Thor’s Deadliest Villain Is Officially Resurrected in Marvel Lore with Twisted New Powers
Warning: contains spoilers for Phoenix #4The infamous Gorr the God Butcher, monstrous enemy to the beloved Thor and villainous star of the MCU’s Thor: Love & Thunder, has not been seen in mainline Earth-616 continuity since his “death” in Thor: God of Thunder (2015) #11. In a terrifying twist, Gorr the God Butcher has now returned to Marvel as a deadly foe for Jean Grey in Phoenix #4, resurrected with a fierce upgrade to his already incredible power.
As Jean Grey travels through space, protecting innocents and attempting to change the universe’s perception of the Phoenix Force, the powerful hero has already battled intense foes like the Black Order of Thanos, but Gorr is by far the most dangerous enemy she has faced so far.
Phoenix #4, from Stephanie Phillips and Alessandro Miracolo, sees Gorr going after the titular hero, declaring her a god because – as canonically established in X-Men: Forever – Jean Grey is the Phoenix, and the Phoenix is a cosmic deity of life and rebirth. However, just like Jean Grey’s reincarnations, the resurrection of Gorr the God Butcher has only made him more powerful, as the power of the All-Black is now housed inside his very heart, removing the need for the Necrosword.
| Phoenix #4 (2024) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Release Date: | October 9th, 2024 |
| Writers: | Stephanie Phillips |
| Artists: | Alessandro Miracolo, David Curiel |
| Cover Artist: | Yasmine Putri |
| Variant Covers: | Francesco Manna, Nathan Szerdy, Karen S. Darboe |
| BEWARE…THE GOD BUTCHER! His call has gone out across the universe: He will have his retribution. He will bring his awful vengeance to bear. GORR THE GOD BUTCHER is going to kill the PHOENIX. Plus: CAPTAIN MARVEL comes to call… | |
Gorr The God Butcher Has An All-Black Heart
The Butcher has transcended the need for the Necro-Sword
Gorr the God Butcher started out as a tragic figure, a man from a nameless planet whose entire family died before his eyes, with his prayers to the gods left unanswered. Angered by this clear injustice, Gorr eventually witnessed a fight to the death between two gods, which led to him discovering All-Black the Necrosword and beginning a millennia-long campaign of deicide across the cosmos. Eventually, present-day Thor was able to absorb All-Black and weaken Gorr, before a 6th Century variant of Thor decapitated the villain, seemingly ending his reign of terror. It appears that the Gorr who returns in Phoenix #4 is a resurrection of the “dead” Gorr from Thor: God of Thunder, but some readers have theorized that it is in fact the return of the Gorr from the far future of the King Thor series.
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It has been said that “Jean Grey is the Phoenix, the Phoenix is Jean Grey,” which Gorr throws back into Jean’s face saying, “All-Black is me, I am All-Black.”
All-Black is the first-ever Necrosword, crafted by the last King in Black Knull by combining the first-ever Symbiote and celestial energies into the powerful and indestructible weapon of living abyss. After Thor absorbed All-Black as well as Gorr’s Godbomb, it was assumed that the connection between Gorr and the violent Necrosword was severed… but clearly, that is not the case. Gorr spent so much time with All-Black and was so deeply corrupted by its abyssal energies, that the symbiote core of the Necrosword bonded directly to the God Butcher’s heart, making him a living Necrosword. It has been said that “Jean Grey is the Phoenix, the Phoenix is Jean Grey,” which Gorr throws back into Jean’s face, declaring, “All-Black is me, I am All-Black,” before stabbing Jean through the heart and seemingly killing her.
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Gorr’s Assault On Jean Grey Proves Her Godhood
But can the Phoenix Force take on the Butcher?
In many ways, Gorr going after Jean Grey is a sign of “respect,” acknowledging in no uncertain terms that Jean Grey is “a god by any other name,” even if she doesn’t view herself as a deity. Jean Grey now wields the universal concept of life, death, and rebirth at her fingertips, making her an obvious target for Gorr. Unfortunately, Jean’s new status as a godlike being has caught the attention of the Galactic Council, with Gladiator of the Shi’ar making it clear to the Council that he believes the Phoenix is once again the single greatest threat facing the universe. While Jean will surely find some way to defeat the God Butcher, her act of heroism might just be the final nail in the coffin, proving to the Council that the Phoenix must be controlled once again.
Gorr the God Butcher has returned, and this time his heart is as black as his soul, with All-Black now residing directly in the dark god’s evil chest. Jean Grey will need to use the full might of the Phoenix Force to defeat Gorr once again, but this defeat may come back to haunt the iconic hero.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
Phoenix #4 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.
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