Thor vol. 2 #25Thor vol. 2 #25
Title: "The Final Mourning”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Dick Giordano
Colors: Gregory Wright
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Recorder lies on the ground recording what is happening and even he figures that the end is near.
Thanos holds the Chalice of Ruins and says that at last their journey is over, their quest is complete, and all that waits is the end. Thanos says that all he needs now is Tarene’s tears. Tarene says that she will never cry for him. She says that he didn’t make her cry as he murdered her people and that she won’t cry now. Thanos grabs Tarene’s neck and tells Mangog to break Thor. Mangog says that at last the order comes. Mangog smacks Thor who is still stuck on the stalactite.
Balder says that if Odin isn’t going to fight anymore then they are indeed lost. Odin says that it is all happening just as Orikal predicted. He says that despite Thor’s efforts that the end is nigh. Ulik mocks Odin and says that he claims that he is the Warrior Supreme, but that he is here far from the battle site. Odin tells Ulik to shut up and says that Ulik knows that he was weakened by poisons and torture. Odin says that he remains there trying to do anything that he can to help Thor. Ulik tells Odin to prove himself by fighting and that anything else is the path of cowardice. Odin punches Ulik unconscious and says that maybe he should cut off his head to shut him up. Odin tells Balder to go get Jagrfelm as time has run out. He says that whatever Jagrfelm has will have to do. Jagrfelm tells Odin to stop his “fearsome prattling” because he is finished. Odin asks if Jagrfelm make them to his specifications. Jagrfelm says that Odin demanded the most impervious of battle armaments, and that his talent and tools are not capable of making less. Odin says that it is time for him to reveal his plan. He says that he was conserving as much of the Odinforce so that he could infuse Jagrfelm’s handiwork with power undreamed of. Balder asks how they will get them to Thor. Odin tells Orikal that he wants to talk to Firelord.
Orikal looks to see that Thanos is putting Tarene’s tears in the Chalice of Ruins. Firelord burns through the ice. He asks how long they thought they could trap him in such a prison. Firelord is about to rejoin the battle, but Odin’s visage appears before Firelord. Odin tells Firelord that Thanos must not be engaged until Firelord comes to get certain items that are crucial to victory. Firelord says that abandoning the battlefield is unthinkable to him, but that Odin’s wisdom is known across the cosmos and to deny him is to deny life itself.
Thanos says, “To unleash that singular
event known in whispers as the Finality… the Ending of
All… one only needs… to drink!” Thanos drinks
Tarene’s tears. He glows with power. 
He says,
“It’s… working! My will is death! I am as
death!” Tarene tries to grab Thanos, but she is tossed aside
by Thanos’ glowing power. Thanos then unleashes the first
wave of obliteration that is destined to extinguish life as we
know it. Thor wakes up. He unhooks his cape from his shoulders
and drops to the ground.
Tarene turns to Recorder and says that he is
an ally of Thor. She asks if he can’t do something. Recorder
says that he wishes that he could, but as she can see he has been
rendered useless. Recorder says that the moment might yet be
salvaged. Tarene asks how he can say that, but then she sees Thor
walk past. Mangog says that at last death will sweep the stars
and Asgard will succumb. Thor calls to Mangog. Mangog turns and
Thor hammers Mangog in the face. Mangog is on the ground and Thor
hits him again and again. Thor says, “O’er our many
confrontations, thou hast withstood the mightiest of
Mjolnir’s blows! E’en the all-powerful anti-force
failed to curb thee! Mayhap thou shalt be less impervious if the
blast be fired not outside thy body… but from within!” 
Thor grabs one
of Mangog’s broken horns and stuffs Mjolnir into
Mangog’s mouth. Thor tells Mangog to drink deeply of
Mjolnir’s fury unleashed. He says that he is certain that
Mangog’s organs are not as shielded as his hide. Thor blasts
Mangog. Mangog drops to his hands and knees. Thor says that
finally Mangog burns from the power of his hammer. Thor says,
“All thy rage. All thy mayhem… hath brought you here,
where evil’s payment is due. Begone, Mangog! Let thy sorry
carcass be fore’er buried amid a desolate land… every
bit as barren as thy soul!” Thor smashes Mangog and knocks
him off the high cliff they fought upon. Mangog falls for what
seems forever. Mangog fall ends with a fiery explosion of
anti-force. Thanos lies unconscious. Thor turns his head and
says, “Thanos.”
Balder stands with Odin, Orikal, and the others. He says that even though Thor defeated Mangog that he stands little chance alone against Thanos. Jagrfelm asks if Balder has no faith in his handiwork. Firelord arrives and says that this better be important. Odin says that he trusts that Firelord’s tone is because of urgency and not disrespect. Firelord says, “Of course, Lord Odin!” Odin gives Firelord the weapons he just imbued with the Odinforce and says that he has to get these to Thor right away. Firelord leaves and Odin tells Firelord to hurry before Thanos kills everyone.
Thanos is musing about how beautiful death is as he unleashed another wave of death. Thor charges Thanos and says, “Villain! Thy vile actions are beyond comprehension!” Thanos tells Thor to be silent and blasts him. Thanos says, “It begins.” Recorder uses his sensors to understand what Thanos means. On the world of Parsikon IV, 41 billion people are wiped out. Recorder notes that Thanos’ elation is beyond measure. Thor is still in agony. He says that though the pain is excruciating, but that he will still defeat Thanos. Tarene asks Recorder what he is doing as Recorder crawls towards Thor using his arms to drag him along. He says that though Thor’s words are brave that the truth of his words are wrong. Recorder reaches out and touches the energy field that is tormenting Thor. Recorder is likewise tormented by the energy. Thor tells Recorder that his death will be avenged. Tarakis tells Thanos that Thor’s voice is grating on him, and that if Thanos will give the word that he will kill Thor. Firelord returns and blasts Tarakis into pieces. Firelord says that if anyone’s voice is annoying that it his Tarakis’.
Firelord lands next to Thor and says that his knowledge of cosmic energies tells him that he should not enter Thanos’ blast on Thor. He says that instead he will simply have to try and blast Thor free and hope he is not killed. Firelord blasts Thor free. Firelord throws Thor the belt that he picked up from Odin. He says the belt should help him provided that he is still alive. Thor says that he still lives and asks Firelord what he is carrying. Firelord says that they are instruments of war from Odin. Thor recognizes the Belt of Power that doubles his strength. Thor puts on the belt, A studded glove, and a shield. He says that Odin has increased his odds by giving him instruments of war that could withstand the legions of the Devil himself. Thor says that is fitting because Thanos’ evil would make Mephisto blush. Thor says that he can feel the Odin-Force pulsing within him. He says that even Mjolnir’s might has increased. Thor tells Firelord to stand back, and that even though Thanos has bested him in the past that he is a newly empowered God of Thunder now. Thor says again that there will be a reckoning.
Thor throws Mjolnir at Thanos. Mjolnir
bounces off Thanos. Thanos asks, “You would dare interfere
with me?” Thanos says that if Thor wants his attention that
he will have it to his regret. Thanos lets off a giant blast.
Thor tells Firelord to get behind him and hope that his shield
can protect them both. Thor tells Thanos that if that was his
best that it wasn’t nearly enough. Thor walks to Thanos and
says that he wants to finish this not with distant blasts, but
with fists “as gods and warriors are wont to do!”
Thanos says that he prefers his might and that he doesn’t
need to use his hands to deal with Thor. Thanos uses an eye beam
to blast Thor. Thor uses his shield and continues advancing on
Thanos. Thor says that the blast would have knocked him down an
hour ago, but thanks to the wisdom of Odin that he can stand
against Thanos’ worst. The shield shatters more and more the
closer Thor gets to Thanos. Thor says that when “innocents
beyond measure are imperiled… there shall the Scion of
Asgard be found!” The shield is completely gone as Thor
stands before Thanos. Thor smacks Thanos with Mjolnir and
commands Thanos to fall. Thanos says “no” and smacks
Thor across the face. Thor hits back and says that his knees will
not buckle. Thanos is stunned that Thor still stands. They start
trading blows. Thanos says that Thor’s courage exceeds the
boldest of tributes, but that it will not matter because he is
Thanos and Thor is just an insect to be trampled. Thor says that
if he is an insect that he will be one that bites back. Thor
grabs the Illumination Stone around Thanos’ neck. Thanos
tells him to let go or all will be lost. Thanos tries to eye beam
Thor’s hand off the Illumination Stone. Thor crushes the
stone and tells Thanos to be silent. Thor strikes Thanos with
Mjolnir and tells him to let his “countenance of braggadocio
be gone!” 
Thor brings the
hammer up into Thanos’ face and then brings it down on his
head. Thor commands Thanos again to fall.
Thor stands over Thanos and says that if he gets up that he will beat him down again and again. Tarene runs up to Thor and says that she didn’t think it was possible, but that he won. Thor says that he won, but that he wishes that it had happened sooner as death has visited many. Tarene says that she weeps for them because “it is also written that should the tears of the Designate… touch evil unprotected by the Stone of Illumination that the evil will burn as though consumed by the fires of Hell itself!” Tarene throws her tears onto Thanos and Thanos screams in agony. Thanos explodes and leaves an ash carcass. Tarene says that Thor spoke of him as the Devil, but that now he should be forever a memory. Tarene says that it is all thanks to Thor. Thor says to not let the songs of victory be sung about him, but that they should be sung about the one that ensured tomorrow’s dawn… Odin.
Balder says to Odin that there is no finer tribute that can be spoken. Odin says that is not true because every galaxy, world, planet, and life should bow low and kneel to the champion of champions, god of gods, and warrior of warriors Thor.
In Svartalfheim, Jagrfelm says that Odin was a fool to empower him with this treasure because it will lead not only to Odin’s downfall, but also to that of the Nine Worlds as it almost did before.
In New York, Absorbing Man is standing over Titania’s hospital bed. He says that it isn’t right. He says that he has all that power, but that he can’t do anything for her. He says that they have no insurance and so they’re giving Titania the boot. He says that he doesn’t even want to think about what that means. Titania says that means that she is going to die.
Lightning Crashes rating: 9 out of 10
Great issue. Heroism triumphs over the ultimate evil. Great idea attacking Mangog from within since it looks like you could park a car in Mangog’s mouth with room to spare. The bit with Tarene’s tear felt a little tacked on, but it served its purpose. I love it when the stories take on the mythological feel. Romita does a great job, as usual, drawing the battle scenes. You can almost feel the impact of Thor’s hammer on Thanos’ head. Romita moves on after this issue, but he leaves his mark on the character.