Warning: SPOILERS for King Thor #1
Thor has taken down a lot of villains in his time, and the marketing for Marvel's King Thor series suggested that his brother Loki would be the king of Asgard's final enemy. But fans haven't forgotten the old foe who needed THREE Thors to kill -- and he's just come back from the dead to get revenge.
The aptly-named Gorr the God Butcher first appeared in Thor: God of Thunder, the series in which past Thor, present Thor, and future King Thor teamed up to defeat him. Well, not just defeat him... decapitate him. So how exactly has he returned in the final page of King Thor #1, with his head firmly reattached?
For those who missed out on Jason Aaron and Esad Rinic's God of Thunder, Gorr's backstory is as sad as it gets. An alien from a far away planet who lost everything and everyone, Gorr lost faith in Gods who didn't care enough to save his family. Lucky for him (not so lucky for the Gods) he gained the power of All-Black the Necrosword, the first symbiote forged into an all-powerful blade. Gorr used the weapon to hunt down gods across space and time. He proved his strength when he finally met the three time-displaced Thors, which is a frightening thought now that he has returned to face just one (for now) in King Thor.
Gorr picks quite a moment to come back into Thor's life, too. Deep in battle with his mischievous brother Loki, Thor should probably be thanking Gorr, arriving just as Loki seems poised to finally end Thor once and for all. It's at that moment Gorr stabs the mischievous Asgardian through the chest with the Necrosword, stopping him mid-sentence. Thor had been praying to any Gods who might hear him... but Gorr is the last one he expected to show up.
How exactly did Gorr the God Butcher rise from the dead? Will the elderly Thor, god of thunder be able to take him down without the help of his counterparts? After the first issue in this 4 part series, all we have are questions. King Thor #2 hits shelves on October 16th, and will hopefully give us at least some of these answers!
- KING THOR #1 (2019)
- Written by: Jason Aaron
- Art by: Esad Ribic
- Cover Art by: Esad Ribic
- SUPERSTARS JASON AARON & ESAD RIBIC CONCLUDE THEIR EPIC THOR STORY! The creators of the legendary THOR: GOD OF THUNDER series that kicked off one of the most epic runs in Marvel history are back together for one last ride with the almighty Lord of Asgard! Seven years ago, Jason and Esad introduced the Thor of the far future, All-Father of a broken realm and a dying universe, as he stood in battle against the Butcher of Gods, wielder of All-Black the Necrosword. Now that nefarious blade has returned, in the hands of Thor’s all-time greatest enemy – his brother, Loki – for one final, cataclysmic showdown. Behold the book no comics fan should miss – the celebration of the end of a truly Marvelous era.
King Thor #1 is available for purchase from your local comic book shop, or direct from Marvel Comics.