Midgard is Earth in Norse mythology.

Of all of the Norse gods, Thor is the one most associated with Midgard. The Midgard Serpent – the mighty creature whose coils surround Earth – is the cause of Thor’s death during Ragnorak, the end of the worlds in Norse myth.

In the Marvel Comics version of Thor, he is committed to safeguarding the Earth. 

In this collected story arc from “Thor God of Thunder,” readers slip from current times to the distant future in “The Last Days of Midgard.”

In current times, Thor and SHIELD battle a corporate CEO with mystical powers who wishes to make a buck at the expense of the environment. Writer Jason Aaron and a team of artists make the contemporary story compelling stuff.

But it is the integration of the tale from the future where Aaron and the artists sing. The future, as grim as it is for the world, makes the entire collected storyline a joy.

In the far-flung future, Earth is a barren ball orbiting the sun but old Thor, now a maimed grandfather, cannot let the planet go. He is sworn to protect Earth even when its people, animals and plant-life are gone. 

But it still has its resources, which attract the starving devourer of worlds, Galactus.

Yes, old Thor battles an emaciated Galactus for the fate of battered Midgard.

To quote the old Stan Lee qualifier, ‘Nuff said.