Thor has complicated family dynamics, to say the least, but one member might take the cake as his deadliest "brother" returns, bonded with a symbiote whose history with Venom is just as complicated. With a new Venom set to also hit the stage soon, this comic might be setting up two plots at once with this former Thor antagonist as the new ‘King in Black’ of the Marvel Universe.

Marvel's preview for The Immortal Thor #17 – written by Al Ewing, with art by Jan Bazaldua – features the return of Donald Blake, former alter ego of Thor, who reminds readers that he now has his own symbiote powers.

In Thor (2020) #9-14 – written by Donny Cates and illustrated by Nic Klein – Blake, separated from Thor, became a villain, and was eventually imprisoned beneath Asgard for all eternity. Later, in Thor #28, he bonded with the symbiote child of Bedlam, an alternate timeline version of Eddie Brock. Now, Blake is back, just in time to taunt a dying Thor.

Donald Blake Is Back, And Marvel Could Be Setting Him Up For A Major Role In The "Venomverse"

Immortal Thor #17 – Written By Al Ewing; Art By Jan Bazaldua; Color By Matt Holllingsworth; Lettering By Joe Sabino

In the preview for Immortal Thor #17, Blake appears to Thor in a dream-scape while Thor’s body is dying, taunting him about the potential future destruction of Midgard. Thor has been fighting a war on several fronts, with the looming threat of the Utgard-Gods on the horizon, summoned by Thor’s own mother, Gaia. If Donald Blake, last seen imprisoned beneath Asgard, is also coming back, then that’s just another problem for Thor, who, as far as readers know, wasn’t even aware of Blake’s symbiote transformation before this moment.

With a new mysterious Venom set to appear in Ewing’s relaunched All-New Venom...reminding readers that Donald Blake is a symbiote host could be a clue that he’ll be back in a big way.

What’s unclear is whether this also holds significance for Venom as well. The current event Venom War – written by Donald Blake is a symbiote host could be a clue that he’ll be back in a big way when All-New Venom begins in December.

Donald Blake's Appearance Feels Earned, Thanks To Writer Al Ewing's Careful Plotting

All-New Venom #1 – Written By Al Ewing; Art By Carlos Gómez; Available December 4 From Marvel Comics

It’s no surprise that Immortal Thor is referencing Blake’s transformation, since that transformation happened in an Al Ewing co-written issue. What’s more surprising is how natural this addition feels. There’s a world where adding Venomized Donald Blake to Immortal feels random and unearned. However, Immortal Thor has been full of portents of doom for Thor, so a horrifying Blake actually slots in nicely. What Donald Blake’s return actually means for both Thor and Venom is up in the air, but one thing’s for certain, it’s not going to be good for them.

The Immortal Thor #17 will be available November 20, 2024 from Marvel Comics.