Thor vol. 2 #46Thor vol. 2 #46
Title: “By Fire Born- Part I of V”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: Tom Raney
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Dave Kemp of Avalon Studios
Editor: Tom Brevoort
People walk away from a gravesite. When all the others have left a lone figure walks up to the grave of Gary Lesgetti. He asks Gary why he died now when there was so much left to do.
Long ago, Gary and Paul were children launching a raft they built. Paul asks Gary if he thinks it will float. Gary says that it will since it is the best raft ever. Paul is amazed that it does float. He says that he will never be able to build something so good. Gary says that some of us are good with tools and others are good with science. Paul says, “Science and chemistry, what good is that?” Gary says that he could grow up to be an evil scientist. Paul asks Gary what he is going to be when he grows up. Gary says that he is going to be a French astronaut. Paul and Gary start wrestling and topple over the raft.
Paul says that Gary didn’t live long enough to achieve that goal. He places a stone rose on the tombstone and says that it a fate that he will never suffer.
Tarene stands on top of a building swinging
her hammer at a grouping of metal robots that surround her. She
tells the robots that they are more nuisance than threat like a
swarm of insects. She says that they are a cowardly way to
“pilfer a bank’s vault”. 
Tarene grabs a
machine and smacks it against the building. She says that she
would rather “smite the curs who sent thee!” Tarene
decides that there are two many machines to smash one at a time.
She lets loose a blast of pure energy. The energy blast severly
damages the bank. One of the guards says that she is doing more
damage than good. Tarene says that may be so, but that another
criminal endeavor hath been thwarted. Jake Olsen pulls up in his
ambulance and asks Tarene what she was thinking. He says that she
can’t cut loose when innocent people are in the way. He says
that humans are frail creatures and her job is to protect them.
She says that she stopped the crime and asks if that isn’t
what Thor would have done. Jake says that it wasn’t. He says
that there is a fine line between fear and respect with humans.
He tells her to take care of the people first. He says get them
to safety and then worry about the bad guys. Tarene seems
surprised but concedes the point. Jake asks if she smells smoke.
He looks up and notices that Tarene has set the bank on fire. She
asks if Tarene can do anything that Thor can. Tarene says that
she modeled herself after Thor so her hammer can do what Mjolnir
can. He tells her to go up there and conjure up a storm to put it
out. Tarene flies up there and says that Jake Olsen’s advice
is sound, but then decides that it must be since he is the mortal
manifestation of Thor, complete with Thor’s memories and
experiences. Tarene summons a storm and puts the fire out. Tarene
feels bad about her failure and says that she has much to learn
both about her powers and about the way of the mortal. She
wonders how she can lift all of humanity to the next level of
evolution if she doesn’t know them. Tarene flies off.
Below one of the guys asks if the Avengers can’t do something about that loose cannon. Jake says that she will get better. Demetrius arrives and says that he wishes that he shared Jake’s confidence. Jake asks if something is wrong. Demetrius says that he has a half burned bank and a street scene from Beirut. He says that when those supertypes start a job they usual finish it. She says that “Hammer Lass” or whoever she is forgot to get the “mooks who sent those things”. Jake says that he guesses she didn’t think of it. Demetrius says that luckily they did and SHIELD is tracking the control signal. Demetrius asks where his sister is and says that he thought she was his partner. Jake says that it is complicated, and that he will tell him all about it.
In Asgard, Heimdall stands on the Rainbow Bridge. He says that he doesn’t see or hear anything, but that he senses a presence. Amora appears before Heimdall and says that surely he would not bar her from entering. Heimdall says that is for Thor to decide. Heimdall goes to blow his horn, but before he can sound his alert Amora kisses him on the cheek and says that she wants to “surprise his majesty”. Heimdall stares ahead in a daze and mumbles, “need not… alert…”
Inside Asgard, two citizens are arguing
about where one of the men’s goats graze. 
Thor says that
is enough. He asks if this is what their long lasting success and
prosperity has brought them. He says that once proud warriors
squabble like children over goat food. He says that this is
tragic and that he doesn’t want to hear anymore of it. One
of the men asks how they will settle their dispute. Thor tells
them to settle it themselves and that it is a matter that is too
trivial for the throne. The two men start yelling that they will
settle it with the edge of a blade. The other says, “Aye. If
the Odinson cravenly ignores matters his father would handle
easily… then let it be settled with blood!”
Balder’s eyes open wide and he says, “Uh oh”. The
man tries to mumble out that he didn’t mean it, but
Thor’s face has scrunched up into a grimace. He stands up
and walks to the old man. The old man begs Thor pardon, but Thor
just asks Balder if they have found land for an “orphanage
to house those whose kin died fighting Surtur” Balder says
that they have not yet. Thor says that this matter was brought
before the throne and so he will decide. Thor says that the
property in question now belongs to the orphans of Asgard’s
lost warriors. Thor thanks them for their contribution and tells
them to get out. Balder asks Thor if that wasn’t a little
harsh. Thor turns angrily to Balder, but then Thor’s face
softens and says that maybe it was. Thor wonders how Odin ever
tolerated all this and that his patience doesn’t equal his.
Thor says that he is bored and that action is more his court.
Thor tells them to go and that he wants to be alone. A voice asks
if Thor would make an exception for her. Suddenly, Amora is
sitting on Thor’s lap. He asks what brings her to Asgard.
She says that it is the same thing that always brings her there.
She says that it is him. Amora kisses Thor. Thor pushes her back
and tells her to remember that they are no longer a couple. Amora
says that on the contrary there is a thread of destiny that binds
them. She tells Thor to let her hand be the one that guides him
to heights undreamed of (does this sound dirty or what?). Thor
says that perhaps later, but that Tarene needs him right now.
Amora says that Tarene doesn’t need him, and she asks if
Thor doesn’t recall how it annoyed him when Odin
interefered. Enchantress says, “Forget Midgard. Concentrate
on Asgard’s glory and the new kingdoms thou shalt create to
enhance it! Greatness is thy fate, Thunder God! Embrace it!”
Tarene lands on the roof of her school. She says that taking Thor’s place was more difficult than she expected. She says that her upbringing was so sheltered that she craved the excitement and experience of Midgard. Tarene transform into her human form Tara Olson. She says that she hates it when Jake yells at her. Tara walks down from the roof into her school. Principal T’ombatanna sees Tara and asks her if she was on the roof sneaking a cigarette. Tara says “no way” and says that she was feeling closed in and that she was just getting some fresh air. T’ombatanna says, “In February?” She says that if it were anyone else that she wouldn’t believe them, but that Tara has carried a perfect 4.0 average since she arrived and so she will take her word for it. The principal leaves. Amanda comes up behind and says that detention will bust that average, but Tara says that she didn’t do anything wrong. Amanda says that Tara does have more absences than anyone she knows. Amanda asks howw Tara maintains that average since they live together and Tara is out every night while she is doing homework. Tara says that she likes exploring the city and that it is so alive. Amanda warns Tara to be careful. Tara says that she can take care of herself. Suddenly they notice that all the lockers and everything else seems to be made of stone. Amanda wonders if it was a chem experiment gone wrong. Tara says that she has to go check it out. Amanda asks, “What gives, Tara? Check out what?”
Tara runs into the bathroom. She says that
this isn’t natural. She changes into Tarene. She flies
outside and sees that the entire building has been changed. On
the rooftop she notices that even the guard has changed. She
flies down to get a close look at the guard and asks who could
have done such a thing. A voice comes from behind and says,
“Me.” A hand touches Tarene’s arm and she starts
turning to stone. He takes her hammer out of her hand and says
that he was looking for Thor, not her. He asks if she is supposed
to be Thor’s sister or daughter or something. He says that
if she is that her hammer might be as good as his. He asks if he
should give it a test drive. 
Grey Gargoyle
uses the hammer and smashes Tarene into pieces. He says that he
thinks that this will do just fine. He says that at last
immortality is his.
Lightning Crashes rating: 9 out of 10
Here is the one problem that I have with Raney’s art… I can’t decide on which pictures to use. This guy is just too good and might be the best artist I’ve ever seen. The story is also very entertaining. This is a great set up issue. I can’t help but wonder what Amora is up to. Grey Gargoyle is somewhat of a light weight, but he seems to be more that Tarene can handle. “God” help her if Absorbing Man shows up… An excellent issue and I can’t wait for more.