Al Ewing Brings Thor Back From the Dead, Reveals What’s Next for the Mortal Thor (Exclusive)

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Thor’s storyline as penned by author Al Ewing moves forward with unexpected turns, leaving fans of the Thunder God eagerly anticipating each new installment. In Immortal Thor #25, we saw the conclusion of the series, where Loki ended up killing his brother. But even death couldn’t keep Thor down for too long, and readers were treated to a gripping tale of Thor’s demise and resurrection, leading us into the new era of Mortal Thor. This evolution in Al Ewing’s work on the mighty God of Thunder promises more thrilling revelations to keep fans hooked.

In an exclusive conversation, ComicBook chatted with Al Ewing about the finale of “Immortal Thor” issue #25 and the debut of “Mortal Thor” issue #1. Ewing delved into Thor’s encounter with Donald Blake in the afterlife, expanding on Blake’s role within the broader narrative, the transformation of Thor into Sigurd Jarlson, the reactions of Midgard and Asgard to recent occurrences, what lies ahead for “Mortal Thor” readers, and much more. Moreover, we have the privilege of unveiling interior artwork from “Mortal Thor” #1 by Pasqual Ferry.

Let’s discuss the intriguing mysteries we have in store for Mortal Thor #1, but first, let’s delve into the ending of Immortal Thor #25. How significant was Thor’s encounter with Donald Blake when the series transitions to Mortal Thor?

Originally, when I conceived the idea (which was before Issue #1), Donald Blake didn’t play a significant role. The plan was for Thor, as a god, to die and be reborn as a mortal in an uninteresting manner. However, strangely, I was the last writer to handle Donald Blake after Donny Cates made him the God of Lies. At that time, I was working on a crossover between Thor and Venom, and Donny asked for Blake to transform into the Serpent at the end. Clearly, he had plans for this character’s future, which unfortunately didn’t come to fruition. So, initially, I didn’t plan to delve much into these plans.

As I delved deeper into crafting this tale, I found myself inexorably drawing Blake back into the narrative. First, the Enchantress made her reappearance, hinting at the return of the Keep – a perfect chance for me to explore how Blake’s journey had led him to his current role, following his heroic stint during the JMS era. Then, with issue #17, I found myself referencing that very run, mirroring the return of Thor in the original Thor #1 after his lengthy absence, within a story also dealing with divine beings living among us mortals. The connections between these elements became increasingly apparent to me. Eventually, by the time I reached issue #25 – which I had long planned as “Thor in the realm of the dead” – set in the same location as issues #17 and that iconic JMS Thor #1 – it struck me that Donald Blake was the crucial element I needed to complete the puzzle, and almost unwittingly, I had arranged him to be just that.


Could you provide some information about Sigurd Jarlson? So far, we’re aware that he possesses a wallet and an apartment key, courtesy of Lukki. As we delve into the first issue, what can we expect to be his current situation, and how might he attempt to uncover the missing pieces of his memory?

You’re equally informed about it as he is. The initial situation offers an appropriate setup for this Scandinavian character suffering from amnesia and lacking powers, but it won’t serve as his starting point in the journey. Sigurd yearns for nothing more than what an average person desires – employment, companionship, a life of his own. However, the quest doesn’t originate from him; instead, he finds himself being chosen for it, and once it takes hold of him, there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to shake it off.

Intrigued by the path you’ve charted for Thor, where both he and Asgard are shrouded in obscurity on Midgard, and it falls upon him to reintroduce the enchantment of the divine realm back to Earth. What reactions might Midgard and Asgard evoke as a response to these recent occurrences?

On Earth, no one recognizes it as Midgard; they simply call it Earth. Only a select few, like those Asgardians who were on the Rainbow Bridge during the recent events, know it by its ancient name. While there might be several of these individuals, Thor may not necessarily encounter any problems with them. On the other hand, Asgard is currently inaccessible to Earth and all the realms, leaving its inhabitants to cope with their current situation. One major concern is who will ascend to the throne of Asgard now that Odin has passed away. Magni refuses the position, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll have a say in the matter. This storyline will unfold in future issues of “Tales Of Asgard,” featuring artwork by talented guest artists. Additionally, there’s at least one mortal who’s been trapped in Asgard – and I assure you, it’s not Blackjack O’Hare.


To wrap up, what can you tease about Mortal Thor‘s opening story arc?

I’ve teased plenty, but here’s three additional cryptic thoughts:

Thor has worshippers, and the Serpent has sons.

Our first “THAP” sound effect is in Issue #2.

A seeker of knowledge will always seek it more… and he’s got his good eye on Sigurd Jarlson.

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2025-07-11 17:10