It’s not every day a legacy character celebrates 800 issues, but today is Thor’s day! The Mortal Thor,aka just Thor, features one main story, two backup stories, and a bit of back matter. All in all, it’s a celebration of Thor’s inability to give up, but also a continuation of Al Ewing and Pasqual Ferry’s ultimate test of Thor, who is now mortal and going through it. While this milestone may not harbor creatives who made Thor what he is, it’s a strong reminder of what makes this character so timeless.
Kicking things off is Ewing and Ferry’s main story, a 26-page extra-sized tale picking up with Sigurd in jail. The Mortal Thor goes through anguish in this issue, as he suffers over and over many lives. The mythic quality of that element is strong, especially with characters like Odin and Loki looking on, rooting for him not to give up. A bit older and maybe wiser, Thor is in prison, but little does he know at the start the entire world is a prison for him. He faces the World Serpent, also known as Jörmungandr.
I could see casual readers dropping into this story and feeling a bit lost; this is a very different take on Thor, after all, but Ewing does a good bit of explaining through a third character who is observing. This allows a bit of a catch-up, even if the idea of a mortal Thor, while real Thor is dead, is tough to wrap your head around. That said, the vastness of mythic characters involved, not easily wrapping your head around it, is kind of the point.
If you’ve been reading The Mortal Thor, it’ll be nice to see new development with Loki, who is actively in the story after being an observer for much of the story arc so far. It also culminates in a kind of family affair, pointing out that Odin may be a tough father, but he’s not without a bit of grace.
Sigurd goes through it in this issue.
Credit: Marvel
Ferry draws a great issue, especially when the story montages through the many ways Thor lives and dies. The serpent is also well done, scary when it needs to be, but also big, goofy, and cartoony, which Ferry is great at.
Next up is the backup by Kieron Gillen and Declan Shalvey, which honors Thor and the legacy of those who wield a hammer. Shalvey draws in a cinematic style with wider panels and purposeful storytelling focus. Titled “Worthy,” the story focuses on the heroic element of a hero who always feels like he or she needs to prove something.
The second backup story, by Chris Condon and Jesse Lonergan, takes us to the far future, where a god has died. The sci-fi future is reminiscent of The Fifth Element, but what you’ll be ogling most is Lonergan’s now well-known strong layout design. The panel work is such that I could see him drawing Absolute Batman sometime soon.
As for the story, it’s a man-on-the-street perspective that grounds the godly events. The story even comes with a “to be continued” so it’s not over yet. Bonus, Lonergan draws a fantastic Thor straight out of the mythic books.
As for the back matter, there’s a nice interview between Gillen and Shalvey, plus some words from editor Wil Moss about what comes next. The interview is a fun aspect, giving two long-running creators a chance to reveal a bit of what goes into a story, while Moss helps tease the return of norma titling and what Sigurd is up to next.
Thor #800 delivers a worthy celebration of the character by focusing on the persistence and heroism that have carried him through 800 issues. Al Ewing and Pasqual Ferry’s main story pushes Sigurd through a brutal mythological trial while advancing The Mortal Thor in meaningful ways, particularly with Loki and Odin. The backups broaden the celebration with very different perspectives on worthiness and Thor’s enduring legacy, with Jesse Lonergan’s inventive layouts proving especially impressive. Newcomers may struggle with the main story’s unusual status quo, but as both a milestone and the next chapter of Ewing’s run, this is a strong package.
‘Thor’ #800 is both a celebration and a turning point
Thor #800
Thor #800 delivers a worthy celebration of the character by focusing on the persistence and heroism that have carried him through eight hundred issues. Al Ewing and Pasqual Ferry’s main story pushes Sigurd through a brutal mythological trial while advancing The Mortal Thor in meaningful ways, particularly with Loki and Odin. The backups broaden the celebration with very different perspectives on worthiness and Thor’s enduring legacy, with Jesse Lonergan’s inventive layouts proving especially impressive. Newcomers may struggle with the main story’s unusual status quo, but as both a milestone and the next chapter of Ewing’s run, this is a strong package.
Reader Rating1 Vote
0
Ewing and Ferry capture the grand, strange quality of mythology
Sigurd’s repeated suffering makes his perseverance especially powerful
Gillen and Shalvey deliver a fitting exploration of worthiness
Lonergan’s layouts are spectacular
The Mortal Thor status quo may confuse casual readers
The main story requires some familiarity with the current run
9
Great
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