Thor vol. 2 #40Thor vol. 2 #40
Title: “By Fire Born”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Scott Koblish
Colors: Avalon Studio’s Dave Kemp
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Hercules, Beta Ray Bill, Kurse, and the other Asgardian warriors struggle against Surtur’s forces. They decide that if this is their last battle that they conduct themselves as warriors. The battle has been going for hours. Surtur tells his demons to press on, and that today the world will end by fire as he knocks a building down with his sword. The Warriors Three say that Odin’s decree was for them to fight. Kurse says that he couldn’t care less about Odin. Balder tells Kurse to fight for himself then because if Surtur wins Kurse will perish too. Hogun says that they have never defeated an opponent this powerful without Thor. Beta Ray Bill says that they have to fight in his place, but Kurse says that without the Thunderer that they are as good as dead. Kurse says that if this was so important that you think Odin would be there.
In Asgard, Odin is checking on Thor’s condition. Cyra says that to take Thor out now would leave him in worse condition than before. Odin says that without Thor that defeat is assured. Odin wonders if he has sent Asgardian’s finest to their deaths.
In New York, Jane Foster gets done taking a shower. She is talking to her husband Keith saying that she was so worried that Keith would never wake up from the coma that the Absorbing Man put him in. Suddenly Jane realizes that Keith is gone. She wonders where he could have gone on their first night together.
In Midtown, Jake Olsen and Christine are wrapping up a day’s work. Jake helped save four traumas from a pile up on the FDR. Christine walks up behind Jake and puts her arms around him. Jake says that Christine is a great partner, but that he doesn’t see them as a couple. Christine asks why he doesn’t at least give it a try. Christine asks if Jake believes in reincarnation and says that she thinks that they were together once as if in a past life. Jake overhears a report that a flaming giant is running rampant in Oslo Norway. Jake mumbles “Surtur” to himself. He tells Christine that he has to go. Christine mumbles, “Run… but thou shalt yet be mine Odinson.” Keith Kincaid watches from the side.
Jake runs to Hannah’s house where Tarene is playing video games with Amanda. Hannah asks Jake what he is doing there at that time of night. Jake says that they must not have been watching the news. Jake barges in and turns off Tarene’s video game. On the screen Surtur is swinging his sword at Beta Ray Bill. Hannah says that it isn’t like the girls can do anything about it. Jake says that he and Tarene have family there. Jake says that Uncle Fandral and his family are there. Outside Tarene turns into her form as the Designate. She becomes Thor-Girl.
In Norway, the fighting continues.
Tarene arrives in Asgard. Tarene walks up to Thor’s container and says that her power will heal Thor. Neffethesk says that Tarene can’t foresee the consequences, but Tarene says that Neffethesk can’t foresee the fate of Midgard without the aid of Thor. She grabs the door open and tells Thor to awaken.
In Norway,
after hours of fighting and the Asgardian army being nearly
exhausted doubt sets in on Midgard’s champions. They begin
to realize that no matter how hard they fight that the odds are
too greatly stacked against them. Suddenly Odin arrives by
chariot as Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder pull him towards the
fight,
In New York, Christine passes through her mirror to reveal her true form as Amora the Enchantress. A figure in her door says that her lover might be fooled, but that he isn’t. The voice turns out to be that of Keith Kincaid. Keith sticks his hand into the mirror to see if it has the same affect on him. Enchantress sees Keith’s true form and says, “Thou art… dead!”
In Norway, Odin is using the Odinforce to
cure the mortals that Surtur has turned into his army. Surtur
says that he will create an army so great that even Odin will not
be able to cure them. Suddenly a thunderstorm begins. Fandral
says that moments ago the sky was clear. The rain weakens
Surtur’s army. Thor and Tarene arrive and strike Surtur in
unison with Odin. Odin says that he senses the power of the
Designate was able to overcome Thor’s injuries. Thor strikes
Surtur again and Surtur says that Thor’s power is nothing
compared to his. Surtur says that if it wasn’t for his
hatred for Thor’s father that Thor wouldn’t even be
worth acknowledging. Tarene utilizes her power as the 
Designate and
uses it to filter the power of the storm through Thor and allow
him to magnify it a thousandfold. Odin says that it is
impressive, but that more is needed to defeat Surtur. Surtur
shouts that they aren’t going to have the time.
Surtur’s eye beams blast Tarene. She says that she has never
been hit so hard. Odin tells her not to fear and that she has
played her foredestined role. Odin absorbs Tarene’s power
and combines it with his own. Odin says that Surtur’s final
moment is at hand. Odin says that he allowed Surtur to live
before and settled for his imprisonment but no longer. Odin rams
right into Surtur and an immense explosion occurs. Surtur is
gone, however Thor and Tarene spot Odin’s chariot is empty
and his helmet and sword lie on the ground.
Lightning Crashes rating: 6.5 out of 10
The story is above average (4 out of 5). An exciting issue with a lot going on. A few annoying things about the story are that I get tired of the Asgardians continually proclaiming that if they are going to die that it will be as warriors… we know. The other thing that kind of bothers me is that Surtur has been building for a while, but we never really get into him very much. He seems to be used more as a story device than a character. He seems to have been brought forth for no other reason than to kill Odin off as opposed to trying to destroy the world and Odin sacrificing himself to save the world.
Immonen’s art is below average as far as I’m concerned. Again he seems real unfinished and I can’t help but wonder where everyone’s pupils keep going. For such an epic issue I would have hoped for a little better of an artistic presentation. Certain images are cool (as seen here, but pin ups do not good art make).