Thor vol. 2 #11Thor vol. 2 #11
Title: “Dark Wars Part 2 of 3”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Colors: Gregory Wright
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Perrikus continues calling Thor a coward and
telling him to come out and fight. Zelia says that Thor is hiding
in the drainage conduit. She says that it seems that Perrikus is
going to have to drag him out. Perrikus says that the desire of
Zelia will not be denied. Perrikus says that just as he shattered
Thor’s weapon so will he use it to shatter his skull.
Perrikus tries to life Mjolnir, but even with a quarter of it
broken off Perrikus still cannot lift the hammer off the ground.
Balder says that is the will of Odin that only one pure of heart
and courageous as Thor can lift Mjolnir. Perrikus is outraged he
says, “Courageous? Courage does not flee!” Perrikus
releases a blast from his hand that shatters the sewer entrance.
The hole
reveals that
Thor is gone. Perrikus says that the pipes are too small for one
as large as Thor is. Tokkots says that he is going to find Thor
so that he can be the one to kill him. Zelia says that
Thor’s death belongs to Perrikus alone.
In the sewer pipes, Jake Olsen crawls away. He says that he abhors the idea of running from Perrikus, but that fighting him in human form would have been lethal. He thinks that it is a good thing that they didn’t see him change, and guesses that this must be part of his new existence that even in Asgard he must retain his hammer or revert to Jake Olsen. Jake reaches a foul smelling opening. He tries banging his fist against the ground, but can’t change into Thor until he gets his hammer back. A group of three large workers of the Dark Gods find Jake. One grabs Jake and says that it is the slaver pits for him. Jake says that he can’t do this to him. The worker says that his mallet says that he can. The worker knocks Jake unconscious. He says that Slototh wanted them to find new workers. Another worker says that Slototh isn’t going to be very happy though because this one is so puny that he won’t last the day.
D’Chel says that no one has seen Thor. Adva says that she has searched the continuum, but that Thor has not left Asgard. Zelia says that it is up to her then. Zelia uses her infinity vision to search all of Asgard for Thor. Zelia says that nothing can hide from her, but that she can not find Thor anywhere on Asgard. Perrikus says that it is a trick, and that Odin is going to tell him how he does it. Odin says that Thor’s whereabouts a mystery to him as well. Perrikus says that Odin is a foul liar. D’Chel says that the ways of deception are her domain, and that Odin speaks the truth. Zelia is forced to release Tokkots to find Thor.
In the bowls of Asgard, the stench of foulness, the garbage, discarded dead, and wastes of the Dark Gods are processed, burned, and converted to power. This power is the source of the Dark Gods’ energy. Another slave dies, and one worker tells the other to shovel him into the pit. One worker says that they need more slaves, and he is told to bring the new one in. The other worker says that Slototh must approve him first. Jake tells him to hurry up, and that he is impatient. Slototh appears before Jake. Jake asks what Slototh is. Slototh says that he is all the muck, slime, filth, and excrement. He says that he is all that is discarded. Jake says that this cannot be Asgard. Slototh grabs Jake and says that he is another one that is too good to acknowledge the discarded. Slototh grabs Jake and throws him into the muck and tells him to get used to it. Jake says that he slaves for no one. The workers start to beat and whip Jake. Slototh tells them to stop, and that he is from Midgard. He says that he is just one of millions waiting to be enslaved. Jake says that he has to stop this evil, but to do that he must survive and to survive he must work.
Hours pass by and Jake continues to work. Though the flesh wanted to quit as others died around him, a god’s spirit propels him onward. Jake happens upon a fight between a bunch of Slototh’s workers, and a skinny man with a long red beard. Jake is stunned and recognizes the man as the formerly massive Volstagg. One of the workers hits Volstagg in the back of the head with his mallet. Jake freaks and says that he has had enough. Jake wallops one of the workers with his shovel. The armor on the worker crumbles away to reveal Tokkots underneath. Tokkots grabs Jake, and says that he wears a mortal’s shell, but that he is still Thor. Volstagg stares in amazement as Tokkots flies off with Jake.
In the main square, Zelia tells Perrikus not to agonize, and that Thor will be found. Perrikus says that his patience has been stretched beyond reason. Perrikus says that Thor must be destroyed so that history will recognize him as Thor’s master. Tokkots drops Jake and says that he is the one that found Thor. Perrikus palms Jake’s body in his hand and says that this is not the God of Thunder. Tokkots says that the mortal guise is just an act. Perrikus says that even if it is true that Tokkots will play no part in Thor’s death. Perrikus blasts Tokkots. Perrikus throws Jake and says that if he is Thor for him to reveal himself. Jake smashes into a wall and slumps down barely conscious. Jake says that he will battle anyway because honor demands it. Perrikus shouts no, and swats Jake aside. He says that he wants the battle of all battles. He says that he wants an epic war that will be admired and trumpeted throughout the ages. Perrikus says that he wants a victory that will become legend throughout the realms of god and man alike. Jake says that though Hela’s embrace awaits him that he will fight to the last breath since that is the way of the warrior born. Perrikus shocks Jake and says that is the way of the fool. Zelia tells Perrikus to kill Thor now. Perrikus grabs Jake around the waist with one hand. Power begins to pour through Jake, and Perrikus says that he has longed for this moment for centuries. Perrikus tosses Jake aside and says that Jake, however, is not Thor but a pale shadow of him. Perrikus says that his death would bring no glory, but rather a hollow victory. Jake lands near the shattered pieces of Mjolnir. He picks them up and places them together. Jake is transformed into Thor and Mjolnir is whole again.
The stands full of the Dark Gods begin to chant Perrikus’ name. Perrikus says that at last it is to the death between them. Thor begins spinning his hammer, and says that it is not the battle that fuels his fire but the war. Thor says that he is going to travel through space so that he might fight Perrikus another time. Thor is teleported away by his hammer. Perrikus shouts yet again that Thor is a trembling coward. Majeston Zelia says that to see him run away twice in one day is almost better than watching him die. Odin says that he never thought that he would see the day. Balder is forced to admit that Thor ran away. Sif says that Thor’s cowardice has shamed them all.
Thor goes to the exiled Destroyer and offers to free him if he will partner with him against the Dark Gods. Destroyer says there is no chance.
Lightning Crashes rating: 7 out of 10
I’m really torn here. Normally I’m a big fan of the villains, and Perrikus and the Dark Gods are really cool ones at that, but… even I’m a little embarrassed with how Jurgens had Thor running like a scared puppy all the time. Perrikus has done nothing but chomp at the bit for “battle proper”, but Thor has done nothing but get whomped and run from battle. This doesn’t feel like the true Thor here, and if Thor was going to go for help he should have brought it with him originally. Romita has some magnificent art in this issue. The scene where Zelia is trying to calm Perrikus is powerful as is Thor’s transformation. All together a great issue, but I just don’t care for the design of Slototh or his workers. It’s just the Romita new design thing. Even now I enjoy his Perrikus design because it is no longer new to me, but for some reason I just don’t get the designs at first.