Immortal Thor #4: Bringer of the Storm

Based on its preview pages, Immortal Thor #4 seems to be yet another superhero face-off issue (especially since such face-offs were commonplace in the previous run). In reality, it’s anything but. While Thor and Storm have a brief scuffle, the issue focuses on Thor assembling a team (Storm included) to fight the seemingly unstoppable thunder god Toranos, who is hurtling towards Earth/Midgard again after Thor banished him into the void of space. And while Immortal Thor #4 pays homage to classic Thor stories, the narrative also turns a central concept in Thor comics – “worthiness” – on its head. And as he did with Defenders and Loki: Agent of Asgard, writer Al Ewing once again shows that he isn’t afraid to get meta in some incredibly gutsy ways. 

Immortal Thor continues to offer a perfect blend of grand drama, humor, and heart in both its narrative and visuals. Together, artist Martín Cóccolo and colorist Matt Wilson capture the mythic scope of the tale at hand without letting us lose sight of its characters’ humanity. Action scenes and conversational moments feel equally engaging; every page crackles with life and lightning. The seven dollar price tag has no doubt kept some readers from putting Immortal Thor on their pull lists, which is a shame, as it’s unquestionably one of the best Marvel comics of the decade.