By d. emerson eddy — It's been a big year for Thor, both the character and the franchise. The threat that has been building and building under Malekith's hand for years finally came to a head in The War of the Realms, arguably one of the best superhero event series and tie-ins in recent years. He found the inner strength to become worthy again, both of his mantle and of the pride of his father, Odin. The Asgardian side of Marvel has also become a larger viable franchise again, both creatively and financially, with the recent launches of Loki and Valkyrie. And we're coming full circle to end of Jason Aaron's seven years guiding Thor as he reunites with the Thor: God of Thunder team that (nearly*) started it all of Esad Ribić, Ive Svorcina, and Joe Sabino. 

(*I say nearly because the first issue was colored by Dean White, Svorcina came aboard on #2).

King Thor #1 is suitably bleak. The gods are dead. The cities are all in decay. The stars are going out. The universe is ending. And Thor and Loki are still caught in their eternal battle, bringing ruin to everything that's left. It's a dance that's been being played out for the past couple of years as we've got glimpses into the future, from The Mighty Thor #700 through Wolverine: Infinity Watch, but now it feels final. It feels like there's an end to all the cycles, no reset button, no new life spawning from the ashes of this Ragnarok.

Esad Ribić and Ive Svorcina so beautifully make this bleak world a reality, depicting a world that is falling apart through a destroyed Hall of All-Knowing to a planet poisoned of life, now creating napalm. The action Ribić portrays is brutal, visceral with each blow that Thor and Loki land in this story feeling like another nail in reality's coffin. Svorcina adds a level of dust and haze through the colors that enhances the feel of decay, that even the very air around the characters is beginning to fade away. This also comes together perfectly in Ribić and Svorcina's depiction of Loki as the Necrogod, with a cold pallor and a shifting darkness throughout his form.

Joe Sabino's letters add further flavor and atmosphere to the story, with the narration boxes appearing like torn sheets from a book, Loki's word balloons being presented as an inverse white text on black balloons to help further give him a feel of darkness, and a familiar creaky appearance to the voice of a surprising, but fitting, returning character.

Jason Aaron's last hurrah on Thor is coming together nicely here at an end to all things, but he also takes time for a few rather poignant character moments that twist the knife a little bit more in this battle between Thor and Loki. Jabs at one another that only siblings could make. Words used as weapons just as much as hammers, swords, and exploding planets. There's also some nice moments with the Girls of Thunder, Thor's granddaughters, that hint at the possibility of something more. But it could just be a flicker of hope to make the bitter end even more devastating.

Overall, this is a great start to the final chapter in an epic run on Thor. Jason Aaron, Esad Ribić, Ive Svorcina, and Joe Sabino are all bringing their immense talents to bear here, and it's a beautiful thing to read. The end has never looked so good.

King Thor #1
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Esad Ribić
Colorist: Ive Svorcina
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99

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d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.