War In The Soul Mines From Ragnarok: The Breaking Of Helheim #3
by Josh Davison
Mild Spoilers Ahead
Freyr has dumped his fire into the Soul Mines of Helheim with the intent of killing Thor and the others he’s sent into the mines. Freyr sends his Draugr soldiers in next, but Thor blesses them with new life from his lightning. Freyr then reveals himself to be more than a mere Dark Elf–he is a Demonlord. Worse yet, Elli, Thor’s grandmother, comes to slay her grandson. Thor’s enemies seem to grow in number, but he will neither shudder nor submit. All the while the dark council continues to plan Thor’s downfall in the depths of Ginnungagap.
Ragnarok: The Breaking of Helheim #3 finds enemies falling upon Thor from all sides. Freyr is revealed to be a Demonlord, and Ella returns to finish off her grandson. It will take all of Thor’s wit, skill, and strength to survive the onslaught.
Thankfully, he does have allies in those that Freyr enslaved. Among them is Hagen, who’s wife has gone missing during Freyr’s dominion.
The storytelling style is grand and chaotic. Elli’s arrival is as sudden as it sounds, as is the return of the Dark Elf temptress, Astrid. One would think Freyr alone for the first part of the comic, but allies seem to be spilling in from nowhere.
That said, it’s still a grand and epic tale. Thor’s struggles against Freyr are a ton of fun. Walter Simonson has not lost an ounce of his storytelling acumen. I particularly like the scenes in Ginnungagap, where Thor’s enemies plot his destruction like a Norse Legion of Doom.
Simonson’s artwork hasn’t lost any of its appeal or charm either. His line work is as strong and defined as ever. The visual design of Thor, Freyr, and the villains in Ginnungagap are legendary and fitting for the mythical figures they represent. Laura Martin’s color work explodes off the page and makes it so you can’t take your eyes off the panels.
Ragnarok: The Breaking of Helheim #3 is another epic tale of Thor from the depths of Helheim. The God of Thunder is continuing his trek to find Hel and Baldur, no matter how many villains he must smite on the journey. This one easily earns a recommendation. Give it a read.
Ragnarok: The Breaking of Helheim #3 comes to us from writer, artist, and variant cover artist Walter Simonson, color artist Laura Martin, letterer John Workman, and cover artist Walter Simonson with Laura Martin.
Final Score: 9/10
