Jane Foster has finally had to put away her hammer and focus on her own health. If she raises Mjolnir one more time, she may not survive… But what happens when Malekith makes his most dangerous move of all? Your Major Spoilers review of The Mighty Thor #704 awaits!
THE MIGHTY THOR #704
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Russell Dauterman
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Editor: Wil Moss
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in The Mighty Thor: “Jane’s cancer has taken a turn for the worse. But while she faces the enemy of her body… The Mangog ravages Asgardia! Odin and his son unite to take on the Ultimate Judgment. But without their mightiest warrior, the time of gods may come to an end. The Death of the Mighty Thor is coming. Will the world survive it?”
MANGOG
While Jane Foster finally consents to the treatment that could save her life, there’s one hell of a fight going on in Asgardia. Unleashed by Malekith, the Mangog has returned, more powerful than ever and intent on killing both the Odinson and Odin himself (neither of whom are as powerful as when they faced him last.) As their battle rages on, Jane thinks back over her life and her own crises of faith. It’s actually very well done stuff, balancing the bloody fight with the entirely emotional beats of Jane’s losses and her search for something to have faith in. The most heartbreaking moment comes when she finds Thor, realizes that some sort of “gods” actually do exist… and then loses her husband and stepson in a terrible accident anyway. While Mangog’s rampage continues, Loki arrives to warn Freyja that the end is near, offering to help her escape, only to get shut down cold. “Asgardia will fall today,” he bleakly informs her, and there’s nothing that anyone can do about it. This prophecy seems to be unavoidable when Mangog destroys the controls that hold Asgardia in orbit around Saturn, sending the entire kingdom hurtling into the sun. When Roz Solomon leaves Jane’s bedside to try to find out what is happening with the city, Jane makes the only decision that she can…
“ALL YOU CAN DO NOW IS RUN…”
I had fallen out of the habit of reading Jane’s adventures a few months ago, so I’m glad to show up and see things are still amazing. Jason Aaron’s script is amazing, balancing action and emotion and actually making the emotion more exciting. Jane’s search for something to believe in is heart-rending, especially when she stops in on a fellow patient in the Chemo ward and agrees to pray, as long as someone tells her who it is they’re praying to. The visuals are likewise striking, especially the moment where Freyja enters the fight alongside her husband and son, but even quiet moments in Jane’s room are well-rendered. The worst part of this issue for me is the belief that they’ve built up Jane’s health so much that the only way this story can end is with her death. I’m hoping that there’s more to it than one last battle and another fallen warrior of Asgard, but I feel with certainty that we’re looking at the end of Jane’s time as Thor (and that’s not even taking into account the preview material for Marvel’s upcoming new direction…
BOTTOM LINE: I WISH IT DIDN’T HAVE TO END
Providing a great balance of emotional moments, action and character, The Mighty Thor #704 lives up to my expectations, with real consequences coming through even in the science fiction/hero stuff, excellent art and (most frightening of all) Loki being sincere, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. I’ve always said that I wanted my comics to actually have endings, so now I get to actually put my money where my mouth is, even if I don’t want to see Jane’s era end…
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