Warning! Spoilers ahead forStorm#11!
Marvel Comics just revealed the grandiose purpose shared byThorand all of his fellow Thunder Gods across the many pantheons that cohabitate in the Marvel Universe: to battle “the great cosmic leviathan, Oblivion.” Now, however, the original God of Storms, Hadad, has corrupted their mission, and seeks to destroy creation himself.
Storm #11, by the creative team of Murewa Ayodele, Carlos Fabian Villa, and Mario Santoro kicks off the epic “Thunder War,” which positions Storm as the only one who can stand in Hadad’s way.
Marvel isn’t making it easy, though, as Storm loses powers at the worst possible time, while the rest of the Thunder Gods seemingly prepare to take Hadad’s side.
Beta Ray Bill Reveals The True Purpose Of Thor And All Marvel’s Other Thunder Gods
Storm#11 By The Creative Team Of Murewa Ayodele, Carlos Fabian Villa, And Mario Santoro
Thor himself is conspicuously absent inStorm#11, and for good reason. Following thefinale of hisImmortal Thorseries, the Asgardian Avenger has been wiped from Marvel continuity, replaced by long-timesupporting character Beta Ray Bill, who serves as the voice of reason in this issue, standing against the tide of support for Hadad’s universe-ending plan.
That said, the issue presents a fascinating new context into which Thor, and hismany Thunder God counterparts, fit into the complex cosmic landscape of the Marvel Universe. That is,Storm#11 proposes that they are a counterpoint to the entity known as Oblivion,which represents the destruction of everything in existence.
In this updated Marvel mythology, Beta Ray Bill claims that the collective“purpose” of the Thunder Gods is to fight a constant battle against Oblivion, a foe that often takes a serpentine form. This casts new light on Thor’s destiny of fighting and killing Jörmungandr, the serpent of Norse legend.
Thor’s Epic Final Battle In Ragnarok Is Just One Example Of Marvel’s Thunder Gods' War Against Oblivion
Marvel’s Thunder God Mythology Has Been Redefined
Thor’s battle with Jörmungandr is a classic part of Norse mythology appropriated by Marvel Comics for itsversion of the God of Thunder; Beta Ray Bill’s comments inStorm#11 situate this as one incarnation of a much larger metaphysical struggle. In other words, Ragnarok is just one of many “final” battles against theconcept of Oblivion itself.
As the “Thunder War” begins to take shape, this remixing of Marvel lore also serves to elevate the newly-introduced villain Hadad to truly imposing status. The “first” Thunder God is seemingly the only foe Oblivion fears, and yet it will come down to one Earthling, Storm, to do whatThorcouldn’t, and win the greatest battle of them all.
