The Mighty Thor
Vol. 2 # 11-20
The Might Thor  # 11: "The Dark Wars Part II" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
Olson flees deeper into the sewers where he is captured and put to work in the bowels of Asgard. He discovers that Volstagg, a significantly skinnier Volstagg, has also been put to work in the pits. Tokkots retrieves Olson and return him to Perrikus. Olson gets his hands on the fragments of Mjolnir and merges it together during his transformation back to Thor. However, Thor flees the battle and seeks out the Destroyer's help.

Jay's Notes:

  • The Bad News: A sad filler issue kept afloat by JR's art. We learn nothing about Thor and his attempt to develop his Olson side. Olson's dialog is in modern slang english, but Thor's thoughts are in Old Asgardian english style which is confusing. Disappointing. Volstagg's cameo which had a lot of potential was poorly used and quickly discarded. 
  • The Good News: Never expected Thor to turn to the Destroyer; a good surprise and practically, now that I think of it, the only way Thor can mount any kind of successful attack against the Dark Gods. JR's art is sweet.
The Might Thor  # 12: "The Dark Wars Part III" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2
Synopsis:
Thor recruits the Destroyer and Hercules and mounts his final assault against the Dark Gods. They attack head-on until Thor steps aside and transforms in Olson, who's form the Dark Gods cannot detect. He frees the Warriors Three and gives Replicus the signal to join the battle. Replicus frees Odin and the Asgardians. However, Majeston Zelia merges all the Dark Gods into an unimaginably powerful being. Yet, Thor is able to distract Zelia long enough for Odin reclaim his power and disperse the essence of the Dark Gods.

Jay's Notes:

  • The Bad News: Jurgens' dialog is awful and inconsistent. It's a shame that the Avengers aren't part of this battle. I struck me as odd that the Dark Gods didn't try to sway the Destroyer's host to join them since he had no real allegiance to Thor. Where did Hercules come from?
  • The Good News: I know I sound like a broken record, but Romita's art shines!
The Might Thor  # 13: "The Work of Odin" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
Thor is honored for his rescue and Mjolnir is completely repaired. Marnot reveals himself to be one of Odin's ravens who was part of Odin's elaborate plan as a fail safe against the Dark Gods.  Odin transfers Colonel Case from the Destroyer back to his body. Although no longer bound by Marnot, Thor decides to maintain the identity of Jake Olson in honor of his heroism. Meanwhile on Earth, the police find incriminating evidence of Jake's drug dealings.

Jay's Notes:

  • The Bad News: Jurgens' dialog has hit a new low. We spend a lot of time with the characters, but nothing develops. What's up with the cover? It has nothing to do with the story other than Thor, Marnot and Odin appear in this issue. Why was the Executioner shown? Why is Marnot attacking Thor?
  • The Good News: Marnot's identity was a surprise.
The Might Thor  # 14: "Hammer Time!" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: Mike McKone 
Inker: Mark McKenna
Jay's Rating:
JJJ
Synopsis:
Iron Man helps Thor collect fragments of the Rainbow Bridge and gets a sneak peek at the rebuilding of Asgard. When they return to Earth, they confront the Absorbing Man and Titania, whose intents where misunderstood when they entered a jewelry store. During the battle, Mjolnir acts up and sixty seconds later Thor transforms back to Olson. Enrakt the Enchanter emerges from the enchanter hammer and strikes down Olson. Iron Man rushes Olson to the hospital where Jane Foster saves his life. The Police, however, show up with a warrant to arrest Olson.

Jay's Notes:

  • Colonel Case is released from the hospital and cleared of all charges?? This just didn't make sense to me. Sure he was returned to his body in exchange for help Thor against the Dark Gods, but he still destroyed parts of the waterfront and killed Jake Olson!
  • Great fill-in job by McKone & McKenna.
  • Great cover by Ladronn.
The Might Thor  # 15: "At Last -- Disclosure" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: Lee Weeks 
Inker: Klaus Janson
Jay's Rating:
JJJ
Synopsis:
Odin dispatches the Warriors Three to investigate why Thor has abandoned Mjolnir, which lies embedded in a concrete wall and is getting a lot of media attention on Earth. Thor, as Jake Olsen, tries to defend himself against the police accusations and recalls the first attempt by the Enchanters to overthrow Asgard. He relies on Dr. Foster to help him make an escape attempt from the hospital. Meanwhile, Magnir and Brona, two of the three Enchanters, attack Odin in his bed chambers.

Jay's Notes:

  • Jurgen's Asgard-speak is terribly annoying.
  • I've never seen Hogun drawn without his mace, but in this issue he doesn't have it with him (not even at his side!).
  • Jurgens seems to set up the vizier as a bad guy, I really hope he don't use this overused plot device.
The Might Thor  # 16: "Revenge of the Enchanters" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Jay's Rating:
JJ1/2
Synopsis:
Thor within Olsen's body is able to reach Mjolnir while Enrakt disposes of the Warriors Three. Thor attack Enrakt, but Enrakt quickly shows Thor that he's out of the Thunder God's class. Enrakt explains how he merged with Mjolnir while Thor was in another dimension with the sorceress Ceranda (see Thor Annual '99). Enrakt defeats Thor and travels to Asgard to join his fellow Enchanters against Odin. Meanwhile, Loki is impersonating Odin in his absence.

Jay's Notes:

  • Hogun seems to have magically found his mace, and now all of a sudden has a pair of sais.
  • Thankfully, the vizier actually turned out to be a good guy.
  • Romita's art lacked a bit of finish this issue. Check out the lack of nose on both Sif and Balder on page 1, panel 5 and again for Sif on page 2.
The Might Thor  # 17: "The Eighth Day" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Jay's Rating:
JJ1/2
Synopsis:
Thor continues to attack Enrakt, but the Enchanter controls Mjolnir. Enrakt leaves Earth to join his fellow Enchanters against Odin. Thor is set to pursue him, but quickly turns his attention to a rampaging Juggernaut. Thor is unable to stop the Juggernaut and he's defeated when two mysterious women, who draw their powers from Cyttorak, arrive and leave with Juggy.

Jay's Notes:

  • A poor issue that interrupts the flow of a relatively good story line with a crossover!
The Might Thor  # 18: "The Deadly Living Talismans!" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Dick Giordano
Jay's Rating:
JJJ
Synopsis:
Thor rescues a group of humans who were transformed by Enrakt into monstrous creatures. With a bit of guidance from the Scarlet Witch, Thor finds his father, who is overwhelmed by the Enchanters, and comes to his aid. Meanwhile, Loki plots with Mephisto to seize control of Asgard. 

Jay's Notes:

  • Inconsistency in Enrakt's power; last issue he mopped the floor with Thor and this issue Thor holds him at bay?
  • I'm willing to start a petition that will bar Jurgens from ever using "I say thee -- Nay!" again.
The Might Thor  # 19: "Deviant Life" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: Michael Ryan
Inker: Klaus Janson
Jay's Rating:
J
Synopsis:
Thor and Odin have been swallowed by a powerful, sorcereous creature created by Enrakt. The Scarlet Witch comes to their aid and then joins their battle against the Enchanters. They divide up their opponent who aren't as formidable when they are separated. Thor discovers that Enrakt is using Ceranda's body. 

Jay's Notes:

  • Terrible pencils by Ryan.
  • Ryan's pencils just didn't work with Janson's inks.
  • The portrayal of Scarlet Witch seems out of place.
  • Jurgens's storytelling hits an all-time low.  Thor ready to kill Enrakt? Odin calling the Scarlet Witch a mortal wench? Terrible, terrible, terrible.
The Might Thor  # 20: "Empty Vessels" 
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciler: Michael Ryan
Inker: Klaus Janson
Jay's Rating:
J1/2
Synopsis:
Thor and Odin return to Asgard with the Enchanters as prisoners. The Enchanters reveal how Enrakt took over Ceranda's body after her death. Odin banishes the Enchanters into the Lost Limbo of Infinity. Thor returns to Earth and find Jake Olsen there waiting for him. As it turns out, Loki has awakened the real Jake Olsen from Mephisto's realm and brought him to Earth in a new body. Meanwhile, Mangog attacks Orikal and tears the Chalice of Ruins from Orikal's body. Mangog then turns the Chalice over to Thanos!

Jay's Notes:

  • Some really bad characterization by Jurgens. Heimdall exclaiming: "Stand aside and I shall gut them in thy name!". Thor swearing: "I'll see thee drawn and quartered!". Man, these Asgardians are a blood thirsty lot.
  • Does anyone actually care about Ceranda?
  • Sif is upset that Thor had fallen in love with Ceranda? That makes no sense seeing as how she spend many enamored months with Beta Ray Bill.
  • This issue wraps up a pathetic attempt at a sequel to the Enchanters. The story line itself was interrupted by the Eigth Day cross-over and by fill-in artist Michael Ryan.
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