Thor vol. 2 #64Thor vol. 2 #64
Title: “One Night”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: Paco Medina
Inker: Juan Vlasco
Colors: Brian Reber
Editor: Tom Brevoort
In New Mexico, there are camps set up. A priest is told that, “He’s on his way.” The priest says that he is looking forward to meeting him and that he has never dealt with such an illustrious person. The priest looks up and Thor and says that he is certainly majestic. The priest welcomes Thor. Thor says that he understands that the priest’s master is upset. The priest says that the Church is worried. He says that they are tolerant, but that they find it uncomfortable with someone that proclaims to be a god and rallies the people to worship him. Thor says that he is a god and asks what else he would say he is. The priest says that there is only one God. Thor says that he cares little for such opinions and that he only seeks to better lives. The priest asks Thor if he has considered the sociological and spiritual ramifications. Thor says that the priest is afraid he will destabilize the Vatican. Thor says that he has no interest in his religion. The priest says that he has an interest in his though. He asks if Thor understands the nature of faith. The priest says that faith can move mountains and that Thor’s presence undermines people’s faith in a higher divinity. Thor says that he doesn’t ask anyone to follow him. The priest asks what he thinks would happen if he claimed godhood and brought “Heaven” to Earth. The priest says that Thor contradicts the beliefs of every religion there is. Thor asks if he is criticizing his work. The priest says that Thor is powerful, but that power must be tempered with wisdom if it is to be used well. Thor says that now he is insulting him. The priest says that isn’t his intent, but that Thor has to understand the consequences of his actions. The priest says that Thor is offering them simple answers to complex problems and that it is an affront to God. Thor says that he and the priest’s God preach the same doctrine… that the strong protect the weak and life be cherished above all else. The priest says that no one can place himself on par with the Lord.
Two armor clad men stand opposite of each other. One tells the other to prove himself as a warrior. The second man smashes into his challenger and causes him to drop his sword. The challenger hits his attacker causing him to drop his sword. He says that he broke his nose. The sword hits his arm and draws blood. The challenger says that he has to work on his skills if he is going to serve Thor. The cut man, Lars, tells Lloyd that this isn’t so easy. Lloyd tells Lars that he is supposed to speak like Thor in the temple. Willie says that he is especially supposed to on Thor’s Day. Lars says to forgive him and that he is still new to this. Lloyd says that he will get used to it in time. Lars says that he supposes so and that if it wasn’t for Thor that none of them would have jobs. He says that he still can’t believe that he saw Thor bringing the lobsters back to them. He says that it was at his lowest point when he was about to kill himself. Willie says that unlike some that Thor doesn’t ignore the plight of the suffering. Lars says that this is hard enough without Willie insulting his old religion. Willie says that no offense was meant, but that Lars is a Thorist now. Willie says that Lars can’t deny that the world is a better place. He asks why should they believe in Eden when Asgard is already there on Earth. Willie says that the good that has been done for them has happened for millions of others as well. Lars says that he knows. He says that he believes in Thor, but that it was a hard step to take. Lloyd says that they understand, but that all their work never paid off until Thor came along. Lars says that it doesn’t make giving up the old beliefs any easier. Willie says that Lars was about to throw his life away and that he knew that his God had abandoned him. Lars admits that it so. Willie says that Thor delivered his salvation and that he shouldn’t feel guilty for embracing him. Lars says that the doesn’t mean to sound so “wishy-washy” about this. Lloyd says that it is okay and that they went through the same thing. Willie says that it is a shame what the Church is doing to Thor. Lars asks what he means. Willie tells Lars to come with him and that he will show him. Lars asks if they won’t get arrested for dressing like this. Lloyd says to let them arrest them and that they will sue for religious persecution.
Ginny tells Trent to hurry or they will be late to class. Trent says that he isn’t going. Ginny says that Father Murphy will string him up by his thumbs. Trent tells Ginny that his family isn’t Catholic anymore. He says that they are Thorists now. Ginny asks since when. Trent says that since things have turned around for them. He says that his father gives credit to Thor and that this is how he thinks they should respond. Ginny asks if he isn’t going to school because it is Thor’s Day. Ginny says that her father is going to freak and that he thinks Thor is bad. Trent says that he only cares what she thinks. Ginny says that she feels that all the things that Thor are giving them is kind of like when Eve was offered the apple. Trent asks if she really thinks it is that bad. Father Murphy tells them that he has been waiting for them. Ginny says that she is sorry and that it is Trent. She asks Trent to reconsider and that the church is her father’s life. Trent says that it isn’t his business and that it doesn’t affect how he feels about her. Ginny says that it is how her father feels about him that concerns him. She says that Thor may as well be the devil in disguise. She says that he thinks that they are running up a bill and that the payment will be their souls. Trent says that it funny coming from the man that turned off the money when the people were struggling. Father Murphy asks if Trent’s Thor shirt is a statement of his new beliefs. Trent asks Ginny if they can get out of there.
New Mexico, The priest says that Thor is about to destroy the Catholic church and that they can’t abide that. Thor says that the church is part of the ruling class and that it fears him not because of his work, but because of the loss of power he represents. The priest says that is untrue and that they fear the inability to fulfill their mission. Thor asks what good they have done. He says that they have had hundreds of years to make the world a better place. He says that all they have done is tell people how to behave in their most private moments and befriend some of the world’s most heinous dictators. Thor smashes the table and says that they use the ignorance of the people while doing nothing to improve their plight. The priest says that they concentrate not on the comfort of the moment, but on the soul and salvation in the next world.
Maine, in the church, Father Murphy thanks the people for coming. He says that he has invited them there to hear the words of Father Williams, head of the diocese. Murphy says that they have lost a number of followers to the growing Thor cult. Charles says that they will survive as they always have. Murphy says that he fears otherwise. Father Williams says that he hears they have lost the Skoglunds. Virginia’s mother, Amy, is shocked that they joined the “barbarians”. Charles says that if it were up to them that he would have them arrested. Amy asks what about Ginny and Trent. She says that she doesn’t want Ginny exposed to those crazy ideas. Charles says that they are through as a couple. Murphy says that the two of them were there, but that Trent got her to leave with him.
Lars, Willie, and Lloyd, as well as many others have gathered. Lars asks why they are there. Willie says that there is a coalition forming to discredit Thor and try to oust him from power. Willie says that their unwillingness to embrace Thor threatens him, his work, and his believers. He says that they will try to disband them, confiscate their weapons and icons just as they did to the Native Americans. He says that they have to get them to recognize the goodness of Thor’s intent. He says that Thor is a proud and strong god. He says that Thor asks nothing of them, which is why they choose to join him. He says that the risks are obvious. Willie says that Thor’s enemies are their enemies. Lars asks who he means. Willie says that other religions and intolerant governments. He says that Thorists are being arrested and jailed for their beliefs. Lars asks what they will do. Willie says that they either lay down like sheep or fight the way Thor would. One of the Thorists asks if they really think they will be arrested in America. One says that they have heard whispers. Willie asks what Thor would do in the face of adversity. Willie says that Thor would stand and fight to live as he deems proper.
In New Mexico, the priest tells Thor that his Holiness is celebrating mass. He says that in his sermon he will denounce Thor as a false god… like a drug pusher that gives free samples in order to cultivate customers. He says that he met with reporters and called on Catholics everywhere to reject what Thor stands for. Thor says that they are strong words from a man that supposedly guides souls to eternal peace. The priest says that they are truthful words. Thor says that he asks for no followers and that he asks and expects nothing. The priest says that if Thor takes a man’s opportunity to enter Heaven that he takes everything. Thor says that he sees suffering and that he remedies it. He asks where the crime is and flies away.
Ginny and Trent walk out of an ice cream
store. Ginny says that Trent just made things worse dragging her
out of church. Trent says that he wasn’t going to debate
this in front of a priest. Suddenly Trent and Ginny spot
Trent’s father in a gathering of Thorists around a newspaper
machine. The paper’s headlines says, “POPE CALLS ON
FOLLOWERS TO REJECT THOR”. They say that the Catholics are
trying to start a religious war. Willie says that in Asgard thins
are fought honorably on the field of battle. Ginny says that she
isn’t sure she should be there. Lloyd says that not unless
she is prepared to join them. Willie says that they would welcome
her. Charlie shouts to leave her alone. He is with a bunch of
Catholics and Father William. Willie says, “Careful, Lars.
One of them has a gun!” Father William places a gun in
Charlie’s hand and says, “Careful, Charles!
They’re going to attack! Defend yourself!” The gun goes
off and Lloyd is hit in the chest three times. The people all go
nuts.
Loki
materializes on top of the church’s cross. He says,
“Heh. Such puppets. So easy to control. For ones such as
Father Williams or Willie, each a guise of… Loki, the
trickster!” He says that there is so little time and so much
to do… in so many places all at once.
The news on CNI tells of riots breaking out all over the world over religious beliefs. People dying and churches being set on fire. Ginny and Trent lie next to one another in the emergency room as the news goes on.
Lightning Crashes rating: 5.5 out of 10
Well this is a little more like it. The normal guy perspective drones on for much of the issue, but the notion that Loki the trickster is behind starting the riots is a great surprise ending. I still strongly dislike Paco Medina’s junior manga style. All his characters look pretty much the same to me so the fact that Father Williams and Willie had the same face was lost on me. 2 out 5 for the art.
Review and pictures by The Leader