Thor vol. 2 #55Thor vol. 2 #55
Title: “Reason”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: Tom Raney
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Dave Kemp of Avalon
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Zarrko the Tomorrow Man sits in his Asgardian cell. He says that he has no radio, no television, no transceptor, and his jailers tell him nothing, but that he still knows everything that is transpiring. He says that he has watched this disaster unfold hundreds of times. He says that each key moment is seared into his memory. He knows the dates, the times, the critical moments and events that shape the future. Zarrko knows that Thor’s followers are growing, but that dissatisfaction still exists. Zarrko says that it will amount to nothing. He says that Thor has seized control and that they are all the poorer for it.
Fandral tells Balder and Hogun to stand fast and that the moment of reckoning is coming. The three of them stand around a group of floundering soldier and a smoldering tank. Balder says that they do not want to shed blood. He announces that if they lay down their weapons and retreat that they will live. He says that if they advance that they will die like their comrades. One soldier calls them agents of a false god and that they will gladly become martyrs for their cause. The soldiers advance. Fandral lays into them. Hogun smashes a jeep with a machine gun mounted on the back. Balder doesn’t like it, but he starts swinging his sword at the soldiers. Zarrko says that Thor’s men refuse to speak out against him… at least they won’t yet.
Titania and Absorbing Man sit a dingy room. Creel is reading the newspaper. Creel asks Titania if that isn’t something. He says that Thor never quits and that he has become the biggest story in the whole world. The headline of the newspaper says that Thor is going to appear before the U.N. today. Titania says that a lot of people like what Thor is doing. Creel says that she got that right. He crumples up the paper and says that it is a good thing that the U.N. is within walking distance. Titania says, “You aren’t going there, are you?” Creel says, “’Course I am. I got some unfinished bizness with the God of Thunder!”
Amora looks out
on New York City from Asgard. Loki comes up behind and says that
it seems that Amora finally has all that her heart desires. Amora
asks Loki if he ran out of rats to torture so he came to torture
her. Loki says that, like her, he is enjoying the view of
Midgard’s greatest city. He says that it is to Thor’s
credit that they lord over the mortals. Amora asks what trick
Loki has to topple Thor. Loki asks why he would need a scheme. He
says that his dreams of Asgardian conquest have come true. He
says that mortals acknowledge their greatness and kneel before
them. Amora says that Loki hides his jealously well. Loki says
that he does wish that he was the cause of this. Amora says that
she won’t let Loki “upset the All-Father’s
plans”. Loki laughs and says he still has difficulty hearing
people speak with such reverence about his “simpleton
brother”. He says that he has no plans to harm Thor and asks
why he would move against someone doing what even Odin never
dared. Amora is confused and asks if Loki doesn’t begrudge
Thor’s success. Loki says that Thor has “out-Odinned
Odin” and that he never thought that he would say it, but
that Lord Thor is to be admired. Loki says that the world will be
too much for Thor to handle alone and that he intends to be first
in line when Thor looks for help governing. Amora says she still
doesn’t trust Loki. Loki asks if Enchantress can’t
appreciate the irony that for the first time Thor’s goals
mirror his own. Amora says that Thor isn’t trying to rule
the people and that he is only helping them. Loki says that Thor
might believe that now, but that the truth is that he wishes to
care for the mortals. He says that he wants to be their Sheppard,
and that it makes the mortals nothing more than sheep.
Zarrko says that when he became aware of Thor’s rule that he took a wide array of opinions. He says that people were enthralled by his good deeds, but that the world leaders who stood to lose power viewed him as a threat. He says that if only they knew how right they were.
Thor walks into the main assembly of the
U.N. building accompanied by Sif and Thialf. He walks up to the
podium. One of the members stands and says that Thor has no
business there and that his presence is an insult to Allah. The
member from Kalanya stands and says that Thor destroyed their
country and that their people suffer because of him. Another says
that they want Thor to leave. Thor says that he has no prepared
speech, but that he will answer questions as honestly as he can.
He starts by saying that the only people suffering in Kalanya are
the despots that he has removed from power. He says that the tens
of thousands of people that suffered in the prisons are better
off now. He says that he invites the free press to go see Kalanya
for themselves. Another member addresses Thor. Thialf corrects
her that he is “Lord Thor”. She starts again by
addressing him as Lord Thor and asks him what gives him the right
to interfere in government affairs when no one asked him to. Thor
says that it is true that no official summons was sent, but that
as they did in Kalanya the people prayed for salvation and that
it was their request he was answering. The woman asks if Thor is
saying that he can hear prayers. Thor says that Heimdall hears
all and notifies him of places that are troubled. He says that
from there they decide if action is warranted. One member stands
and says that Thor closed down factories and stopped the
construction of new power plants. He says that their people will
starve. Thor says that he only stopped the raping and pillaging
of the land. He says that they took no measures to protect their
natural resources beyond their lifetimes. Thor says that he will
provide them with a power less harmful to the environment. Thor
says that their people aren’t starving and that he has
planted enchanted seeds in areas once barren. He says that he
himself brought rain. The man says that Thor has taken away their
right to choose. Thor says that all he did was weaken “an
insensitive and corrupt ruling class”. Thor says that the
people have jobs and greater say in their futures. The man says
that they are illiterate fools that don’t know how to live.
Thor says that is the government’s fault and that he has
constructed schools to educate them. The member from America
stands and says that Thor has always had a good relationship with
America, but that it can’t continue if he continues
evacuating and destroying key medical research centers. Thor
shouts, “Base liar! Those so-called medical facilities
worked in search of no medicine! They manufactured chemical
weapons capable of killing civilians on a mass scale… even
though thy government has signed treaties promising not to create
such weapons!” The member from America nervously says that
isn’t true. Thor shouts that he doesn’t lie and smashes
the podium to pieces. Thor glares at the audience. One woman
stands and says that she does commend Thor for the good that he
has done her country, but brings up that the gifts he gives might
be harmful since man has done nothing to achieve them. She says
that Thor must concede that there is an aspect of religion at
play here. She says that some follow him and that others question
the way that they have always believed. She says that he has
brought instability, not only to governments, but to faith. She
says that is a great danger. Thor says that he acknowledges the
instabilities to governments. He says that they worry because
they know that the majority of the common people approve of what
he is doing. He says that they know that fewer people are
starving and that they know that no nation will attack another
while he watches. The woman asks about the religious problems.
Thor says that he doesn’t court followers that way. He says
that people should believe as they wish. He says that all he asks
is that people care for the planet and each other the best they
can. One member shouts that Thor calls himself a god and asks how
he can deny his aspirations to divinity. Another member notes
that “absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Suddenly
there is a ruckus outside the door. Absorbing Man bursts into the
room. Thialf steps forward to defend Thor. Creel says that he has
come to repent, He says that he has been wrong all this time. 
Creel takes
Thor’s hand and kneels before him. He says that he
isn’t that smart, but that even he can see that what Thor is
doing is a good thing. He says that Thor helped his wife get the
medical treatment that she needed, and that if anyone is going to
try and take Thor down that they will have to go through him
first.
Outside, Jake Olson tries to shove his way to the front of the legions of Thor’s fans that stand outside. As Balder walks by Jake Olson calls out to him. Balder asks what is bothering Jake. Jake says that Balder can’t be comfortable with what Thor has been doing. He says that it is wrong and that Balder knows it. Balder says that this is the vision of the their leader and asks who they are to question him. Jake scowls.
Zarrko sits in prison. He says that Thor thinks that he has solidified his power base and that he thinks that they will leave him alone to do what he wants. Zarrko says that all he has done is back them into a corner and guaranteed disaster. He says that he should know and that he is the Tomorrow Man.
Lightning Crashes rating: 10 out of 10
This is a fantastic book. Jurgens does a magnificent job advancing the plot. As a villain fan I love that all of Thor’s old foes are now siding with him. Loki, Enchantress, and the Absorbing Man are joining up with Thor. I also love the way that Zarrko, a long time villain, might just be mankind’s best friend. Raney does another amazing job with the penciling chores. I believe that this is supposed to be Raney’s last issue of Thor and I can’t express my disappointment enough. Raney has made a great contribution to this title and he will be missed.