After the conclusion of Immortal Thor, where Loki struck down Marvel’s thunder god in issue #25, Thor chose a startling fate. Meeting his old persona, Donald Blake, in the underworld, he “sacrificed himself to himself” and was reborn fully mortal, erasing Asgard and the gods from humanity’s memory. Now, in The Mortal Thor #1, Al Ewing and Pasqual Ferry strip Thor of his immortality and set him down in New York as Sigurd Jarlson, a Norwegian immigrant with no memory of his godly life.
The Mortal Thor #1 is a bold and refreshing session premiere that flips the god of thunder into something far more fragile. Instead of soaring through realms or battling cosmic titans, we are watching Sigurd trip over bad English, get shocked by faulty wiring in his rundown apartment, and nervously hustle for a day job. The hammer still makes an appearance; this is Thor, after all, but the context is entirely different. The opening pages immediately announce the shift: A man bloodied in the rain, hammer in hand, caught in a street-level brawl that feels more dangerous than most of Thor’s past clashes with giants or gods.
The set-up is simple yet layered. Asgard doesn’t exist, actually never did in this continuity, and the gods are dismissed as mere myth. Thor is now a stranger in a strange land, an everyman who feels more like an immigrant construction worker than the golden-haired prince of Asgard. Supporting characters surface quickly, including a kindly neighbor and a familiar figure who might just be Loki in disguise. They set the tone for what looks like a grounded, very human story where the stakes are not about saving realms but simply surviving the city.
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Watching this first issue unfold, what hits hardest is how mortal it all feels and how refreshing that is. Instead of the lofty poetry and “thees” of Thor’s old speech patterns, Sigurd mutters in Norwegian and stumbles through his English. That little detail alone makes the book feel raw and different, and honestly, a little endearing. There’s a playfulness here, too, as Ewing clearly knows how to balance the mythic with the mundane. One minute, Sigurd is awkwardly searching for work; the next, he’s facing down violent goons, and suddenly the danger feels real because this Thor can actually bleed.
The story cleverly weaves in nods to Marvel history, too. Old-school readers will recognize Sigurd Jarlson as Thor’s classic secret identity from Walt Simonson’s run, but here, he’s not just a cover; it’s who he is. And while the absence of Asgard’s grand typefaces and the lack of “immortal” weight feels uncanny, it’s also part of the charm. This isn’t about gods saving the world. This is about a man figuring out how to pay rent, navigate a foreign city, and fight back against racist bikers and sleazy corporate bosses without divine backup. That grounding gives the fights a visceral punch. Thor swinging a hammer at street thugs doesn’t feel beneath him; it feels like he’s right in the trenches with everyone else.
As for the visuals, Pasqual Ferry’s art has a smooth, fluid line that makes quiet moments (like Sigurd fumbling through everyday life) feel warm, while action scenes hit with sudden force. Sometimes, though, the digital crosshatching and background models can pull you out of the moment as they look a bit too artificial compared to Ferry’s hand-drawn work. Matt Hollingsworth’s coloring keeps things atmospheric, shifting from dim apartments to tense alleys, although his soft digital brush style can sometimes flatten textures. Still, the overall effect works; it’s like catching up with old friends, falling back into rhythms even when they have changed.
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Taken together, The Mortal Thor #1 is both gutsy and heartfelt. On the plus side, Al Ewing’s script gives Thor vulnerability and humanity without losing the sense that this is still the God of Thunder, just in a new guise. The immigrant angle works beautifully, making Thor feel grounded, even a little fragile, and the fights carry actual danger because of it. On the downside, some of the art choices, like digital effects, don’t always gel with the natural flow of Ferry’s linework. Readers who miss the high fantasy of Asgard may need a minute to adjust to this stripped-down approach.
The Mortal Thor #1 reimagines Marvel’s thunder god as a mortal trying to survive New York City, with no memories of Asgard or godhood to guide him. It’s risky, strange, and surprisingly moving. The comic trades myth for grit, and in doing so, gives Thor’s story a fresh spark.
‘The Mortal Thor’ #1 Review: A Thunder God Reborn As a Struggling Immigrant
The Mortal Thor #1 reimagines Marvel’s thunder god as a mortal trying to survive New York City, with no memories of Asgard or godhood to guide him. It’s risky, strange, and surprisingly moving. The comic trades myth for grit, and in doing so, gives Thor’s story a fresh spark.
