Marvel’s Most Evil Corporation Just Sent an MCU Favorite Down a Dark Path

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In the 21st century, Marvel Comics took an intriguing route with Thor, a character they temporarily killed off in the ’00s and then reintroduced into the universe post-“Civil War.” We saw Jane Foster as Thor when Odinson Thor lost his worthiness of Mjolnir, resulting in some of the most successful Thor comics ever. After regaining his weapon, Thor ascended to the throne of Asgard, which eventually led to “Immortal Thor,” a narrative where he faced gods from Utgard, home of the surviving Elder Gods. This storyline introduced a new adversary for Thor: Roxxon Energy Corporation, a long-standing presence in the Marvel Universe that has recently gained more significance. The latest issue of Thor’s life, “Mortal Thor” #1, has shown us that they are up to their old mischief once again.

As a cinephile enthusiast, I must say that the captivating Hulk series, titled “The Immortal Hulk,” significantly elevated Roxxon’s influence. The corporation’s already powerful CEO, Dario Agger, found himself at odds with the monstrous Hulk. In a brilliant twist, writer Al Ewing introduced Roxxon to “Immortal Thor,” and the company employed the arcane powers of the Asgardian Enchantress to spawn a new Thor, who initially managed to thwart them. However, Agger’s defeat only served to amplify his power.

In the first issue of “Mortal Thor,” we are introduced to the newest incarnation of the hero – Sigurd Jarlson, a man with no memory of his divine past and devoid of supernatural powers. Jarlson crosses paths with Roxxon agents, painting them as the most nefarious corporation in Marvel lore. Their history reveals that they’ve always operated on the shady side of the law. Indeed, their actions have become synonymous with deceit and malevolence within the Marvel Universe.

Roxxon Is Marvel’s LexCorp

Originally established as an oil company, Roxxon first surfaced in Captain America #180 during World War II, founded by J.T. Jones who later passed it on to his son Hugh. Initially aiding in the establishment of S.H.I.E.L.D., Roxxon also provided support to Hydra, enabling them to traffic weapons using Roxxon trucks. The company’s shady dealings eventually caught the attention of superheroes when Hugh Jones was kidnapped by the Serpent Society, leading to his temporary possession of the Serpent Crown – an ancient artifact that bound him to it until his death, casting a lasting shadow over Roxxon.

Over time, Roxxon found itself involved in various questionable activities, often crossed swords with the Avengers and Spider-Man due to its actions. Notably, the Spider-Man villain, Molten Man, was employed by Roxxon, frequently clashing with Spider-Man to protect the company.

Roxxon’s ambitions expanded beyond Earth when they started mining on Mars, which resulted in them regaining the Serpent Crown and becoming entangled with the Shadow Council and Steve Rogers’ Secret Avengers. Mutant Mentallo was among those who worked for Roxxon, using his psychic powers to help the corporation seize control of Monster Island to exploit its oil reserves. The X-Men managed to thwart their plans, resulting in Mentallo losing out on the billion-dollar reward he was promised.

Dario Agger, a businessman with questionable ethics, transformed his corporation into a ruthless entity focused solely on profits at any cost. This reckless approach led to severe environmental damage, drawing the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D., who enlisted Thor’s help.

Thor and Roxxon subsequently clashed, with Agger seeking an alliance with Ulik the Rock Troll against Thor. Agger’s actions escalated further when he joined the Dark Council, a faction intent on destroying the Ten Realms of Asgard, even teaming up with Malekith during the War of the Realms.

When the Devil Hulk targeted Roxxon, Agger unleashed Xenmu, a powerful psychic monster, to manipulate the world’s memories regarding the Hulk. However, Xenmu attempted to control Agger instead, leaving him horribly disfigured.

Despite his gruesome transformation, Agger continued his feud with Thor, teaming up with Enchantress. Together they created a new version of Thor that Roxxon could control and use against the original one. To bolster their new Thor’s legitimacy, Roxxon even bought Marvel Comics.

Enchantress cast a spell to make her version of Thor seem real due to the comics and to weaken the original Thor. However, her friend the Executioner was displeased with Agger and murdered him, framing Thor for the crime. Enchantress became the CEO of Roxxon but was eventually defeated by Thor, who sent her and the Executioner back to Asgard.

Although Agger was killed, Roxxon continued its nefarious schemes with new plans in motion.

Roxxon Has Played a Key Role in the Death and Resurrection of Thor

In the world of comics, I’ve noticed that malicious corporations are quite prevalent, with LexCorp from DC Comics standing out as one of the most notorious. Over the years, it seems that Marvel and DC have been mirror-imaging each other in numerous aspects, but what sets LexCorp apart is its sheer evilness. Before the 21st century, Marvel didn’t quite possess an antagonistic corporation akin to LexCorp; Roxxon was present, but they usually served as secondary adversaries. However, things have been changing lately, and Roxxon has risen in importance, posing significant threats to two of Marvel’s most esteemed heroes – Thor and the Hulk.

In the tale titled “Mortal Thor“, we find that Earth’s bard, a term akin to storyteller in Norse mythology, was none other than Agger. His manipulation of comics and magic orchestrated Thor’s demise, as he framed the god for his own murder, causing Thor to depart from Earth. In “Mortal Thor” #1, Roxxon is seeking new laborers for a clandestine operation, a fact that Sigurd recognizes as suspicious. What adds intrigue is that the hired thugs in this issue display Norse symbols and claim to worship Thor, the deity of power. It remains to be seen how Roxxon’s ongoing involvement with the Asgardians will unfold.

Mortal Thor #1 is on sale now.

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2025-08-31 19:13