The next comprises spoilers for Thor #27, now on sale from Marvel Comics
Thor’s Mjolnir stays one of the iconic weapons within the Marvel Universe — a nigh-unstoppable device that may solely be utilized by these deemed worthy. The hammer has gone on to encourage loads of different weapons within the universe — together with a brand new demonically empowered one that would probably maintain its personal towards the unique.
Thor #27 (by Al Ewing, Donny Cates, Salvador Larroca, Edgar Delgado, and VC’s Joe Sabino) introduces a brand new hellish reply to Thor’s hammer Mjolnir — and it is quietly an ideal distinction to the present model of the Thunder God’s most well-known weapon.
The “Venom of Asgard” storyline picks up after the occasions of the “Banner of Warfare” crossover between Hulk and Thor. Left shaken by the latest occasions of his life, Thor tries to regain some management by recruiting Loki to attempt to reconstruct the Bifrost Bridge. Sadly, the method entails opening a portal to Limbo — which unleashes a robust and demonic pressure onto Asgard. Thor shortly acknowledges the determine as Darkoth, the Loss of life Demon –a former human pilot who’d been manipulated by figures like Physician Doom and Mephisto as a part of their nefarious plans. Darkoth’s powers continues to be robust sufficient to carry his personal towards even the likes of Thor.
However additional complicating issues is the mysterious alien life type controlling Darkoth and piloting his physique towards his will. Little stays of Darkoth’s thoughts, giving the alien full management over his fearsome energy. Finally, Venom reaches Asgard and speaks with Thor. The present King in Black reveals that the alien is a symbiote, that it’s in close to full management of Darkoth, and that it’s the youngster of Bedlam — the monstrous future variant of Eddie Brock that is been on the coronary heart of latest Venom storylines. Earlier than the pair can overwhelm the symbiote, it learns to completely entry Darkoth’s powers — and utilizing his hellish magical skills, is ready to craft a weapon. Seeing Thor’s personal Mjolnir as probably the most highly effective device one might use, the symbiote successfully creates a brand new hellish model of Thor’s traditional hammer.
The design of Darkoth’s hammer is much like Mjolnir, retaining an analogous measurement and form as Thor’s weapon. It’s even proven mimicking the burning cracks which have come to suggest the present model of Mjolnir. The 2 largest tweaks to the hammer is the massive protruding spike that comes out of the highest of the hammer, giving it an extra edge. The hammer can be a crimson pink, matching Darkoth’s usually fiery colour scheme, giving it a transparent distinction between the 2. Fueled by darkish hellish magic as a substitute of by way of Mjolnir’s enchanted Uru design, it is potential that this darker counter to Mjolnir could possibly be a real anthesis of Thor’s iconic device — even permitting the villain to unleash hellfire in a way much like Thor’s management of lightening. With this weapon (and all of Darkoth’s energy at his will), Bedlam’s spawn might need greater than sufficient energy to face as much as Thor, even along with his All-Father skills.
Notably, the hammers even have an extra similarity given latest occasions. Controlling Darkoth is the symbiote, molding the hammer out of his energy. In essence, the hammer could possibly be seen as an extension of the pressure controlling the poor soul. Whereas Thor’s hammer might not overtly management him, it does talk with him because of the spirit of Odin that also resides inside the weapon. It speaks to Thor and provides him orders, consistently attempting to drive him particularly instructions. Thor and his father-possessed hammer have fashioned a considerably symbiotic relationship that provides a layer of sudden irony to their upcoming confrontation.
