Summary
- Welcome to the "Roxxon Age of Comics", as Marvel's new corporate overlords Roxxon Corporation seek to control the Universe by controlling its narrative.
- Marvel's most evil company, Roxxon, now owns the House of Ideas, and beyond just making a profit, their goal is to manipulate Thor and other heroes at the storytelling level with "scald" magic.
- Dario Agger, CEO of Roxxon, is the latest villain to be known as the Minotaur; now that he owns Marvel Comics, he threatens to control Marvel's past, present, and future by changing characters and their stories at his will.
Marvel was recently acquired by one of the most nefarious corporations in the world – at least in-universe, as Roxxon Corporation, lead by the villainous Dario Agger, has become the comic book publisher's new parent company. Roxxon has a long history in Marvel Comics, but now that they've acquired the House of Ideas, it is worth reminding readers a bit about them, and confirming that yes, their CEO is a Minotaur.
"The Roxxon Age of Comics begins!," declares the solicitation for Roxxon Presents: Thor #1 – written by Al Ewing, with art by Greg Land – which will spin out of Ewing's current Immortal Thor series, and feature Roxxon's reimagining of the God of Thunder in their image.
Though Roxxon has been Marvel's shadiest corporation for decades now, it wasn't until Dario Agger, the villain known as Minotaur, took control of the company that they became a pivotal antagonist for Thor. Now, Roxxon and Agger threaten all of Marvel's heroes, as they seek to control Marvel's narratives, past and present.
Roxxon Corporation's acquisition of Marvel Comics in Immortal Thor #4...is part of his plan to take ultimate control of the Marvel Universe by targeting Thor and other Marvel heroes where they are most vulnerable – at the level of storytelling.
Marvel's Most Evil Company is Worse Than Thanos
Thanos wanted to kill 50% of all life, but Marvel's most evil company has something even worse in mind for its victims/employees/customers.
Roxxon Corporation Is The New Owner Of Marvel Comics
Roxxon Energy Corporation was introduced in 1974's Captain America #180, when Steve Rogers thwarted then-CEO Hugh Jones' kidnapping. Jones and Roxxon would subsequently become an overtly villainous company, serving as an antagonist in titles including Avengers, Iron Man, and Amazing Spider-Man, as well as many more over the years.
Roxxon Corporation's acquisition of Marvel Comics in Immortal Thor #4 is a result of more than just new CEO Dario Agger's desire to expand the company's business portfolio. Rather, it is part of his plan to take ultimate control of not just the comic industry, but the Universe itself, by targeting Thor and other Marvel heroes where they are most vulnerable – at the level of storytelling. With the help of classic Thor enemy Enchantress, Agger is using "scald" magic to influence the narratives of the world's heroes, through the pages of their comic books.
Though Thor has a powerful scald on his side as well, in the form of Loki, it remains to be determined whether the Asgardian siblings can stand against the institutional might of Roxxon, one of the biggest resource-hording companies on Marvel's Earth. Thor has fought Dario Agger and Roxxon before, but now that they control his narrative, he could be rendered helpless as they rebrand his image, creating their own Thor, "Chad Hammer." Further, Roxxon has promised to pay all this off with a sprawling crossover of its own, the "Absolute Absolution" event, which could extend their influence to more Marvel books.
From its humble origins in the energy industry, Roxxon has grown to become one of the most powerful corporations in Marvel history. Dario Agger has taken the company to an even higher level by acquiring the comic book company itself – giving the Minotaur control over the past, present, and future of heroes like Thor.
Roxxon's CEO Isn't Just Any Minotaur – Dario Agger Is THE Minotaur
In his human form, new Roxxon CEO Dario Agger was introduced in 2014's Thor: God of Thunder #19, by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribić. His true appearance as the Minotaur was revealed in God of Thunder #23. Subsequently, he has gone on to be a regular antagonist to Thor, though his acquisition of Marvel Comics may now make him a hero of all the company's heroes.
Roxxon Corporation CEO Dario Agger is, in fact, the latest incarnation of Marvel's Minotaur. More criticially, he is an unrepentant capitalist, who has made it his stated purpose to extract all possible valuable resources from the Earth and its population, before moving on. Agger was a dangerous, calculating villain even before Roxxon's purchase of Marvel Comics, and his introduction to scald magic by Enchantress – but now, he is one of the Marvel Universe's most pressing concerns, and one of its most intriguing antagonists.
From its humble origins in the energy industry, Roxxon has grown to become one of the most powerful corporations in Marvel history. Dario Agger has taken the company to an even higher level by acquiring the comic book company itself – giving the Minotaur control over the past, present, and future of heroes like Thor. Only time will tell how eaders will respond to the "Roxxon Age of Comics," but if the response is enthusiastic, it could spell deep trouble for the entire Marvel Universe.
Roxxon Presents: Thor will be available April 17, 2024 from Marvel Comics (a subsidiary of Roxxon.)
