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Thor (1998 series) #49

Jul 2002 on-sale: May 1, 2002

Dan Jurgens
writer
 |  Tom Raney
penciler

Thor (1998 series) #49 cover

Story Name:

By Fire Born: Part IV of V


Synopsis

Thor (1998 series) #49 synopsis by reviewer Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

Enchantress watches though the magic pool Thor’s arrival on Earth, noting that the people of Midgard are a worthless lot and Asgard would be better off if they were exterminated and Asgard takes the planet for its own. She also lusts after Thor now that kingship has made him even more impressive….

Thor sizes up the situation while people stand around making inane comments. Then he sees a figure hurled off a roof, dashes forward and catches him and it turns out to be Jake Olson Thor. Jake/Thor explains that he was transformed by Amora’s magic mirror which Thor realizes was made possible by his own power being drained. Learning that Desak is the villain, Thor uses the Odinpower to undo the separation but Jake points out that Thor has reclaimed his power but at the cost of the weakening of his soul…and then Desak arrives, recognizing original Thor as the most powerful one and blasts the Thunder God through a wall, sending him into a fiery crash with a bus….

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Amora, watching from Asgard, calls to Thialfi and asks if he is bound to assist his lord. Thialfi agrees so she suggests a specific weapon he must deliver….

The battle continues, Desak piercing Thor’s side with a sword, leading Thor to unleash the Odinpower, the fires of all the hells, to consume him. But Desak feeds on godpower and stands unharmed. The God-Slayer grips his sword in Thor’s side, twists it and lifts the hero from the ground, leading to a scream of pain that is heard by Heimdall and Doctor Strange. Jake Olson runs to Amora’s apartment, breaks in, and dumps the broken pieces of Thor Girl into it. Tarene steps out, whole again but having no memories after she was petrified. But when Jake tries to step through to transform into Thor, Amora reaches out and seizes him by the throat, warning him not to weaken Thor when it’s only the Odinpower keeping him alive. But Thor falls and Desak raises his sword to take his head off—but Thialfi speeds by, pressing a weapon into Thor hands which the villain’s sword breaks on. Thor shows Desak the Bloodaxe of Skurge the Executioner and buries it in his opponent’s chest. Desak mutters, “You don’t know…the hell…you’ve unleashed” and he falls. But Thor doesn’t care, as a vision of a crimson skull appears behind him….

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Characters
Good (or All)
DOCTORSTRANGE  
Doctor Strange
(Stephen Strange)
JAKEODUP  
Jake Olson
(duplicate)
THOR  
Thor
(Odinson)
THORGIRL  
Thor Girl
(Tarene)
Plus: Thialfi.

Antagonists
ENCHANTRESS  


Story #2

One Night Only! (Don't Forget to Tip Your Waitress) Part One

Writer: Ron Zimmerman.
Penciler: Greg Capullo.
Inker: Danny Miki.
Colorist: Dave Kemp.
Letterer: Wes Abbott.

Synopsis

By Peter Silvestro
Rating: 3 stars

Not available.


Characters
Good (or All)
SPIDERMAN  
Spider-Man
(Peter Parker)
Plus: Jay Leno.




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



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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Tom Raney
Scott Hanna
Dave Kemp
Tom Raney (Cover Penciler)
Scott Hanna (Cover Inker)
Dave Kemp (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Comicraft.
Editor: Tom Brevoort.



Review / Commentaries


reviewer
Thor (1998 series) #49 Review by (April 1, 2026)

Review: That is a very striking cover, Desak holding a skull wearing a very shiny (and familiar) winged helmet. And the issue that follows is also an impressive item. It begins with narration by Amora, expressing her love and admiration for Thor and her contempt for the people of Midgard, and attitude that will spread to Thor in the next issue, leading to “The Reigning,” the horrible future feared by hero and villain alike. But for now we have Thor versus Desak the God-Slayer, a formidable enemy, portrayed as a villain but motivated by his knowledge of the Reigning. This is a solid and painful issue because of its central conflict but also because of Amora’s hostility towards humanity, Tarene’s helpless condition, and Jake’s foolish desire to “help” in the only way he thinks he can. But it turns out to be Amora who supplies Thor’s need, leading to his victory and the seeds of his downfall. That is the definition of dramatic irony, a heroic act that leads to horror.

Comments: First story: Desak returns in issues #75-79. Though Grey Gargoyle is not seen in the issue, his is revealed in the next issue to be standing in the thick of things, probably paralyzed with fear. Letters by Comicraft and Richard Starkings. Second story: Part of a three-part tale teaming Spidey with talk-show host Jay Leno (1950- ), found in multiple comics titles in July 2002.  






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