Thor #8

May 2015

Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman

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Story Name:

The Woman beneath the Mask

Synopsis

Thor #8 synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Rating:

On Roxxon Island, the new Thor is fighting the Destroyer, animated by the spirit of Cul Bornson, the Serpent, at the command of All-Father Odin, who wants Mjolnir and its new possessor brought back to Asgard. Former Thor (Odinson) and Freyja arrive with an all-female army consisting of all of Thor’s suspects for the role of new Thor. As New Thor ponders her mother’s death and her commitment to helping those in need, the newcomers bicker and kibitz among themselves while the battle rages. Freyja stabs the giant armor in the face and mocks Odin who she knows can hear her. Ashamed, Odin calls off the Destroyer. All of the female recruits pay their respects and/or best wishes to the new Thor and depart, leaving her with the Odinson. He believes he has deduced her identity: the one able-bodied woman on his list who did not respond to the call, SHIELD Agent Roz Solomon. As he begs to know the truth, Roz Solomon arrives in her flying car, berating new Thor for ruining her mission against Roxxon with her interference. The new Thor discreetly takes her leave from the astonished old Thor and vanishes without revealing her secrets….

In Asgard, relations are strained between Odin and Freyja. In Jotunheim, Malekith succeeds in restoring the giant king Laufey to life. And the new Thor returns to her base on the Blue Area of the moon. She ponders the mission she has taken on: a god who understands humanity and is willing to die for the Earth—then she unmasks as the helpless cancer-ridden Jane Foster…

Review / Commentaries

Thor #8 Review by Peter Silvestro (May 19, 2015)

Comments: Final issue of series, cancelled for SECRET WARS (2015). Thor and Freyja’s army includes Sif, Valkyrie, Hildegard, Idunn, Karnilla the Norn Queen, Angela. Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), and more.

Review: Nice fake-out! Throughout issue #7 and up until her surprise appearance here, we were led to believe new Thor was Roz Solomon, even old Thor was fooled! And, as in the best of mysteries, the solution was one that was considered earlier but dismissed. Was it worth the wait? I say yes. We learned how this newly immortal Thor thought and learned, and the dedication that lay behind her willingness to take up the mantle of Thor, before we saw her face—which put all that we knew of her into a grand perspective. The strangest aspect of the tale is the theological build-up given to Jane Thor at the end: a god who understands what it means to be mortal, who suffers for all, and who died for the world; Jason Aaron does know he’s describing Jesus Christ, right? Accept no imitations.

we were led to believe new Thor was Roz Solomon, even old Thor was fooled! And, as in the best of mysteries, the solution was one that was considered earlier but dismissed. Was it worth the wait? I say yes. We learned how this newly immortal Thor thought and learned, and the dedication that lay behind her willingness to take up the mantle of Thor, before we say her face—which put all that we knew of her into a grand perspective. The strangest aspect of the tale is the theological build-up given to Jane Thor at the end: a god who understands what it means to be mortal, who suffers for all, and who died for the world; Jason Aaron does know he’s describing Jesus Christ, right? Accept no imitations.

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