Contains Spoilers for The Immortal Thor #22!
Thor, the God of Thunder, has fought numerous formidable adversaries, but his latest foe presents a challenge unlike any other. As he readies himself for battle with the original God of Violence in the Marvel Universe, he finds himself on the brink of what could be the toughest fight of his career. Although Thor has allies rallying behind him, this conflict is poised to push him to his limits, leaving him vulnerable to consequences he may not be able to escape.
In their adventurous journey through Utgard, Thor and Skurge find themselves in the depths of the maze-like city of Nrgl. Here, they confront Kemur, a colossal creature that represents the very essence of violence. Teasing the battle yet to come, the preview for Immortal Thor #23 reveals the gravity of this encounter.
Introducing Kemur: Thor’s Clash with the Original God of Violence
The synopsis for Immortal Thor #23 frames the upcoming battle:
GODWAR! The All-Father had battled to the middle of the endless city — and now he faced the beast at the center of the maze. Kemur, who was bull and hawk and serpent, who was fire and the sword, now faced Thor Odinson… and perhaps neither would survive. This is the story of the IMMORTAL THOR… and the God of Violence.
Interestingly, Kemur’s roots lie in Egyptian mythology rather than Norse lore, a detail that adds depth to the narrative. For those familiar with myth, Kemur is identified as an aspect of Atum Ra, the bull god created by the primordial being Gaia to confront and imprison the Utgard-Gods. In issue #8 of Immortal Thor, Gaia ominously warned Thor against challenging Atum. If Kemur is indeed another facet of Atum, Thor may be heading toward one of his most perilous encounters yet.
The stakes are heightened, as Thor doesn’t just face Kemur; he contends with three formidable entities. Alongside Kemur, Thor finds himself trapped within Nrgl, the labyrinthine city governed by the bull. Adding to this already complex encounter is Utgard-Loki, the master trickster narrating the events, introducing layers of deceit and chaos. This amalgamation of direct confrontation and strategic trickery complicates Thor’s fight, allowing Kemur to challenge him in unprecedented ways.
Thor’s Battle with the “God of Violence”Reflects His Past Conflict with Dario Agger
The God of Thunder’s Bullish Dilemma
This is not the first time Thor has encountered a bull-themed foe. One of the significant antagonists from this run is Dario Agger, the former CEO of Roxxon, who adopted the Minotaur’s form and used cunning to nearly eliminate Thor. The narrative structure of Immortal Thor, particularly in issue #22, emphasizes recurring themes and reflections, suggesting that Kemur may serve as another iteration of adversaries Thor has previously faced. However, Kemur’s deadlier nature elevates the stakes significantly.
As Thor faces overwhelming obstacles and gods of vast power, he is at his most heroic when the odds seem insurmountable. If he hopes to overcome Kemur, Thor must turn away from brute force. Throughout the Immortal Thor series, the key to victory has often been wisdom, strategy, and sometimes even artful deception rather than sheer strength. In this encounter, success may hinge on outsmarting Kemur rather than strictly relying on combat.
The Immortal Thor #22 is currently available from Marvel Comics, with Immortal Thor #23 set to be released on May 14, 2025.