Valkyrie: Jane Foster, Vol. 2: At the End of All Things

Valkyrie: Jane Foster

by Jason Aaron, Torunn Grønbekk, Al Ewing

Jane Foster has been many things in her life, including the heroic hammer wielder known as Thor! Recently, Jane became the Valkyrie, guardian and protector of the Norse dead, and she's still finding her way in this new stage of her life. But now, Jane must return to the role she knows best - that of a medical doctor - when a supernatural medical emergency rears its head! Jane teams with Doctor Strange, Sorcerer (and Surgeon) Supreme; the tough-as-nails Night Nurse; Excalibur-wielding Dr. Faiza Hussain and more Marvel medics to crack a case that will give readers heart palpitations! Heroes of medicine will unite - but are they all about to become doctors to the dead?!

COLLECTING: VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER (2019) 6-10

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Superheroes, Comic Book, Mythology

112 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2020

About the author

Jason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.

Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.

In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.

Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.

In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.

In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.

After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome to a comic about death. The death of death even.

So, yeah, it's all mopey and gloomy and deathy -- little wonder it was canceled after ten issues -- but Jane Foster makes for a wonderful traveling companion on even the bleakest of roads. I hope to see her starring in her own title again in the future.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book cancelled with the pandemic given as the reason. I'll be honest; I don't understand why these books are being cancelled. Surely they could just put them on hold until circumstances change? Cancellation seems harsh... unless, of course, they are just using the pandemic as an excuse to cancel books they wanted to get rid of anyway. Cynical? Perhaps.

I'm very sad to see this one go, as I've loved every minute of it. There did seem to be a slight dip in the quality of the dialogue after Al Ewing jumped ship with issue seven, but I'm sure the new scripter would have found his groove if given half a chance. I'm just hoping we haven't seen the last of this character.

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this series. The action was a bit rushed for me but I really liked the story and the ethical questions it raise.

I did prefer the artwork in the first volume but this is not bad. I a very interested to see where the characters go from here.

A good second volume that again gives some good spring boards for the story to carry on from. I also like the the story is developing the side characters as well.

[Artemy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Al Ewing's final two issues were great, but once Torunn Grønbekk was brought in as a co-writer this series quickly turned into a generic Asgardian snoozefest drama very similar to Aaron's worst Thor books. And then the series was killed off due to the pandemic and quite obviously lost any momentum it could have gained with a bit more time. It's a shame, because with Ewing on board this was one of the best current Marvel series.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even Death can die, as Valkyrie discovers when a malady afflicts Lady Death herself! Then a long-forgotten God returns to seek vengeance, unleashing a creature that could spell the End Of All Things (see what I did there) for Jane and all of Asgard!

The first two issues of this volume have Al Ewing written all over them, with Jane assembling a cadre of assorted C list characters (and Doctor Strange) to save Death. It gets very metaphysical, and it also gets very fun as well. I love that Valkyrie is about Jane being Jane, and not just being Valkyrie all the time. Pere Perez's artwork works well for the setting as well, although I'd love to have seen what CAFU did with it.

The second three issues, At The End Of All Things, see Jason Aaron joined by a new co-writer, actual Norse-person Torunn Gronbekk for a tale that feels part-God Butcher, part Anti-Life Equation, and all epic. The culmination of this arc especially gave me chills. CAFU returns for the first issue here, before ceding control to Ramon Rosanas, who is fine, but the fact that we get CAFU to start with and then Rosanas has to be the follow-up definitely shows the stark difference between their styles.

Yet another casualty of COVID, Valkyrie's second volume of adventures at least has some closure by the end of the story. It ends, but it ends on a 'this is the end of this story' kind of ending rather than a 'we have more to say but nowhere to say it' type deal, so there's that to be grateful for. Plus, the story remains solid, and the art is pretty good as well, so it's easy to enjoy while it lasts.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

O primeiro volume de Valquíria: Jane Foster foi sensacional, uma trama bem amarrada com personagens bastante carismáticos. Esse segundo volume, contudo, já não é tão bom assim. Ele está dividido em duas partes com equipes criativas diferentes. E, aparentemente, isso faz toda a diferença. Os dois tratam da personificação do conceito de morte dentro do universo Marvel e também a banalização da mesma, como por exemplo, heróis que morrem e renascem a torto e a direito. Nisso, temos um arco muito legal e divertido que junta os principais profissionais de saúde da Casa das Ideias. Doutor Estranho, Jane Foster, Enfermeira Noturna, Cardíaco, Quadra, todos reunidos para impedir a morte da morte. Já o segundo arco me pareceu mal desenvolvido, se passa como uma vingança do deus da guerra Tyr contra Asgard, liberando um ser do Ragnarok que se compara ao fim de todas as coisas. A série de Valquíria, infelizmente, se encerrou nos EUA, mas a qualidade desse último arco acabou mostrando a razão do cancelamento. Sorte que virão outras minisséries com as personagens amazonas de Odin.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good--nice combination of art and story throughout, even with the artwork changing hands every couple of issues. It's too bad this series was disrupted by the pandemic...

[Lucas Savio · Rating 2 out of 5]

O segundo volume começa legal mas começa a se juntar com thor e loki e achei que desandou um pouco. A arte continua bonita mas gosto mais da interação mundana e de seus poderes oque aqui ficou com foco mais no universo de thor oque começou legal a segunda parte mas acabou bem sem sal e sem interese veremos as próximas

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 1 out of 5]

As I was reading this I went into self discovery and told myself to never read about characters I don't give a shit about and I should start reading comics/books I REALLY want to read and finally STOP reading titles that are boring (to me at least) just because they're tie-ins of an event or an after-math of an event I just read because I have the need to read everything in reading order.

You like Thor? Do NOT read this. You liked Jane as Thor? Do NOT read this. You want a character to keep saying and keep doing the same thing again and again? DO read this. You like Valkyrie's volume 1? I'm shocked, but hey, you should read this one too, then.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better Near The End But So Much Lame Dialogue

When did the 2010s and 20s become the decades for lame dialogue? Most of the heroic guest characters practically sound the same. No characterizations just quips everywhere. Even the scenes where Mr. Horse speaks feel out of place. But at least the last three issues have a decent plot. There's a great sense of failure coming from Jane, feeling like she lost a part of herself when separated from the All-Weapon. When facing against death and nothingness it makes thematic sense. It brings out an arc that feels satisfying on reread. But the artwork did not portray this well.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book I looked forward to each month, and a character who has become one of my favorites. Prematurely cancelled. Would have liked to see what else Aaron had planned for her.

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah.

This universe is exhausting.

'Valkyrie: Jane Foster, Vol. 2: At the End of All Things' is a worthy sequel to the first 'Valkyrie' volume, which is the only Marvel comic I've ever rated five stars. It is harrowing, and shattering on every cosmic level that can, and does not, and should not, exist. Dealing with themes of death, nothingness, loss and depression, it is rare to find a fantasy superhero comic this boldly breaking boundaries on existentialism. It is epic existentialism.

Jane Foster will be joined this time by the big Marvel male ensemble - Doctor Strange, Thor, Captain America, and Spider-Man - and also the few female and comparably unknown heroes - Excalibur/Dr. Faiza Hussain, and the Night Nurse... who is a nurse, but for superheroes, so she's fearless and resourceful (and she had a thing with Doctor Strange, because of course she did). Also Death personified is a woman. Okeydokey then.

The comic touches further on an aspect of Jane's character that was thrown in once in a line of dialogue in the first volume - that she was married, and had a young son, who had tragically died along with her ex-husband. I'd have thought that this would be mentioned as equally if not far more than that she was a cancer patient. I'm not saying this tragedy should define her, but it shouldn't be treated like an afterthought to be discarded and picked up again whenever the writer feels like it. Jane as a bereaved mother should perhaps be treated as a big deal more often, instead of a footnote to be brought up only as a device for general grief, is what I'm trying to get at.

Another thing I must mention is 'At the End of All Things' is a lot. It's overwhelming, and in a way an accumulation of the impact of all of Marvel's properties across every medium. As much as I am enjoying most of the Marvel comics I've been reading recently, I am also burned out by them. How much continuity can one keep track of and not be confused, by the big or little features? Nothing is allowed to be a self-contained story anymore; nothing read or viewed is treated like it's someone's first exposure to it and its universe.

This detriment to the entertainment industry is the same reason why I have not seen any of the MCU TV series that Disney farts out every few months - it's just too much. It's damn exhausting to consume so much, and burn out and financial and social deterioration are inevitable. And if there's one thing I've learned about myself this year, it's that I am not a television junkie, and I don't want to be. I want to at least attempt to have a life. Also screw Disney and its endless, black hole greed, and exploiting nerd culture to stratospheric reaches.

With that said, 'Valkyrie: Jane Foster, Vol 2: At the End of All Things' is entertaining, clever, introspective, and occasionally funny, as well. I didn't think it was particularly noticeable that the ending had to be rushed due to the series' cancellation. Thanks, Marvel, for robbing us of yet another marginalised hero's deserved extended story and presence. D*cks.

I mean, Jane saves the entire universe, Asgard, death itself, and nothingness itself, from the first darkness ever - the first evil ever. She accomplishes this by using her own light, and the light of her weapon, Undrjarn, the most powerful in existence and nonexistence. She finds hope within herself, and her combatting depression saves everyone and everything, and I do mean everything.

Jane Foster, an ordinary woman from Earth, a doctor, a bereft mother, a cancer survivor, a part-time superhero, could be the greatest hero in all of Marvel canon.

I am here for her.

What a ride!

Final Score: 4/5

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the embodiment of Death becomes ill, Valkyrie assembles a force of "medics" to get check on her: Doctor Strange, Night Nurse, Cardiac (looks like a cross between Mr Miracle and the dark version of Deadpool), Dr Faiza Hussein (who wields Excalibur, which I thought was owned by Captain Britain) and Dr Whitman Knapp (who says he used to be called Manikin, which implies to me that he is a known character.... not to me...). Arriving there, after getting through some defenses, they see that "Death of Death" has arrived, a cosmic force that can "kill" Death. Valkyrie is able to convince her to retake her mantel.
Tyr Odinson launches a plan to obtain Rokkva, the force of Anti-Life, and Thor and Sif join the battle to stop him. Several twists and turns, but ultimately the willpower of Jane Foster (Marvel's best version of a Green Lantern LOL) wins out in the end.
Overall, the run on this comic was good... but I think maybe Jane Foster, as a character, needs a rest for a while. Still not a bad story... recommend, but not essential.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really dug these handful of Jane Foster: Valkyrie books, even if they were randomly interspersed between several Marvel Events and semi-incoherently packaged. This one might have been the best of them all, featuring two powerful narratives.

In the first tale, Jane must gather a crew of Marvel's doctor heroes to rescue Death from the brink of...well, death. It's a fun, cosmic trip that doesn't wear out its welcome.

In the second, longer tale, Jane and other Asgardians tackle Thor's delinquent brother who has found a way to resurrect one of the many great, ancient evils left lying around from time immemorial. Yes, this feels similar to many a Thor plot, but the stakes are high, the action big, and the characters a delight. I'm rooting for the horse to receive his own comic one of these days. But also: bring back Jane Foster: Valkyrie! I'm ready for more.

[Dallas Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A return to the epic nature of Jane Foster's adventures that the last volume did not touch! The team makeup and mission of the first half of this book are so memorable! Such a fun and sincere handling of the topic at hand! The second half goes even further with the epic scale and connects to the rest of the Asgardian characters real well!

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

closer to a 2.5 stars

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The death of death would create a cancerverse. The all-weapon is awesome.

[Alex Sarll]

Al Ewing only co-writes the first two issues here, but what a two issues they are: a story called 'Strange Aeons' because like the chant continues, that's when even death itself may die. All those returns from the grave in a superhero universe have left Death herself at the Death Of Death's door, and it's up to Jane and a team of Marvel medics to save her. It runs the whole range from goofy D-listers to cruel confrontations with the past, and from eerie cosmic stuff to stirring defences of free healthcare (Doctor Strange is always talking about how magic has a price, but as Faiza Hussain says, the difference is she's an NHS doctor, so her care is always free at the point of delivery).

Then Ewing departs, leaving only a helpful guide for how his Alabaman co-writer (who, to be honest, I still think of as the bigger name, and expected to be the one who'd jump ship post-launch) and his Norwegian replacement should write the Yorkshire dialogue for talking, flying steed Mr Horse. Alas, entertaining read though it is, they can't quite catch the right tone, and the post-Ewing story initially feels like pretty thin gruel. Not just because the horse is insufficiently Yorkshire – though that really doesn't help – but because it becomes a Thor team-up story (let him go, Aaron! You've been playing with him for ages!) in which the two of them are up against Anti-Life – which, as threats go, is surely a name that should have been left to the Distinguished Competition. The story pootles along in that infuriating manner which is at once overambitious and underwhelming, throwing in guest stars only serving to undermine any sense of jeopardy because we know nothing will happen to them (or indeed, to Thor) while they're playing supporting roles in a third-string book. And then got delayed hugely by real-world catastrophe; at one stage the final issue was only going to come out digitally, which is still better than some series where solicited and presumably created issues have since simply vanished from the schedules. Yes, Marvel were probably putting out too many C-list books, and were never likely to sort that out in an organised fashion of their own free will – but even so, like with every other change the Event has brought, such an abrupt response seems a lot like going from bad to worse. As it happens, though, that last issue, surely at least mostly complete before everything broke, ends up speaking to the times pretty well, with its last stand against an all-enveloping nothingness. "But if there is any joy left in the universe this day, Sif cannot see it. All she sees is darkness."

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume of the Jane Foster book certainly took an interesting direction and really stressing how this book wants to make her a cosmic heavy-hitter dealing with some major high-concept ideas.

The first part of the volume has Death itself on the brink of dying and Valkyrie ends up assembling an unusual team of different figures with...actual medical backgrounds? For a team that somehow includes the likes of Night Nurse and the minor Spider-Man vigilante Cardiac, it's a very unusual adventure indeed. And how this team of doctors will actually treat the cosmic personification of death is anyone's guess.

The second half has yet another dark threat from Asgard's path threatening all of creation and the opening salvo in the conflict has Valkyrie placed at a distinct disadvantage that may prevent her from actually standing a chance of joining the fight. But Jane Foster has always been one to rise above the challenges placed in her path and she truly shines in the end.

I do love this book and the tone it takes as this is also what enamored me with Jane's time as the God of Thunder. Sure, there's a lot of references to her being a doctor or being a cancer survivor, but these touchpoints are also what keep her going and prevent her divine aspect from overwhelming her entirely.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a shame that Valkyrie isn't one of those comics that gets a paper release. I've quite enjoyed reading Jane's journey as Valkyrie. In this book I enjoyed mostly of Death of Death - it was disturbingly beautiful to read.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 2 out of 5]

The start of this volume leads the reader to expect a more grand story with big events starting up. Unfortunately this is not the case and a somewhat epic tale wraps up quickly. This is not due to the writer but rather the global pandemic and less than stellar sales for the individual issues.
This tale sees Jane and the medic heroes of the Marvel world tackling the death of death. It’s slightly ham fisted in that the characters have some very rough dialogue (look at Dr Hussain’s lines on the NHS) but serves its purpose. The art is very good which does elevate it.
The story wraps up with Jane having to save Asgard from Tyr as he corrupts Thor Odinson and Sif. The story should’ve been an epic but wraps up in two issues.
This is the last of Valkyrie for now but I’d love to see the character return.

[Desa · Rating 4 out of 5]

:_______( Me parte el corazón que la historia de Jane/Valquiria ‘acabe’ aquí, y encima con el arco ‘At the End of all Things’ que, probablemente, no sólo sea mi favorito de la serie, sino el mejor *cries*. Y es que, la llegada de Torunn Grønbekk como guionista junto a Aaron, ha sido todo un acierto, y su peso se nota mil en este último arco, lleno de mitología, acción y con una Jane más valquiria que nunca. Bueno, y el dibujo de CAFU, as usual, *chef’s kiss* (sobre todo en su último número como dibujante principal de la serie, ahí dándolo todo con Jane y los Vengadores).

Lo único que me consuela es que en breve sale la miniserie del regreso de las Valquirias (aunque es un tie in de King in Black que me interesa 0) y que tanto Aaron como Grønbekk han dicho que la historia de Jane no ha acabado y que próximamente volverá de algún modo, so *fingers crossed*.

[Artur Coelho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Foster é uma personagem frágil, entre ser médica a lidar com a sobrevivência ao cancro e ser a encarnação das Valquírias, o que lhe dá novas perspetivas sobre a morte. Nestas aventuras, Foster terá de se unir aos médicos-heróis da Marvel - para além dos suspeitos do costume, Doctor Strange e Night Nurse, Jason Aaron vai recuperar três personagens mais obscuros, numa missão para salvar a Morte de uma doença mortal. Uma conspiração por um dos mais sombrios filhos de Odin para libertar um mal antiquíssimo e, com isso, usurpar o trono asgardiano mesmo que isso signifique reinar sobre a devastação é o outro desafio colocado a Jane Foster, que no processo irá descobrir que os limites dos seus poderes como Valquíria são mais vastos do que imagina.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jason Aaron returns to help pen Jane's adventure to save Death. While the idea of Jane having to save the life of Death was solid, the execution was certainly lacking. A gathering of characters that don't matter and aren't made to matter didn't help at all. The Mephisto stuff from the last volume wasn't nowhere to be found. The Jane gets back to Valkyrie's Asgardian roots with a decent story that might have been better served with a crossover with the Thor series. This series had potential to be so interesting with the main character a cancer survivor while being a hero connected to death. The art was solid here. Overall, the book was fine but misses the mark for what could have been.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's two stories here. The first is a two issue story about saving Death from dying. This one is pretty interesting, includes some rare characters, and actually has some decent emotional stakes towards the end. Then there's a three issue story that tries, it really does. It's about Tyr awakening some kind of ancient and unknowable evil that has never been heard of before and will likely never be heard of again and everything is all better in three issues. These stakes are just way too high for a lower tier comic like this to pull off in just three issues, and it shows.

[Nadja · Rating 4 out of 5]

*read as single issues* I‘m a bit sad that this is already the end of this series. I really like Jane in her new role as Valkyrie. I thought her approach to things, still seeing it as a human doctor and at the same time also a god was really interesting. I also enjoyed both arcs in this volume but would have been interested to see what Loki had planned. Overall this run just seemed way to short and I just really hope we‘ll get to see a lot more of Jane Foster as Valkyrie.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art - 3. Story - 3. It almost seemed like the writers lost interest in the story and just rushed it to an end. It was interesting to have some minor Marvel Characters involved (who remembers Manikin from Alpha Flight!) and Doctor Strange's involvement is always welcome! Of course, the potential death of Death would NOT be an easy subject for anyone to write, but Jason Aaron like the big, epic type of storylines.

[Ronan The Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounded up because Jane Foster deserves better.

The plot was a bit simplistic yet convoluted, but it was still a good bit of Asgardian action. A long forgotten, dark and terrible force is reawakened, and there’s one winged guardian fit for the job.

I still love the character of Jane Foster aka Valkyrie and believe she deserves an ongoing and to not be cancelled, but it is what it is. Here’s to hoping she gets another shot or two.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand this book was a victim of the pandemic, it never got to properly finish, hence why the final arc is rushed at only three issues. The second half as a whole is noticably weaker, even if the two part "death of death" arc has some plot holes. Notable is the acknowledgement of the Green Door and the Krakoa eggs tho, good touch. But the final plot is basically just ripping off the first arc of Cates run, weird how two similar antagonists are happening around the same time.

[MrColdStream · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't find this volume quite as interesting as the first one. It feels more like a generic Asgard-story than a Jane-centric tale. Thor appears but does very little, Tyr is a pretty tiresome villain and there's not enough of Mr Horse. The first two issues with Jane and the doctors saving Death from death are great, both in writing and in concept. The art style is great throughout.