Thor #801 – Why Should I Walk Into Death For You?

The God of Thunder is dead. Thor’s bones lie rotting in a realm beyond time. The fate of Asgard itself rests in the hands of a mortal who just wants to live a quiet life. Sigurd Jarlson, with the right path and the right encouragement, just might save Asgard and return Thor to the land of the living, but the path is fraught with challenges and tricks.

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Creative Team

Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Pasqual Ferry
Color Artist: Matt Milla
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Alex Ross

Writing

Thor #801 continues to show us why Al Ewing is at the top of the class when it comes to high-concept mythical storytelling. Following the massively satisfying events of Thor #800, we pick back up with Sigurd Jarlson. Ewing leans heavily into the core thematic contrast of divinity vs morality and prophecy vs grit in this issue. Perhaps nothing better highlights that thematic contrast than Sigurd being a mortal man who carries the burden of Thor’s legacy.

Ewing manages to ground this high-concept story with genuine human emotion, allowing the cosmic weight to be a little more caring. The soft touch with which Ewing handles the Nordic mythos that underpins the story is admirable. It not only shows a respect for the mythos, but Ewing also creates genuine intrigue. Ewing manages to take an already impressive story and bring you crawling back, begging for more, with a surprising and unique twist that adds a layer of political intrigue to the story as well.

Art

There’s really no way to explain how well Pasqual Ferry captures the scale of these otherworldly landscapes. It’s the line work from Ferry that makes Hel feel desolate and oppressive. The ghouls result in a visually striking series of panels. With his lines, Ferry creates such a noticeable and sharp contrast between Sigurd’s civilian attire and the undead around him.

Matt Milla’s colors do some heavy lifting on this issue. He perfectly balances the bleak, muted tones of Hel with bright pops of otherworldly color during key scenes. It’s Milla’s beautiful color choices that set up a stunning final panel and pave the way for the next issue. Joe Sabino turns in clean and dynamic work in this issue that moves the story along while elevating Ewing’s script

Final Thoughts

Thor #801 is a strong and confident kickoff to the new “Quest for Thor arc. Instead of taking the easy path and jumping right back to godhood, Thor #801 strips Thor down to a relic and forces a mortal to step into the realm of Gods and legends.

Overall Grade: 9.5 /10

Until next time, may your pulls be magical, and your multiverse remain stable.

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