Thor vol 2 #85
"Ragnarok, Part the Last"

November 2004

Writer: Michael Avon Oeming w/ Daniel Berman
Pencils: Andrea Divito
Inker: Andrea Divito
Letters: Randy Gentile
Colors: Laura Villari

Synopsis:  Thor and Loki head to Jotunheim, where Surtur is busy creating hammers for Giants and Demons alike.  There, Thor tells Surtur that he will not fight him.  Instead, he wants Surtur to reforge Mjolnir, and in exchange he will blaze a path to Asgard for Surtur and his horde.  Surtur agrees and reforges Mjolnir whole, then Thor blasts a path and Surtur, his Demons, and the Giants all begin their march to Asgard to raze it to the ground.  A fitting, final, glorious battle for the Asgardians.  During the battle, Thor transports Beta Ray Bill out into space and tells him that he cannot allow him to die.  He asks him to go back to his people and honor them with his memory.  Bill says that he doesn't like it, but he understands and agrees.  Thor, Loki, and the Odinpower then look to the sky to see Fenris swallow the sun, and the Odinpower tells Thor that now the cycle will begin again and all he has done will be undone.  Thor tells him no, that there is one more task to perform.  They then transport to the base of Yggdrasil, where the Norns weave their tapestry.  Thor points out that the loom has a thread from the end going back to the beginning, that it is in fact not a single line, but a circle.  Thor is about to snap the thread, when Those Who Sit Above In Shadow show themselves and tell Thor that he has called them on their game, and they offer him the opportunity to join them, to become a god to the gods.  Thor tells them that they are like a child offering apologies after being caught, and Thor destroys the loom.  This causes a rip in Yggdrasil, which then begins to fold in on itself, taking all the Nine Worlds, except Midgard, with it, until there is nothing left.  The Odinpower then tells Thor that he has finally set his people free, truly free, and all that remains of them are their memories, and asks Thor what he will do now.  Thor says that he does not know.  For all his newfound wisdom, now that he truly remembers every moment of his thousands of years of life...he does not know.  He grieves for the loss of his people, and yet he rejoices in their glorious end.  But he must now stand alone.  For even as he speaks, he senses that the Odinpower is fading from him, too.  For the moment, he will rest.  He will lie still and silent, strip his mind of thoughts.  He shall close his eyes and breathe deep the slumber of gods...for awhile, at least.

Appearances:

Loki, Odinpower, Surtur, Sif, Tyr, Volstagg, Beta Ray Bill, Fenris, Nidhogg, Urd, Skuld, Verdani, Those Who Sit Above In Shadow, Don Blake, Hela, Magni, Balder, Amora, Karnilla, Executioner, Jake Olson, Thunderstrike, Heimdall, Kurse, Hercules, Thanos, Odin, Hugin, Munin, Juggernaut, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Captain America, Fandral, Hogun, Valkyrie, Thialfi, Ulik, Frigga, Hulk, Malekith, Destroyer, Thor Girl, Perrikus, Iron Man, Vision, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Galactus, Arishem the Judge

Significant Events:  Complete destruction of Asgard and all it's inhabitants, including Yggdrasil and the Three Norns

Well, it's over, for now at least.  And I can't think of a better way to end it.  The last six issues have been truly epic in my opinion, and a monument to the greatness that is Thor.  It also sets up a great blank slate for when they relaunch Thor sometime next year.  The next writer can pick up where Mike left off and have Thor be truly alone, the last Asgardian.  Maybe drawing strength from the memories of his family and friends, being stronger than he was before.  Or they can have Thor use some last spark of the Odinpower to recreate Asgard and all it's inhabitants one last time, for the one and only life they have.  Much like Thor himself at the end, if only we had a star to guide us, or a bird to show us a sign.  We can only hope that sign arrives soon, so that we can bear witness to the glorious rebirth of the greatest son of Asgard - Thor - God of Thunder!