As Marvel’s new era of Thor rewrites Asgardian lore, the franchise’s most powerful character has an awesome new look. But this isn’t just a costume change – it’s also a shock resurrection.
Odin Debuts Stripped-Down Design
How Is Marvel’s Greatest God Alive?
In today’s Mortal Thor #3 – from Al Ewing, Pasqual Ferry, Matt Hollingsworth and Joe Sabino – Odin checks in on his errant sons. Dressed in a simple tunic and hood adorned with runes, the All-Father looks incredible, with his crows Huginn and Muninn all but hidden as shadowy familiars on each shoulder.
Odin was introduced to Marvel lore by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, who depicted him in staggering, larger-than-life armor befitting the creator of the universe. While Kirby was constantly reinventing Odin’s armor, he set the standard for operatic, shimmering armor that’s persisted ever since.
However, with Thor now a mortal and Asgard erased from human memory, it seems Odin has undergone a far more understated redesign. Gone is the omnipotent All-Father, transformed into the wandering seeker of knowledge that Odin is in Norse mythology.
However, it’s not just the new look that has fans stunned. Odin recently died and passed onto Valhalla in Marvel lore, saying goodbye to the physical world for good. So how is he back and walking around New York?
Thor’s Family Are Being Transformed
It’s Possible These New Looks Are Permanent
Recently, Loki killed Thor in a gambit to protect him from the evil Utgard-Gods, arranging for him to be reborn as the mortal Sigurd Jarlson. As a human, Thor is a construction worker who is being targeted by the villainous Roxxon Corporation, fighting back with a hammer on a length of bungee cord.
Meanwhile, Loki has become the street kid ‘Lucky’, helping Thor survive his new status quo. It’s an awesome new way of exploring what defines these characters, while also restoring the threat level of classic Thor villains like the Cobra and Grey Gargoyle. However, there’s reason to believe this isn’t just a temporary redesign…
In the issue, Sigurd has a vision of Thor in the afterlife, with the God of Thunder emphasizing that the two have almost nothing in common and are not simply the same person. While fans know that Thor’s former status quo as a god will eventually be restored, it seems like Marvel might be setting up Sigurd to stick around as his own character – a byproduct of Thor’s death and rebirth.
Likewise, it’s possible Odin’s new look may be here to stay. Odin stood down as Asgard’s king in 2019, and fans really haven’t missed him in the role – especially because watching Thor grow into such huge responsibility has been way more interesting than Odin’s bluster.
Odin as a wandering god, checking in on his sons when they get up to too much chaos, feels like a new status quo that could last for years – and Pasqual Ferry’s design for Thor‘s most powerful character will have fans hoping that’s the case.
The Mortal Thor #3 is available now from Marvel Comics.
- First Appearance
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Journey into Mystery
- Alias
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Thor Odinson, Eric Masterson, Kevin Masterson, Beta Ray Bill, Thordis, Throg, Red Norvell, Jane Foster
- Alliance
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Avengers, Warriors Three, Thor Corps, God Squad
- Race
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Asgardian, Human
- Franchise
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Marvel