The Mighty Thor Vol. 5: The Death of the Mighty Thor

by Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman and many others

collects #'s 700-706 and Mighty Thor: At the Gates of Valhalla one-shot

Foretold in issue #19 at the end of the Asgard/Shi'ar War, the Mangog was coming for Asgard. And in this landmark 700th issue...it arrives. As a part of the Dark Elf Malekith's "War of the Realms," the Mangog has come to enact the revenge of a billion billion beings, wiped out by Odin in ancient history, by laying siege on the Gods of Asgard.

Issue 701 is a perfect introduction to the character as it defeats Volstagg, the War Thor in combat. I really enjoyed the cartoon-leaning style of James Harren because it fit the action more than Russell Dauterman's style. A towering, wretched being, the Mangog is the manifestation of this ancient rage at the Gods that has grown beyond the Gods of Asgard. It's an unstoppable force that commands the spotlight as Jane Foster finally hangs up the helm and cowl, to fight her last days against the cancer that's eating her inside. The Mangog is a yellow-skinned, horn-headed Kirby-designed monster with a red-tipped face and red-tipped limbs. Where that red comes from is horrifying as it rampages through the universe. Even better, this thing talks. It explains why it does what it does, and trash talks the Gods it defeats on the way. Basically, this thing is bad-ass and you so desperately want to see Thor defeat it.

There's an issue soaked with tension when Jane has to fight off her urge to pick up the hammer and save Asgard. Of all the times she's picked it up, it's never been more satisfying than this. Juxtaposed with the introduction of the Mangog, Jane confronts her own experience with religion and with the gods. The Mangog is the perfect nemesis in this respect, when she tells Odin and the rest of the Gods of Asgard, to earn the gift that they've been given. Her death is a reflection of that gift, and the storyline earns all of the emotions that I felt from it. 

The whole arc is a beautiful fight scene with flashbacks aplenty that forces a host of characters to confront their own selves. It's a worthy conclusion to Jane's time as the Mighty Thor, and while the War of the Realms continues, she will be missed.

The bonus issue At the Gates of Valhalla is a fluff read that focuses on King Thor's 3 granddaughters, as they travel back in time to the past to meet Thor, along with an interlude-style story that checks in on Malekith's War of the Realms. Unnecessary, but informative. They rebooted the series and swapped Russ Dauterman out with Mike Del Mundo to follow up on the War of the Realms. I have a few of those in trades, so see you next ish.

Catch up on Thor:

Thor: God of Thunder -- The God Butcher and God Bomb

Thor: God of Thunder -- The Accursed and the Last Days of Midgard

Original Sin

Thor: The Goddess of Thunder and Who Holds the Hammer

The Mighty Thor: Thunder in Her Veins and the Lords of Midgard

The Mighty Thor: Asgard/Shi'Ar War and The Unworthy Thor

The Mighty Thor: The War Thor

The Mighty Thor: The Death of the Mighty Thor

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