Review by Frank Plowright

It’s largely been introduced in passing, but Donny Cates isn’t short of ideas about Thor, and what it’s like to be an immortal. Other writers have considered Thor’s alliance with the Avengers, and how they’re just the latest friends he’s had over millennia, yet Cates has him talk to Captain America about a casualty of immortality being remembering so little of their past exploits. As with so much of Cates’ writing on Thor, though, it suits his plot for a touching moment, but contradicts years of Thor having razor sharp recollection of childhood incidents.

Three chapters of family disagreements are engagingly drawn by Michele Bandini. Thor’s family isn’t like any ordinary family, and past disagreements have led to outbursts of violence. These are kept to a minimum here, but spectacularly achieved eruptions occur, and Bandini continues the redesigning of Asgard’s immortals begun in Prey. This time it’s Freyja’s makeover. Previously demure looking despite her spirit, here she’s positively Amazonian.

Part of what’s troubling Thor is learning of his true parentage. Cates might have applied the courtesy of properly explaining this bombshell rather than just referencing The Avengers: Enter the Phoenix, and greater discussion of it might have enriched Thor’s conversation with Freyja. It may occur that Cates is being a little too selective about Thor’s memories, but if taking the conversation of Captain America as gospel it’s a clever way of circumventing a plot deficiency. Thor and the Avengers have beaten Thanos so many times, and in the most desperate of circumstances that Thor ought to have the confidence of the prophecy he’s seen being overcome. Yet if he can’t recall the specifics, all that looms is Thanos as a cosmic threat. Thor as slightly fearful is new, although is that what we want from the character?

It’s nice to see Throg’s inclusion in Prey wasn’t just a passing fancy, as he and his surroundings provide a contrast to Thor and Asgard. His greater role will come in God of Hammers, but a single chapter prelude is nicely handled by Pasqual Ferry and Bob Quinn.

The collection ends with Aaron Kuder’s follow-up look at characters from the Ten Realms introduced during The War of the Realms. It’s inconsequential, memorable more for Kuder’s lush art (sample spread right) than for the story of a manipulative villain from another dimension. Kuder draws the lands of Elfheim very decoratively, and his dark villain has a powerful appearance.

Overall Revelations lacks the high impact blood and thunder of the previous two volumes, being at times almost meditative as Thor considers his future. Viewed as a prologue foreshadowing what’s to come, though, it’s effective.