Shelter for the Wicked Thor: Metal Gods Episode 5

Thor’s epic (and metal) quest continues in Thor: Metal Gods Episode 5. Last we saw, Thor had allied with a new crew, all of whom have the same goal. Unsurprisingly, that means their next target will be the one and only Loki. Because realistically, who else would be behind this mess?

Thor: Metal Gods is being produced by Serial Box (now Realm), which has resulted in a unique adaptation of the format. Thor’s story can be either read or listened to. And a new chapter/episode drops every Thursday. What is interesting about this series is that it has held true to the theme indicated in the title. The musical elements are subtle at times and very strong in others. But it has added a unique spin on a tale we know so well.

Haven’t heard of Serial Box? It’s a platform specifically designed to release novels and audiobooks in episode format. Meaning you get a little bit every which, much like you would an episode in a series. Thor: Metal Gods is their first Marvel adventure, but with any luck, it won’t be the last. Black Panther, Jessica Jones (can’t wait!), and Black Widow are all on the lineup as well.

Brotherly Love

Thor: Metal Gods Episode 5 is a fun and entertaining read (or listen). In a lot of ways, this episode felt like Thor’s comics – it held true to his nature in more than one way. But it also had some fun, thanks to the different formats available.

Realistically there probably aren’t that many Thor series out there that don’t at least mention Loki. After all, Loki is quite the trouble maker. Brian Keene took full advantage of that fact in this episode, having fun with the tropes of brotherhood – and the mischief that Loki can cause.

Comic fans, in particular, will enjoy Episode 5, as it makes so many (sometimes subtle) references to the larger Marvel universe. Many of these references were merely a mention of a species or character here and there, but it still went a long way in grounding this series in that reality. Though there is one appearance, in particular, that should make fans laugh – I know it gave me a good chuckle.

I especially enjoyed the more humorous tone in this episode, though if I’m honest, I’m not entirely sure that was intended. I think it was. There’s a strong sense of tongue in cheek here, which, combined with Thor’s attitude, makes the who episode read as rather cheeky. I loved it.

Narration

Once again, Daniel Gillies delivered us an entertaining narration in the form of Thor: Metal Gods Episode 5. If you’ve been following the series (or read any of my past reviews of it), then you already know that this series has enjoyed adding subtle sound effects to enhance the experience. That worked well here.

If I’m honest, it’s the voices that I really enjoyed in this episode. Gillies has really started to sink into the roles of the leading characters, and I’m really enjoying that. Additionally, this was the first time in several chapters that we got to hear Loki, so the reminder for how he sounded was refreshing. I have a feeling we’re going to be hearing a lot more of him in the future.

Conclusion

Thor: Metal Gods Episode 5 was another fun and entertaining addition to the series. I actually think I liked this episode more than some of the previous ones, partially thanks to the balance of humor and action.

I’m looking forward to seeing where this series goes next – and how much trouble Loki will get into before it’s all said and done. Additionally, I can’t help but find myself hoping that this story does well because I want to see the other promised series (see above).

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.