WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Thor #1 by Donny Cates, Nic Klein, Matthew Wilson and Joe Sabino, on sale now.
Under the tenure of writer Jason Aaron, the God of Thunder went through a radical physical transformation over the past few years. First of all, Thor’s left arm was cut off by the Dark Elf Malekith. Then, during the War of the Realms, Thor lost his left eye in a sacrifice meant to help him learn how to defeat his enemy. Now sitting on the throne of Asgard as King Thor, the God of Thunder looks more like his father than ever before.
This weary. battle-damaged Avenger has has a long beard and hair going into Thor #1, but he doesn't sport this look for long. When Donny Cates and Nic Klein were announced as the new creative team of the Thor title, a teaser image revealed the God of Thunder’s new cosmic look. But as this issue reveals, Thor's new look isn't half as meaningful as the new role that comes with it -- the Herald of Thunder.
Herald of Thunder
The big question fans had about Thor’s new look wasn’t the costume, but the character’s appearance. After all, last we saw him, he had a Destroyer arm to replace his lost limb, a patch to cover his lost eye and a beard that reflected his older, wiser look. And yet, in Thor #1, Thor would apparently recover his missing arm and eye, and regain his youthful vigor.
After some amount of time as the King of Asgard, Thor's quiet rule is interrupted by Galactus, who crashes down on the Realm Eternal. The all-powerful Devourer of Worlds was nearly killed and only managed to escape his pursuer. He warns that the Black Winter, what was responsible for destroying his universe back he was just a man named Galan, is coming to destroy the entire Marvel Universe.
Faced with such an overwhelmingly dangerous cosmic threat, the Marvel Universe’s only hope lies in Galactus, who the Silver Surfer plans on making stronger by making him devour five specific planets. But while the Surfer offers his services to become Galactus’ herald once more, the Devourer of Worlds refuses. Instead, he chooses the God of Thunder. By giving him the Power Cosmic, Thor is healed, rejuvenated and given a new costume — not to mention a significant power boost.
Thor has always been one of the more powerful heroes in the Marvel Universe, but now, as the God of Thunder and Herald of Galactus, Thor has just become something else entirely. The Power Cosmic was strong enough to turn a mere mortal like Norrin Radd into the Silver Surfer, one of the strongest cosmic forces in the Marvel Universe. Since Thor already had Asgardian abilities that made him one of Marvel's strongest Avengers. Since those powers are now working with the Power Cosmic, there's no telling how strong Thor really might be.
Even with all of his power, it still might not be enough to stop the Black Winter, which destroyed the universe that existed before the Marvel Universe. With that threatening all of existence, Thor might not have too much time to appreciate his wardrobe refresh before he gets back to saving the day.