Thor vol. 2 #3Thor vol. 2 #3
Title: “God and Man”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Colors: Gregory Wright
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Jake Olsen stands in his towel saying, “Dead? Me? Do I look like a dead man?” Hannah says that Demetrius said that he died during the battle between the Avengers and Destroyer. Jake says that he was just roughed up a bit. Jake says, “Why… are you here… woman?” Hannah runs over and hugs Jake. She says that she already lost one husband and doesn’t want to lose another. Jake says, “Husband?” Hannah tells him not to be coy, and that she is going to kill him if he pretends to have amnesia about their wedding plans. Jake says, “Wedding? I’m… Jake? Jake Olsen? You are…” Hannah says that what she is, is worried. She asks if he is sure that he is okay. Jake says that his hands are so small and his voice sounds different. Jake quickly recovers and says that he is just tired. Jake says that he needs to get to sleep. Hannah tells Jake as long as he isn’t trying to weasel out of their arrangement later. Hannah “reminds” Jake that he is supposed to pick up Amanda after school. Jake asks what time he is supposed to be there. Hannah gives the details and Jake promises to pick Amanda up. Hannah leaves and Jake realizes that he doesn’t even know what Amanda looks like or even what he looks like. Thor looks at himself in the mirror. He says that he knows he agreed to this- a life with responsibilities and people that he knows nothing about. Jake starts tearing through the house hoping to find a picture of Amanda.
A pair of men are currently going deeper into the ocean than any man has ever been before in a submarine designed by Tony Stark. The two are going along when they spot a Viking boat on the floor of the ocean. They call up to the ship waiting for them on the surface, but they are interrupted when a giant sea monster grabs them up. The monster shatters the submarine like it was nothing. A voice says that the monster did a good job, and that the landlings must learn to fear the wrath of Sedna the Sea Spirit. Sedna says that she will tolerate no interference. She says that these waters are too warm for her and is weakening her more than she would like. Sedna swims up to the Viking boat. She says that this boat was fashioned not by man, but by gods. The “eye” of the ship is a giant ruby. Sedna tells the ruby to reveal its secret and to let her see what it has seen so that she might find its masters.
Demetrius is working in some boxes. He says, “There no way anybody’ll find out now.” Hannah runs up and tells Demetrius that she just came from Jake’s place and that he is alive. Demetrius says that she has got to be hating him for making her worry. Hannah says that the next time they double date that it is Demetrius’ treat. Hannah tells Demetrius to be happy and walks away. Demetrius says, “Happy? How can I be happy? With Jake dead I had the perfect patsy to pin this evil business on. Now… I’ll have to be more careful than ever.”
Jake walks out of the hospital. He says that this arrangement is doomed to end in disaster because he doesn’t know any of the factual aspects of Olsen’s life. He thinks how it is only intuition that has been guiding him. He thinks that he should just change into Thor and leave behind this mortal guise. Suddenly, Marnot appears and says that would be inadvisable, as the consequences would be more severe than he could know. Thor says that Marnot put him in this body and that it is up to him to fix it. Marnot tells Thor that he is the only one who can see or hear him. He says that Thor doesn’t want people thinking he is nuts. Marnot reminds Thor that he made a pact and he has to atone for Jake’s death. Thor asks Marnot who he is to judge him. People start calling Jake nuts. Thor asks Marnot how this works. He asks where Thor’s body is and what will happen if Thor is needed. He asks how he changes. Marnot says, “You know all you need to know Asgardian. Leave it at that.” Thor starts yelling at Marnot, but Marnot says that Thor is in no position to demand anything. He says that if he does so again that Hela will feast on both Thor and Jake’s souls. Jake starts shouting that he needs to know where his hammer is. A guy on the street tells Jake to just go buy a new one.
Suddenly Sedna
flies over the buildings on the crest of a giant wave. She has to
two eyes from the Viking boat on a strap. Sedna tells them to
reveal where their god is. She says that he senses that he is
nearby. As a warning, Sedna uses her power to flood the streets
to show what will happen if they defy her. The water washes over
Jake. Thor recognizes the jewels that she has as coming from the
ship that he commanded in Asgard back in Journey into Mystery
#120. He says that she might know what happened to the other
gods, and that he has to change but doesn’t know how. Jake
curses Marnot in the name of Odin. He bangs his fist against the
ground and Jake is then transformed into Thor. Thor realizes that
Marnot was right and that he did know how to transform because of
his days as Donald Blake. Thor flies up at Sedna. Sedna says that
Thor is more handsome than she dared hope. Thor says that Sedna
has Asgardian relics, and that if she is responsible for
Asgardian destruction she will pay. Sedna says that it has been a
long time since anyone dared threaten her. Sedna shoots a wave at
Thor, but Thor spins his hammer and breaks it apart.
Outside her school, Amanda stands waiting for Jake. She wonders when her mother is going to realize that this guy is a jerk.
Sedna rides a wave away from Thor. Thor throws Mjolnir at Sedna, but she dodges out of the way. Sedna lets out a siren call and from the ocean emerges an enormous sea monster to battle on her behalf. Thor grabs Sedna and then uses his other hand to throw Mjolnir at the monster. The monster swallows Mjolnir and Thor is stunned when he realizes that the hammer is not coming back. Sedna’s “hair” wraps around Thor’s body. Sedna says that Thor is the mate that she has desired for so long. Thor says that it will never happen as long as his will is his own. Sedna tells Thor to try and get away now as she dives into the ocean with him still wrapped in her hair. Sedna’s magic starts to weaken Thor. Sedna summons her monster to follow as they are done on the surface.
Amanda is now sitting on the steps of her school. A couple of gang bangers come up and says that she looks like she lost her best friend.
Lightning Crashes rating: 7.5 out of 10
The mystery of what is happening starts to unfold a little. I like Sedna as a villain. Thor needs powerful enemies to have a decent fight. Romita does a nice job here as well. My only complaint about the art is that I don’t really get what Sedna’s hair is supposed to be.