In the pages of Jason Aaron's Avengers run, we've learned that Odin was once romantically involved with the Phoenix Force. The All-Father has spent countless lifetimes mourning his lost love, and it sounds like tomorrow's Avengers #42 will finally elaborate on what made their relationship so special.
Bleeding Cool is reporting that the comic will reveal that the Phoenix Force is, in fact, Thor's mother.
Yeah.
This is quite a game-changer for the God of Thunder; in the 1980s, Marvel Comics revealed that Frigga is only Thor's step-mother, with it later coming to light that Gaea, Goddess of the Earth, is Thor's biological mother. That was a relatively minor twist at the time, but this is a big retcon to the character's story, and one which could have major ramifications for the Asgardians for many years to come.
The Phoenix Force is, of course, most commonly associated with its host, Jean Grey. However, in recent years, the entity has factored heavily into stories featuring Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and it will be interesting to see what sort of impact this has on Thor and how he's portrayed in that title moving forward.
With the X-Men coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, could a similar twist be in store for the big screen version of Thor? It's certainly possible, but time is obviously going to tell on that front.
Avengers #42 is on sale tomorrow.