Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Nic Klein, Matt Wilson, and VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 17, 2021

I have been loving this Donald Blake story, and while Donny Cates made me feel bad for Donny boy at the beginning, I want him to get his and get it good! The last issue ended with Jane going to get Odin to stop this madness he created, and I was pumped then, and seeing this issue came out this week had me so excited. So, was this issue worth the wait. Yes, it was! Now, let’s find out why.

The issue opens with old, broken down Odin and then shows you what led him to spend his days and nights drinking alone in his solemn misery. Yea, it’s mostly his doing, but you can’t help but feel sorry for the guy. I mean, we can, but Jane? That’s a different story! She comes in flinging haymakers at him but pauses when she notices how much weaker he is. She may say that, but Odin is stacked!!! He explains he gave some of his power to Thor, and she explains what the hell has been going on with Donald Blake, and off they go to make things right.

We then head off to the Dimension Blood, which is a nice place to visit, but… actually, you never want to find yourself there at all! Beta Ray Bill is making the best of it, though, checking out some new weapons and armor. That’s when Doctor Strange, Throg, Lockjaw, and Bats show up, and we got ourselves a party! Loki joins in, and they even mention the Space Bears for some good-old fan-service action!

So, what’s the plan? Pretty much an all-out assault on Donald Blake, with Odin showing up for good measure. The problem is, Donald has been yelling for Odin since the beginning, but just as you think there is going to be some big trouble, Odin points out something about the World Tree that makes Blake realize he messed up big time! It was an awesome moment, and I couldn’t wait to see what it all would mean, but like Donny Cates often does, the actuality of it was even better than I hoped. I’m not sure it makes up for it, but those who were upset when Thor got his arm back without much of an explanation might like seeing a bit more of the Destroyer this time.

Cates is killing it with this Prey arc, and I love every minute of it. I wasn’t as big on the Herald of Galactus start, but I am all-in now, and while King in Black is dominating the Marvel landscape, Thor is my favorite Donny Cates book right now.

It doesn’t hurt that I am a Nic Klein fanboy either! His art has a grit to it that fits this dark story so well, and there are three pages in this issue that I wouldn’t mind having signed and hanging in my room. Matt Wilson’s colors are also great, by the way, and compliment the art so well.

Final Thoughts:

Donny Cates gives us the penultimate issue of his Prey arc, and it’s damn good! We are in for a huge finale next month, and while most of what we get here sets that up, it’s big, nasty fun with a ton of fantastic characters. I can’t wait to see Donald Blake get his!

8.7/10