Is Marvel Throwing Shade at Disney in Its New Thor Story?
Thor has already revisited his past in “Immortal Thor,” but a new one-shot will showcase Roxxon’s reimagining of the character in a meta-story, watering down the hero and showing the evil organization’s plans for him.
Roxxon’s Reinvention of Thor: A Corporate Takeover
In the upcoming “Roxxon Presents: Thor” #1 (by Al Ewing and Greg Land) — the same comic Thor reads at the end of “Immortal Thor” #9 — Roxxon’s reinvention of the God of Thunder as a corporate hero will be presented to real-life readers. Gone is the powerful All-Father, and in his place is Chad Hammer, aka Roxxon Thor. A lackey to Roxxon, this Thor doesn’t fight to protect the Ten Realms alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes but battles for big business and shareholders — everything he would usually stand against. The comic will show what would happen if content was treated solely as such, without any artistry and a sole focus on profits. The result? An unrecognizable and creatively bankrupt Thor, who embraces artificial intelligence and asks no questions about his corporate overlords.
The Critique of Corporate Greed and Profit Over Art
“Roxxon Presents: Thor” #1 will comment — through Thor’s shocking transformation — on what happens when meddling corporations put profits before artistic merit, as they literally suck the life out of him to make money. Given that Disney is a content machine, it’s hard to see how the story isn’t directly referencing its parent company, even if the Mouse House isn’t mentioned by name. “Immortal Thor” #9 is in comic book stores now, while the Roxxon issue comes out on April 18, 2024.