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Thor: The Deviants Saga #1

Jan 2012
Robert Rodi, Stephen Segovia

Thor: The Deviants Saga #1 cover

Story Name:

The Deviants Saga


Synopsis

Thor: The Deviants Saga #1 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

The Deviant called Ereshkigal, once impersonating the Sumerian Goddess of the Underworld who then fell, and seeking to return to power, visits the ruins of Asgard on a quest. Thor discovers her there and demands to know why. She explains that the Deviants in Lemuria have been stricken by a plague that is killing them and leaving the males sterile, all leading to total anarchy in the land. Ereshkigal hopes to retrieve the Apples of Idunn to rescue her people but Thor tells her that such valuable items have been moved to a place of greater safety. She clouts Thor and heads to a hidden subterranean vault, hoping it contains something that will serve the purpose. When she reaches the door, though, a defense it triggered: a flaming guardian. Thor steps in to hold it at bay while Ereshkigal escapes but she discovers an object on the floor and makes off with it. Thor recognizes it as the Unbinding Stone of Oshemar. Thor knows that if she discovers the Stone’s secret he will need the help of the Eternals to stop a disaster….

The history of the Unbinding Stone of Oshemar follows. Centuries ago, as Odin was celebrating the addition of Svartalfheim to the Asgardian Empire, an alien creature suddenly appeared in the court. He revealed himself to be Oshemar, scientist of the Calderan Dominions, who was tasked with creating a weapon to win the millennia-old war between his people and the Sextus. He created the Unbinding Stone, a device which repealed the laws of physics and caused reality to become nothingness. He wielded the Stone in the war and annihilated the enemy but the Stone didn’t stop there, it destroyed all of Oshemar’s world, with him only escaping by creating a dimensional rift to hide in. He explains he has come to Asgard to rest so he can search for a means of destroying the Stone…and then he dies. Odin was fascinated by the Stone but Thor warned him of the danger; Odin kept the Stone anyway…

...and now it is in the possession of Ereshkigal, who sees it as her means of regaining the power she lost centuries ago….



 

Review / Commentaries


Thor: The Deviants Saga #1 Review by (November 6, 2024)

Review: Without any Eternals to fight, the Deviants return to play the villains in a Thor story. Or maybe it’s a Deviants story with Thor as guest hero. Either way, it’s a fast-paced and exciting tale of action featuring that popular plot trope, “Make-believe thing threatens the universe so hero must find make-believe item to stop it,” and the Unbinding Stone makes for a great example of the former with Anti-Metal (also known as Antarctic Vibranium) already hanging around the MU, waiting for a contrived situation to make it feel useful. Ereshkigal and Kro are enjoyable baddies with Phastos a good guest hero. Thor keeps threatening to be pushed aside in his own comic even in the climax which changes the entire Eternals situation for whenever they get their comic book back. The most surprising bit is Phastos’ return to check up on the wife he had when he was human; it contains a small-scale human tragedy which only Phastos can recognize and regret. The most troublesome bits are the hard-to-follow battle scenes in issue 2 (“radiation that illuminates each individual’s elemental analog?”) and especially issue 4 (what is a quantum nexus and how does a T. Rex fit into it?). Overall, an attractive and entertaining tale, though one that treats the hero in the title as a bit of a plot device to keep things moving.

Comments: Ereshkigal first appeared in THOR #283-284 (though disguised at first), then in many QUASAR issues, starting at #30 and running until #51; this limited series marks her final comics appearance as of 2024. First appearance of the Unbinding Stone of OshemarAsgard was destroyed in SIEGE #1-4; it would be rebuilt in THOR (2011) #8-11. This miniseries takes place before the events of FEAR ITSELF, which involved a different version of Asgard. This miniseries is one of a multitude of events place between THOR (2011 series) #17 and 18.



> Thor: The Deviants Saga comic book info and issue index

Elektra

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Stephen Segovia
Jason Paz
Andy Troy
Stephen Segovia (Cover Penciler)
Unknown (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Thor
Thor

(Odinson)

Plus: Deviants, Ereshkigal (Holly Steckley).

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