An Ominous Turn of Events in Thor: Metal Gods Episode 12

Thor: Metal Gods Episode 12 continues the epic quest involving Thor, Loki, and their new allies. This quest has taken many surprising twists and turns, and yet it feels like the worst is yet to come. Then again, Thor is quite used to getting caught up in events bigger than himself, so perhaps this is nothing new for him.

Last we saw Thor and his allies were heading towards the dead planet known as Miskandar. This may feel like a calculated risk, but in truth, there really was no option. The real question is, will they survive the effects of the mysterious substance coating the land?

Thor: Metal Gods is part of a new selection from Serial Box (now Realm). Each week a new episode will drop until an entire season is available to readers (or listeners). Best of all? Thor is the first Marvel hero to get this treatment, but far from the last. Up next will be Jessica Jones and Black Widow, so get ready for those adventures!

Temptation and Corruption

Thor: Metal Gods Episode 12, written by Jay Edidin, is unafraid to delve into the darker side of conquest and control. This whole series, they’ve been hinting at the fate of Miskandar. But this episode? It reveals the whole truth of it all: the horror and pain, the suffering, and the cost.

Understandably, that made this episode a heavy read (or listen). Yet it also very much felt like it was setting the scene. Considering the foundation, that means what is going to happen next will surely be epic…and dark.

Honestly, I cannot emphasize the tone of this episode enough. Edidin did a brilliant job of creating a setting that is disturbing, all without blatantly stating why we should fear it so much. In a way, that just made it all the more alarming. It was elegantly done.

As with the previous episode, this one allowed insight through additional perspectives. Though this time around, the focus is on the two estranged brothers – and all of the differences in how they handle corruption, trickery, and more.

After this episode, there are only three more left in the season (which are out now). That means things are going to get much more hectic for our heroes in the impending moments. I, for one, can’t wait to see what happens next.

Narration

Thor: Metal Gods Episode 12, like the rest of the season, was narrated by Daniel Gillies. At this point, I’m thoroughly enjoying his take on the classic characters. His voice carries an epic quality, which is perfectly suited to this journey.

There are a lot of subtle elements to enjoy from the reading of this issue. Perhaps the most poignant aspect is the background noise. It’s subtle, almost unheard…yet it’s eerie. It really sets the tone, implying so much about Miskandar and what is to come.

Once again, Gillies successfully infused a significant amount of emotion (or, in Loki’s case, smugness) into the characters he’s speaking for. It is the icing on the cake, so the speak. The characters fell more alive than ever.

Conclusion

Thor: Metal Gods Episode 12 was an epic yet alarming addition to this series. The sense of foreshadowing was strong here, yet it is exactly what was needed. Now there’s no doubt that readers will be anxiously looking forward to (or fearing) whatever happens next.

Honestly, it’s hard to believe that there are only three more episodes left to this season. I’ll be sad to see it go but excited to see how it wraps up. Since I’m a bit behind on reading/listening, make sure to check back later this week for my reviews on the rest of the season.

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.