Thor vol. 2 #4Thor vol. 2 #4
Title: “From the Ashes”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Colors: Gregory Wright
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Asgard stands in ruins, a shell of its former glory. A shadowed figure stands with power crackling around him. The figure tells Adva to join him, as he would be alone no more. Adva tells Perrikus, God of Power Unlimited and Energy Infinite, that it has been a long time since she has heard his voice. She asks Perrikus if he has captured the last of the Asgardians Thor yet. Perrikus says that Thor freed him when he hurled his hammer through his prison, but that he has not returned since. Adva suggests that he might have gone to Midgard. Perrikus says that he has been trying to locate his unique energy but cannot. Perrikus says that Thor has either left or died.
In the Earth’s ocean, Sedna, sea goddess of the Inuit Indians, tells Thor to stop struggling and that when his lungs fill with water that she will transform him into a suitable mate. Thor says that he will never surrender to her. As Sedna swims along she notices that Thor has transformed into something insignificant and detestable. Thor has transformed into Jake Olsen. Jake is suddenly grabbed from behind by Namor. Namor faces Sedna as Jake swims for the surface. Namor says that it has been decades since the last time he saw her. Namor says that he thought she was dead. Sedna wants Namor to tell her where Thor went and demands that he return. Namor says that he hasn’t seen Thor. Namor says that the seas are his province and nobody commands him.
Jake makes it to the surface, but cannot transform back into Thor without his hammer.
Namor points out how easily he escapes her hair and says that these warm waters must have weakened her. Sedna says that she will handle Namor just as she did long ago because she did not come alone. The giant monster grabs Namor with a tentacle. Namor says that the creature is impressive, but that he has encountered many impressive creatures and defeated them all. Namor swims at the beast, but is hit in the back with a tentacle.
Hannah calls Demetrius and asks if he knows where Jake is. Demetrius asks if Jake isn’t supposed to have picked up Amanda by now. Hannah says that Demetrius knows Jake’s schedule better than he does. Hannah says that she is worried. Demetrius says that he is only a couple of blocks away from the school and he will go check on her. Demetrius tells Hannah to hold on. A car pulls up to Demetrius and hands him an envelope of money. The man in the car says that Demetrius did a good job. Demetrius says that there is plenty more where that came from. Demetrius tells Hannah that he is on his way.
Jake has been treading water and continues to wonder why his hammer hasn’t come back to him. Jake finds that no matter how hard he concentrates that he can’t transform without his hammer. The sea monster comes up through the surface. Jake calls out to Mjolnir and commands it to return to its master. Mjolnir breaks through the monster’s chest and returns to Jake. Namor comes out of the water and flies at the beast. The beast grabs Namor in its tentacles, but suddenly Namor is freed and Thor has grabbed the monster by the back and lifted it out of the water. Thor says that Namor has his eternal gratitude and throws the monster away.
Sedna emerges from the water on a wave and
tells Thor to come to her. She tells Thor to look into her eyes
and into her soul. She tells Thor to join her as she puts her
hand on his arm. Thor says that she is very alluring and that he
is cast alone in this world. Namor flies over and pulls Sedna off
Thor. Thor says that Namor dare challenge him in affairs of the
heart. Namor says that if he kisses her he is lost. He says that
Sedna uses her siren call to lure men to her and then drags them
to the bottom of the sea where they are never heard from again.
Sedna curses Namor for interfering and says that she will get
Thor yet. Sedna says that the warm waters have weakened her and
she takes off. Thor’s mind becomes his own again as Sedna
leaves and he thanks Namor again for his help. 
Thor says that
Atlantis must prosper under his leadership. Namor says that Thor
is fit to lead a kingdom as well. Thor says that he and Namor are
much alike and wants to know if Namor wants to go get a tankard
of mead with him and talk about old battles. Namor declines
saying he has affairs of Atlantis to take care of.
Hannah thanks Demetrius for bringing Amanda home. Demetrius says that Amanda was smart to go back inside the school building. He also says that Jake must have a good reason for not showing. Jake walks through the door. Hannah starts yelling at Jake. Jake says that he went there, but by the time that he got there Amanda was gone. Hannah says that Amanda is terrified after being harassed by gang bangers. Jake says, “This life… I am unaccustomed to its conditions and demands! Thou hast my apologies, milady.” Jake turns and walks out of the apartment. Hannah runs after Jake and says that they should talk this out. Jake goes onto the roof. Hannah follows him up there, but by the time she gets there Thor is flying away.
Majeston Zelia addresses Perrikus through a link. She asks how the preparations of the fallen city go. Perrikus says that Adva, master of the continuum gateway, continues to move materials there. He says that the city will be ready for her and the others to come to in hours. Zelia tells Perrikus to hurry up then because even though he is her son he will not be spared if Asgard is not ready by tomorrow. Odin interrupts Zelia and says that she speaks of wrath when she doesn’t even know the meaning of the word. He tells her to bow before him or she will see true wrath. Zelia turns to the bound and chained Odin and says that she spits on his hollow threat.
Off the coast of Maine, in a little place called Merry Peddler, Thor sits with the sailor’s there for hours telling them amazing stories about battles and sea serpents. None of them realize that Thor is there with them because he is lonely in his new life
Lightning Crashes: 7 out of 10
I like the story. Thor is lonely and winds up finding a kindred spirit in Namor, however Namor is not alone like Thor is and has to leave. Thor can’t deal with his new mortal life and has to bail out. I still like Sedna despite not fully understanding how she looks. Romita’s Thor and Namor are fantastic, but like Sedna, because I don’t know how they are supposed to look like Zelia and Perrikus are a little hard to envision. I enjoy Romita’s work much more when I already have a firm idea of what the character looks like.