Immortal Thor has gone down an unexpected path of going meta with its latest Asgard epic. That is thanks to not only Thor and Loki but also Minotaur and Enchantress unexpected team-up. Both these team-ups are running simultaneously. The question is when they will finally meet and how meta will Al Ewing and Martín Cóccolo get? Let’s find out with Immortal Thor #7.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Martín Cóccolo
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Joe Sabino
SOLICITATION
“THE TRIALS OF UTGARD! Young Thor faced the tricks of the Utgard-Loki, with all that lived at stake—in a tale twice-told and now told again. Yet the teller was the Skald of Realms, in their aspect as Thor’s enemy.
And thus, the tale could twist upon itself—and if Thor faltered, it could make a new end. This is the story of the IMMORTAL THOR…and the story may yet destroy us all.” – Marvel Comics
REVIEW
When it comes to answering questions about where this story involving the Elder Gods is leading towards Immortal Thor #7 does not provide answers. If anything, this stretches out the narrative and leaves us as confused as Thor is when Loki the Teller of Tales finishes his story. At the same time, that is where you find the magic of Immortal Thor #7.
What makes Immortal Thor #7 so compelling is the structure of the story Al Ewing and Martín Cóccolo craft. The additional framing that Enchantress is using Minotaur’s purchase of Marvel Comics to magically alter history is a cool twist. Ewing and Cóccolo are careful not to suddenly use this narrative device to break the fourth wall. Instead, the focus is on how what Enchantress is doing to enhance the story Loki the Teller of Tales.
There is a balance made between Loki detecting changes to the story being made by Enchantress. The mention by Loki to Thor to listen to his whole story with Utgard-Loki hints that Loki knows the story is changing. Though Loki appears to be careful about not giving away that they detect Enchantress and Minotaur’s changes. This creates a story that is one big chess match between magical storytellers.
Through all of this we get a fun tale with young Thor and Loki facing the impossible trial by Utgard-Loki. Ewing does a great job at showing how the Elder God Utgard-Loki operates as a trickster compared to the Asgard Loki. Creating a trial that Thor and Loki have to face is all made so you get what makes Utgard-Loki so terrifying. Which all enhances the great design by Cóccolo for Utgard-Loki and the trials themselves.
This entire flashback story feeds into the greater narrative of how powerful the Elder Gods are. And as Thor brings up at the end, this goes back to questioning what Gaea’s motives are for the Elder Gods appearance now. All the Elder Gods we’ve seen are direct counters to the Asgardian Gods.
It all plays well to make the debut of the Utgard-Odin be an impactful way to conclude Immortal Thor #7. Based on Cóccolo’s design it does appear as though Utgard-Odin has a similar look to the Asgardian Odin. That would be a big change to the Kaiju design of the other Elder Gods we’ve seen thus far. What exactly the Utgard-Odin goals are will be interesting to see, especially with how the setting shows two planets colliding in the background of the final page.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Between Al Ewing’s gripping dialogue and Martín Cóccolo incredible artwork Immortal Thor #7 was another home run of a comic book. This issue does an great job building up the Utgard Gods through the chemistry shared by Thor and Loki. All the while setting up even bigger things to be excited for in future issues.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10