As Thor finally takes up his throne in Donny Cates’ and Nick Klein’s Thor #1, the Avengers have a message so urgent for the new King of Asgard that Mjolnir might be the only vehicle with the appropriate timing. Even with all of the chaos promised by previews of his new solo series, Thor is definitely the only one who could receive this message from the Avengers.
As the issue opens, Thor gives the Ten Realms a coronation speech through the pure action of throwing Mjolnir. The act is a better fit for the new King than any speech he could give. (Though now a monarch, Thor will have to attempt a verbal speech as well.) The hammer’s journey through the Ten Realms is the perfect opening for the new King -and a perfect way to ring in a new decade for readers. Additionally, Thor offers his old teammates, Iron Man and Captain America, a nostalgic assist on the battlefield as the hammer finishes its glorious journey by smiting a monster for the two. Iron Man seizes the perfect opportunity to get Thor an urgent message. All he needs is a convenient Sharpie…
And what is a message so important that Iron Man has to graffiti Thor’s Dwarven-made hammer with the power to damage the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe? “Nice Shot! Enjoy Your Retirement.” There is no way the Avengers would let their old compatriot take the throne without proper congratulations. (And of course, no way that Iron Man could possibly miss the opportunity to poke fun at his friend and former colleague). For all the humor of the moment, Thor receives the message more like a prison sentence than a hearty congratulations much to the amusement of the newly empowered Sif.
For all his new reluctance to take the throne, Thor might yet be nostalgic for his retirement given what is about to hit him and all the realms that he oversees. Mjolnir’s travels were a powerful symbol of the God of Thunder’s new kingship alongside Thor’s ultimatum of “Let there be peace… …or let there be thunder.” However, even such a throw (one that Thor claims Odin the All-Father could not have made) may not be enough to save the Ten Realms (or the entire universe) this time. Galactus has crashed the party and delivered news of a darkness that outshines even the Avengers' greatest villains. As Thor turns from his throne to face this new threat, the Avenger’s message is wiped away quite literally as the King of Asgard prepares for battle. No more retirement for Thor. He already has a new mission and potentially a shocking new identity to replace that of both God and King.
Cates and Klein have delivered a majestic new Thor on the pages (one that reflects Cates’ own yearning for the character’s magic), but by the last page, readers may be stunned by the changes the team has wrought on Thor.
Thor #1 is on sale now from your local comics shop and online!