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Thor (1998 series) #4

on-sale: Aug 5, 1998
Dan Jurgens | John Romita Jr.

Thor (1998 series) #4 cover

Story Name:

From The Ashes


Synopsis

Thor (1998 series) #4 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

In the rebuilt ruins of Asgard, the newly freed Dark God, Perrikus, summons Adva to his side and she responds. He informs her that he was accidentally released when Thor hurled his hammer in anger and broke Perrikus’ prison; he now awaits Thor’s return….

Thor, meanwhile, is wrapped in the coils of the Sea Spirit Sedna, who plans to use her magic to transform Thor into a water-breather suitable to be her mate. And then, parted from his hammer Mjolnir for sixty seconds, Thor returns to the form of Jake Olson, ready to drown. But Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner arrives, taking Jake from Sedna’s grasp and releases him to swim to the surface for air. Namor and Sedna spar and she summons the sea monster to seize him. Namor battles the giant monster while Sedna searches for the suddenly missing Thor….

Meanwhile, Hannah Fairmont, Jake’s fiancée, is worried that Jake has not returned from picking up her daughter Amanda. She calls Demitrius Collins, Jake’s EMT partner, who pauses to pay off the threatening dudes from last issue before assuring Hannah he will look for Amanda….

Jake, treading water, cannot summon Mjolnir to him. Then the sea monster rises over him and, in anger, he demands that the hammer return to its master—and Mjolnir rips through the monster’s throat and into Jake’s hand, transforming him back into Thor. The beast releases Namor as Thor expresses his gratitude for Namor’s timely rescue of Jake but this is Thor’s battle and he hurls the beast a mile into the distance. Sedna flies up beside him and uses her hypnotic powers to beguile him but Namor yanks her away with a warning. The angry Sedna vows to return to make Thor her consort then vanishes into the ocean. Thor and Namor bask in their comradeship for a moment. Thor invites Namor out for a beer but he has to get back to Atlantis, Thor assuring him that Jake Olson is okay….

Demitrius has brough Amanda home, explaining to Hannah that when she felt threatened she retreated into the school. Then Jake comes home and Hannah scream at him. Jake responds in Thor’s voice that he is unaccustomed to the demands of this life and storms out, surprising everyone with the act and the voice. Hannah follows him to the roof where she doesn’t find him because he transformed into Thor and flew off in a huff….

The Dark Gods Perrikus and Adva are preparing the ruined Asgard for the arrival of their ruler Majeston Zelia and their brethren. Zelia threatens them over their tardiness at their task. Odin is defiant but we see he is a defeated god, chained to a massive machine in the darkness….

And Thor is having a drink at a waterfront tavern in Maine, entertaining the regulars with tales of his heroics, because even a god can get lonely.


Characters
Good (or All)
ODIN
SUBMARINER
THOR
Plus: Amanda Fairmont (Mandy Fairmount), Demitrius Collins, Hannah Fairmont, Jake Olson (Duplicate).

Enemies
Adva, Dark Gods, Majeston Zelia, Perrikus, Sedna (Sea Spirit).

> Thor (1998 series) comic book info and issue index



Excelsioring your collection:
statue
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Main/1st Story Full Credits

John Romita Jr.
Klaus Janson
Gregory Wright
John Romita Jr. (Cover Penciler)
Klaus Janson (Cover Inker)
Liquid! (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Richard Starkings.



Review / Commentaries


Thor (1998 series) #4 Review by (March 18, 2025)

Review: So the Sea Spirit Sedna turned out to not be such a big deal, her monsters easily defeated by Thor and Sedna herself chased off by Namor, whose appearance wasn’t that much of a surprise. The Thor/Jake Olson moments remind us of the old Don Blake situation, which wore out its welcome long before Walt Simonson ended it, though we have a deeper glimpse of the growing pains of juggling humanity and divinity. What no one wanted back I’m sure is the old Thor transforms back if he is parted from his hammer for sixty seconds. It was a cheesy bit devised by Stan Lee when he decided Thor needed some kind of contrived threat as a weakness. Anyway, the Dark Gods are mildly interesting, though a variation on the Eternals and Deviants, who are overused. They do look cool as drawn by John Romita Jr., though. They will be around for a few years.

Comments: Part two of two parts. First appearance of the Dark Gods, Perrikus, Adva, and Majeston Zelia; Perrikus was the one heard briefly in issue #1. Despite her threats, this is Sedna’s last appearance in the comics as of 2025. The Dark Gods’ city will be named Narcisson in issue #9. Lettering credited to Richard Starkings, Comicraft, Wes Abbott





Thor

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