WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Avengers #42 by Jason Aaron, Luca Maresca, David Curiel & VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.
Throughout the ongoing "Enter the Phoenix" storyline, most of the Avengers' battles concerning the Phoenix have resembled quick shots of something out of Contest of Champions, as several Marvel heroes and a few villains have been compelled to fight in a tournament. By all accounts, the winner of this tournament will be blessed -- or cursed -- with becoming the new host for the Phoenix Force.
So far, the fights of "Enter the Phoenix" have been equally brutal and surprising, as Namor almost killed Echo and Shang-Chi beat Hyperion without lifting a finger. However, the storyline's most surprising development occurred outside of the tournament in Avengers #42, as the Phoenix apparently told Thor that she was his mother.
This is shocking and slightly heartbreaking as Thor has always had a great relationship with Freyja and Gaea, the other gods thought to be his mother at one time or another. However, this development was not entirely unexpected by Thor, who began to realize that his hatred of the Phoenix was based in some sort of connection to the ancient cosmic force before the Phoenix dropped the bombshell onto him. Heading into the battle alongside his fellow Avengers, Thor mentioned Phoenix's eons-old relationship with Odin and said he almost felt a "form of love" towards the Phoenix.
While Thor was fighting alongside Iron Man and Captain Marvel, Phoenix said she had no wish to fight, especially against Thor. Phoenix said it was time to tell Thor the truth of his existence and the secret Odin kept from Thor for centuries. Phoenix promised to tell Thor everything and finished by referring to him as "My son." Assuming that's not merely a term of endearment, those two words could change everything Marvel fans know about Thor.
The relationship between the two members of the Avengers 1,000,000 B.C. has been slowly teased out since the 2017 series Generations: The Unworthy Thor & The Mighty Thor by Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar, Jordie Bellaire & VC's Joe Sabino. In a story that took place before Thor was worthy, Odin revealed he had a relationship that no one knew about and discussed how hard it is to be a father to someone he said was not like any of his wives. Now, it seems likely that this was in reference to Thor taking after the Phoenix. After he mentioned that they had been an item at one time, the Phoenix shot back that it was arrogance on his part to make that comment. She downplayed everything about the relationship before telling him never to call on her again or she would turn Asgard to ash. However, that issue ended with a flashback to the two cosmic forces in a fiery embrace, Odin saying it was the only time he felt "truly alive" and a promise that the story would be continued elsewhere.
Now, Avengers #42 has seemingly brought the idea of Thor being the result of their relationship into full bloom. As the son of Odin, Thor is already the direct descendant of one of the mightiest beings in the Marvel Universe. especially in his All-Father form, Thor is more powerful than almost any god and has beaten death more than once. He is the God of Thunder, and now it turns out he might be the son of one of the cosmos' other most powerful beings, too. If the Phoenix's words can be taken at face value, this could change everything about Thor and set him up for an even more grand cosmic destiny as the potential inheritor to truly awe-inspiring power.