor run with not only Freyja’s new (largely unused) design, a mention of the Black Winter entity, and the unfulfilled Thanos zombie apocalypse that was teased for years but never came. But this matters because it does another callback to the run later. But while they’re having an inspiring exchange, Lady Sif shouts for Thor to return as Toranos arrives on Asgard as we saw from last issue. But things are far from what anyone would expect, for Toranos arrives not as an invader but as a messenger from the Utgard-gods as he lies nailed to his own giant wheel.
Thor asks Toranos what happened to him, and the story goes that it was the Utgard-gods who basically crucified him on his wheel. Turns out that the Utgard-gods didn’t take kindly to Toranos having a conscience after he was imbued with Thor’s compassion. So, when he returned to Utgard way back at the end of issue 5, and tried to plead for them to stop what they’re doing, they turned on him. The other gods pinned him down to his own wheel and hammered nails into his body. All while Utgard-Loki amusingly observed the deed. This might sound like an epic & graphic sight to see, but there’s only one page of this to show them barely hammering the nails into him.
Anyway, Thor realizes that this is the realm of Utgard challenging him to battle, and they even opened their black bridge so he can enter their realm. Thor gathers his weapons and his wits, and travels to the black bridge with Sif who gives him a goodbye kiss (awkward considering her relationship with Beta Ray Bill), and he heads off to Utgard. But as he approaches the gate to Utgard Hall, he notices the different atmosphere the realm has, and what’s more someone is waiting for him at the gates of Utgard: Skurge the Executioner ready to fight Thor in glorious battle. And someone even more surprising is standing behind Skurge, behind the very gates of Utgard Hall….Thanos the Mad Titan. Like I said earlier, another callback to Donny Cates’ Thor run, but I’m genuinely confused about what Al Ewing has got in store with Thanos. Is this even the real Thanos or another trick by Utgard-Loki? We shall see next issue.
All in all, the issue wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exciting either. See, this really was another talk heavy issue, which wouldn’t be too bad if we had some good story arcs with out of this world action leading up to them. There’s more tell versus show in this comic, but it’s not egregious since there’s plenty of things in motion, what with Toranos showing up at Asgard and asking Thor for a mercy kill. The thing is, the series has done a poor job truly outlining the danger of the Utgard gods because only one of them has actually ever showed up and attacked anyone, and Al Ewing just killed him. Meanwhile, Utgard-Loki shows up for two issues in a flashback story and never shows up again in the series. The Utgard-gods lacked presence throughout this whole comic, but thankfully it’s changing course and getting the plot back to center since Thor’s going to their home turf.
Final Thoughts:
Immortal Thor #20 sets the stage for a grand confrontation between Thor and the elder gods of Utgard. The Utgard gods have thrown down the gauntlet with Toranos as their message, and Thor is immediately ready to face them. While there’s not much action in this issue, there’s emotional progression as the comic gears up for Thor’s fight with the Utgard gods. But if readers were looking for more action, the ending delivers a couple of surprise set ups for the next issue that may excite them for what’s to come.