All-New Marvel Now’s Original Sin launched the second of its two “Point” mini-series for Original Sin earlier this month with Original Sin #5.1 subtitled as Thor and Loki: The Tenth Realm #1.
The other “Point” mini-series was Original Sin #3.1 subtitled Hulk vs. Iron Man #1 (spoilers here).
Well, Original Sin #5.2 / Thor & Loki The 10th Realm #2 hits stands this week so let’s get caught up with this mini’s debut issue.
However, before we get to that, let’s get you caught up on Original Sin goings-on so far.
Spoilers follow for events leading up to and including last week’s Original Sin #6. You have been warned!
All-New X-Men #25: This All-New Marvel Now bi-weekly Original Sin series had a stealth debut in All-New X-Men #25.
Original Sin #0: A zero issue followed and retold The Watcher’s origin and also expanded his scope and power set.
Original Sin #1 and #2: Following that, Original Sin #1 and #2 set up the various investigations into the Watcher’s death and theft of his eyes. In addition to Nick Fury Sr. leading the prime investigation at the request of the Avengers’ Captain America, three other groups of heroes are also independently investigating on different planes literally at the behest of a mysterious benefactor:
- Winter Soldier, Moon Knight, and Gamora in space.
- Dr. Strange and the Punisher on the astral plane.
- Black Panther, Ant-Man and Emma Frost close to the Earth’s core.
What ties them together? Monsters and mysterious green bullets?
Original Sin #3: The big news was the holy sh*t moment at the end that saw the death of Nick Fury Sr. at the hands of Bucky Barnes / The Winter Soldier! That issue also revealed how the villains identified at the end of issue #2 got together, namely Dr. Midas, his daughter Exterminatrix and The Orb, met here and here.
Original Sin #4: We learned that all was not what it seemed with Nick Fury’s “death”. Looks like he has an army of Life Model Decoys or LMDs at his disposal.
Original Sin #5: This issue is dedicated to explaining how Nick Fury Sr. is still alive and really, really old. It’s a rewriting or reboot of his Marvel past. We further learn that he is behind those gamma bullets and pulled the various teams of Avengers together to investigate the Watcher’s murder. Nick Fury Sr. = the Unseen Cosmic Avengers of the Marvel Universe.
In Original Sin #6 we learned what the real reason the various teams were pulled together by Nick Fury Sr. This seems to set up the All-New Marvel new ongoing series with Bucky Barnes: Winter Soldier #1 set to debut in October 2014.
In addition, here’s what you need to know about Marvel Comics’ broader All-New Marvel Now Original Sin publishing plan:
- Original Sin, the 8 issue (9 if you include the #0 issue) core event book (no “s” at the end), that surrounds the mystery of who killed The Watcher, what he saw and what’s the deal with his eyes; the House of Ideas’ take on a cosmic whodunit.
- We get an interlude in Original Sin with, I believe, with more branding-over-story controversy a.k.a. numerhoaxology from Marvel as Hulk vs. Iron Man gets the Original Sin #3.1 to #3.4 treatment. Did Tony Stark lead to the creation of the Hulk?
- Continuing in that vein, we also have Original Sin #5.1 to 5.5 mini-series called Thor & Loki: The 10th Realm involving the revelation that former Spawn stalwart Angela is the sister of Thor and Loki!
- We’ll get Original Sin tie-ins in some regular ongoing series where we learn of some “sins” of Marvel Now’s heroes and villains. Like with All-New Invaders #6 and many others.
- The Original Sins (with an “s” at the end) is a companion anthology 5 issue mini-series to spotlight Young Avengers in particular, but also showcase done-in-one tales from across the Marvel Universe revealing more sins, but this time for characters who don’t headline their own ongoing series.
Spoilers and capsule review for Original Sin #5.1 a.k.a. Thor and Loki: The Tenth Realm #1 follow.
The images above include the two covers for the issue and two pages from the free preview that reveals Thor’s orb incident and his immediate decision afterwards; they are two panels that open the issue.
Like with Original Sin #3.1 / Hulk vs. Iron Man #1, we know what the “original sin” is for Original Sin #5.1 / Thor and Loki The Tenth Realm. In the former it was the reveal that a drunk, jealous and bitter Tony Stark caused the gamma bomb “accident” that turned Dr. Bruce Banner into the Incredible Hulk. In the latter, and the subject of this review, we know of two hidden sins: (1) that Odin fathered a daughter named Angela who is the brother to Thor and Loki; plus (2) there is a mysterious Tenth Realm whereas Marvel fans and denizens only thought there were nine.
Below is a diagram of what Marvel described as its Nine Worlds for years. Plus, the nine realms were also described by Thor in that hero’s silver screen film. Where the Tenth Realm resides will seemingly play out over this mini-series.
Learning he has a sister after his orb incident, Thor confronts his mother who reveals the tale. They thought his sister Angela was dead in a battle with the Angels of the Tenth Realm.
So, it appears that Angela was indeed alive and raised to be a warrior Angela by the Tenth Realm denizens?
In response to death of his daughter, Odin sealed the Tenth Realm long ago…. only to be unsealed in modern-day by boy Loki with his brother Thor in tow. The book ends with Thor and boy Loki arriving in the Tenth Realm.
Like with Hulk vs Iron Man #1, Thor and Loki: The Tenth Realm #1 starts with the reveal of the respective “original sins”. So, unless you like a mystery revealed beforehand, these two minis may not be for you. Certainly, the journey is more important in comics than the sometimes clichéd destination, but there wasn’t a lot unexpected in Original Sin #5.1 beyond perhaps the fact that Angela is Thor’s whole sister as opposed to being the product of an affair. The rotating artists in the issue were a bit jarring; and the artists they chose had styles not to my liking primarily due to their rough and stylized natures. That said, while I really enjoyed the “original sin” that Thor and Loki have a sister, I didn’t find Original Sin #5.1 a compelling enough kick off to this mini-series.
Spoilers and preview for Original Sin #5.2 a.k.a. Thor and Loki: The Tenth Realm #2 follow.
This week, Original Sin #5.2 / Thor and Loki: The Tenth Realm #2 hits stands this week. Below is Marvel’s free preview for the issue.
Thanks for reading. All feedback welcome.
