Thor vol. 2 #49Thor vol. 2 #49
Title: “By Fire Born Part IV of V”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: Tom Raney
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Dave Kemp of Avalon Studios
Editor: Tom Brevoort
The people all stand gawking as the real Thor arrives on the scene.
Enchantress watches everything in a pool of
fire. She thinks to herself how all the “weak-kneed
mortals” annoy her. She says that they are so far beneath
them that she and Thor should pay no attention to them and just
take over the planet for themselves. She thinks how Thor should
not prostrate himself as though he owes them. She says that the
mortals should be kneeling before him. 
She thinks
about how long she has wanted Thor, but that now that he is king
and has the Odin power running through his veins that she wants
him even more. She thinks to himself that she will be his queen
in name, title, and power. She is again annoyed by Midgard and
says that Thor should either leave it all behind or sweep across
it like a conqueror and king.
All the people clamor around Thor, but Thor tells them to “stand ye back, mortals.” Thor looks up and sees a form hurtling to the ground after smashing through the top of a building. Thor yells at the crowd again to get back and says that he doesn’t have time to save them all and to catch the falling man. Olsen/Thor falls right into Thor’s hands. Thor asks what trickery this is. Olsen/Thor explains that he is sort of what he used to be. Thor recognizes the voice as belonging to Jake Olsen. Olsen tells Thor that it was the Enchantress’s magic mirror that restored his powers and made him what he should be again. Thor says that Olsen is siphoning off of his power. Thor says that is “an affront to the Throne of Asgard”.
Amora thinks to herself that Olsen used her mirror to do this, and that she had better do something to rectify the situation before her love blames her.
Thor asks Olsen/Thor who assaulted him. Olsen/Thor says that it was Desak with more of his “You’re a danger to the entire future’ baloney”. Thor says that it is mindless babble. Olsen/Thor says that may be true, but that doesn’t change the fact that Thor is weaker because they split. Olsen tells Thor to make himself whole again and reunite them. Thor says that he has the power to undo the separation since he now has the Odin Force, but that Odin decreed that Jake Olson must remain a presence on Midgard and that he will not disregard Odin’s wisdom. Thor takes back all of his power and says that Jake will remain a mortal. Jake says that it isn’t fair. He says that he is not Jake Olsen, but that he is a part of Thor. He says that he has all of Thor’s memories and that everything Thor is, is in him. Jake says that dividing them makes Thor stronger physically, but that it weakens his soul. Thor says that the discussion is over. Suddenly Desak appears and says that so is Thor’s life. Thor tells Desak that they were allies once and that he should not challenge him because it will mean Desak’s doom. Desak says that this is puzzling and that this Thor is not the same Thor that he was fighting a moment ago. Jake tells Thor to take Desak out while he can and that Desak isn’t going to cut him any slack. Desak says that is true, and that he senses incalculable power within Thor and that it is the power to rule millions and take their freedom. Desak says that Thor will force people to beg him for the smallest favors. Desak says that cannot be allowed to happen and that it won’t. Desak smashes his axe and sword together and discharges a great blast of power. Thor is sent hurtling through a store, out the back of the store, and into a bus.
Amora recoils in horror fearing for Thor’s safety. She yells out for Thialf. Thialf runs into the room and asks if she called for him. Amora says that Thialf is adviser and friend to Thor. She asks him if Thor is in danger if he isn’t bound to assist him. Thialf says that of course he will help and tells her to point the way. Amora says that it is Desak. Thialf says that he will assemble an army and attack at once. Amora says that there is no time for that. She says that Thor’s best chance lies with a single weapon that Thialf must deliver. She tells him to come with her before it is too late. They run down a hallway.
Thor gets up from the impact with the bus.
He says that a line has been crossed and that Desak’s
bloodlust must end. Thor fires a blast into Desak’s chest
and tells him to begone. Desak says that it will never happen and
takes the blast. He swings his axe and lets loose with a burst of
energy. Desak says that it is his sole purpose to kill
Thor’s kind. 
Desak smacks
Thor across the face with his axe and then sticks his knife into
Thor’s side. Desak says that first Thor will bleed and then
he will die. Jake Olsen watches this and decides that he has to
do something. He says that even with Odin’s power that Desak
may be to much. He says that it is a long shot, but that he has
to take it. Thor looks up at Desak and says that if it is death
that Desak wants that it will be Desak that dies. Thor unleashes
the Odin Force and lets it loose on Desak. Thor says to let it
end Desak’s miserable existence forever. Desak reels as he
burns. Jake runs down the alley and says that Desak drinks
god-power like a vampire. Thor finishes blasting Desak. Desak
smugly grunts and asks Thor if that is the best that he can do as
he gets back up. Desak pushes the knife deeper into Thor’s
side and says that this is going to be easier than he thought.
Desak lifts Thor into the air by the knife’s handle. Thor
screams in pain.
Jake Olsen is still running down the street and hears Thor screaming blocks away.
Heimdall stands on the Rainbow Bridge with a tear rolling down his face. He hears Thor’s screaming and wonders if Asgard is going to “suffer a king’s loss again”.
Dr. Strange senses Thor’s agony and says that the portents are coming true. He says that the threat is more real than he dared imagine.
Jake Olsen kicks in the door to Amora/Christine’s apartment. He figures that maybe if Amora’s mirror could restore him to his true form that maybe it could do the same for Tarene. He pours her remains into the mirror, but nothing happens. He says to himself that it was a nice try, but a waste of time. Suddenly the mirror begins to glow and Tarene steps forward restored to her normal self. Jake asks if that is her. She says that she believes so. She says that the last thing she remembers was a change sweeping over her and being unable to move. Jake says that was the Grey Gargoyle and that he will tell her about it later. He says that first he has to pass through the mirror and become his true self again. Enchantress’ hand reaches out of the mirror and grabs Jake by the neck. She says, “Nay, mortal. Not now… not e’er again. Idiot. Thou wouldst weaken thine other self now? When the Odin power is the only thing keeping him alive?”
Desak withdraws his sword from Thor’s
side and kicks him to the ground. He tells Thor that he has never
been bested though he admits to never fighting anyone as powerful
as Thor before. Desak says that it is that power that verifies
that Thor has to die. He says that the future must be made safe.
Desak holds his sword on the back of Thor’s neck. He says
farewell to Thor and draws back his blade to cut off Thor’s
head. As the blade drops, Thialf speeds by. He says, “Hope
yet exists!” He places a weapon in Thor’s hand. The
sword shatters against the handle of the axe. Desak recognizes
the weapon. Thor says, “Thou thought… to behead me? To
cast Asgard adrift again so soon? Clearly, thou hast heard of the
Bloodaxe of Skurge the Executioner, Desak! Fitting sure… for
it will be the death of thee!” Thor sinks Bloodaxe into
Desak’s chest. Desak drops to his knees and says, “You
don’t know… the hell… you’ve unleashed.”
Desak drops to
the ground dead. Thor stands over the dead body of Desak. A
wraith of the Bloodaxe hovers over Thor’s head as Thor says,
“The only hell I care of… is the one that awaits
thee.”
Lightning Crashes rating: 10 out of 10
This issue is packed with facts and action. Amora wants to be Thor’s queen and share in his power. The separation of Thor and Jake Olsen (his human side) is the reason for the change in Thor. The fight between Thor and Desak is outstanding and Thor’s murder of Desak with the Bloodaxe has some terrifying implications as far as the Reigning goes. Raney continues to astound with his art and gets another perfect score. My only complaint again is that there are too many pictures that I want to highlight here. I can’t wait for next issue.