By the Bristling Beard of Odin! The Thor Thread - Part 1

[Vartha]

OH a heads up for you Collectors. That Thor that was in the Hammer package at SDCC is out at Target here in Hasbro's new Build a Figure. Tho I don't recall who the figure you build.

The Mini Mugs Movie Thor and Comic Thor and Loki set are out too

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Was talking about Balder tho. Thor's been bumped off more times than Balder has only because Thor's more active in the Nine realms lol

Oh, my bad, I thought we were talking about Thor's deaths.

 

[Vartha]

Oh, my bad, I thought we were talking about Thor's deaths.

hehehe depending on "continuity" Thor's got Balder beat on that by about 2 I think lol

 

[Gamma Burst]

Essential Avengers: Thor Then & Now

By Chris Arrant

Some people have called super hero comics the mythology of the modern world, but for a Marvel icon like Thor his mythological roots go back much further than that. Inspired by Norse mythology going back over a thousand years, Marvel’s Thor broke the mold of the heroes that came before by showing a hero stepping out of history books and into action every month in comics. Over the years and up to his film debut in 2011’s "Thor" film, the character has been deftly portrayed as both grandiose and humble, making this hammer-wielding hero stand out and add a new dimension to Marvel comics and his membership in the Avengers.


“What fascinates me about Thor is the culture-clash elements and his fundamental duality--the mortal and divine in a single character,” explains writer Kieron Gillen, who has written Thor and Asgard extensively for Marvel. "I also like hammers."
Hammer in hand, Marvel’s Thor made his debut in 1962’s JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #83. Originally created as a new type of super hero ‘strongman’ after the success of the Hulk, the final form Thor took when he debuted in that classic story was something much more.
“The creation of Thor came out of wanting to create a super hero that stood apart from the others. And taking cues from classic mythology was the answer,” said Larry Lieber, who wrote Thor’s debut based on a plot by Stan Lee. “As you can see it turned out to be a great idea, especially when you contrast him with the other Marvel heroes like Captain America and Iron Man.”
When Thor made his debut in comics in 1962, he also entered the larger tapestry of characters present in the Marvel Universe. And although he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the other heroes, he’s very unlike those he calls his allies, teammates and friends.

“I don't think of Thor or any of the Asgardians as just another sort of super human,” Gillen explains. “Thor is strong in a fundamentally ‘different’ way to, say, the Hulk. The Hulk is a creature of science. Thor is a creature of the supernatural.”
Standing apart from the mutants and science-based super heroes that Marvel is built on, Thor strikes an imposing presence in Marvel comics yet has remained relatable due to his surprising humanity.
“What makes him unique in comics is his humanity and attachment to the human race,” explains Chris Samnee, who illustrated THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER. “He’s not an arrogant, bulky giant that you can’t relate to. If you remember, he was exiled from Asgard and left to live among us on Earth.”


And as he began to call Earth his second home, he was enlisted early on to serve as one of the founding members of Marvel’s flagship super hero team the Avengers. Over the years, Thor’s become one part of an unofficial trinity of heroes with Captain America and Iron Man that’s become a keystone for the larger Marvel Universe. And as someone who’s written Thor on several occasions, Kieron Gillen came up with a unique theory that could explain the larger relevance of the key Avengers and Thor’s place in that.
“I've got a vague rambling theory that the Avengers’ central trinity is a little like America's three traditional pillars--government, business and faith,” Gillen posits. “Thor does provide an ever-present sense of a higher purpose, as well as being a planetary-scale head-cracker. There's a moral authority there, but of a different kind than, say, Captain America. When writing THOR, I had him march across Hell for an issue. And he didn't say a word until the final panel. Why? Because what in Midgard's sake would Thor have to say to a bunch of demons?”
When it comes to Thor’s role as a hero and as an Avenger, Gillen is resolute in the integral role the son of Odin plays.
“Cap is the leader, but Thor is the backbone of the Avengers,” says the writer. “He'll carry the weight and never bend.”

http://marvel.com/news/story/18249/essential_avengers_thor_then_now

*Every interview with Gillen about Thor makes me 'love' the guy even more.

 

[plushbug]

Based on this article over on Newsarama my main prayer right now is that sales hold up sufficiently for him to get to do everything he has planned for JIM in the next couple of years, because this thought just blows my mind:

Nrama: You mentioned a couple of months back in an interview over at CBR that you see Journey Into Mystery as a finite story — about 30 issues, provided sales hold up to allow that. Has that always been your plan for the book, or is that more how the story has evolved over the past year?
Gillen: I've always known the majority of the final issue. I've always known what the final image will be. I've always known where it was going. The only question was what the exact route to it would be. JIM isn't the sort of book that runs off flowcharts. It's about the god of chaos and mischief. It required a more raconteur-esque structure, allowing elliptical storytelling, playfulness and profitable detours. So when I started, I didn't know whether it would be 15 issues or 50 issues. I just knew where they'd lead.
I have it all planned to the conclusion now. It's going to be appropriately JIM, in its brutality and whimsicality. There will be laughter, cheers and tears before it's all over.

...but I seriously hope he gets Thor back, at some point. I don't know that I totally agree with everything I've seen in his runs on the title, but his take on the character is just so damn intelligent I'd love to see more.

 

[BigThor]

I love the way Thor's described as the "backbone" of The Avengers in the interview Odinson posted, that quote is just so full of win. t:

 

[Gamma Burst]

WHEN TWO TRIBES GO TO WAR: "AVX" - THE HEAVY ARTILLERY

The heroes of the Marvel Universe can perform many frightening and awe inspiring feats such as cracking mountains, controlling the elements, and altering the fabric of reality itself. When they fight one another it's truly a spectacle, but when they go to war against each other you get an epic conflict that can literally shake and change the world.

That's exactly what will happen this April when an all-star team of Marvel creators presents the 12-issue "Avengers Vs. X-Men" maxi-series. In today's edition of WHEN TWO TRIBES GO TO WAR, our look the important elements and characters of "AVX," we look at some of the more powerful and prominent characters of the conflict. How dangerous are these characters? What's motivating them? And what might happen if they lose control of their powers? Joining us to answer these questions and more are "Uncanny X-Men" writer, Kieron Gillen; "Avengers Academy and "X-Men: Legacy" writer, Christos Gage; "Hulk" writer, Jeff Parker; Senior Editor Nick Lowe who's in charge of the X-Office; and Senior Vice President of Publishing and Executive Editor, Tom Brevoort, whose office oversees the Avengers titles.

If you're just joining us feel free to get caught up by reading our first installment of the series where we discussed how various loyalties will come into play in "AVX," and our second installment where we examined the four "generals" of the conflict. Don't worry, our artillery strike won't begin until you get back!

Read the full interview:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37424

*This particular bit made me smile*:

Interesting! The Witch's power is quite intimidating, but so is the power of another long time Avenger, Thor. Will we get a chance to see how devastating Thor is in action against the X-Men? Or will he be using all his power to confront something equally intimidating, the Phoenix Force? If so, what kind of battle will that be?

Brevoort: As we've already shown in the preview of "AvX" #1 we've been running, Thor's going to be at the forefront of the Avengers away team tasked with preventing the Phoenix from ever reaching the Earth -- so he's going to be away from the team vs. team fighting at least at the outset. When facing something akin to the Phoenix Force, Thor is one of the very few Avengers capable of operating very comfortably on that level. But assuming he gets back to Earth and enters the combat with the X-Men, he'll be a pretty unstoppable force. I wouldn't bet on the Juggerlossus against him, for instance.

 

[Panthro]

I love the way Thor's described as the "backbone" of The Avengers in the interview Odinson posted, that quote is just so full of win. t:

Thor should be the backbone of every operation he takes part in.

 

[runawayboulder]

The Avengers are never really the same when he's not around. He certainly leaves a major void, so does Cap for that matter.

 

[BigThor]

Read the full interview:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37424

*This particular bit made me smile*:

Interesting! The Witch's power is quite intimidating, but so is the power of another long time Avenger, Thor. Will we get a chance to see how devastating Thor is in action against the X-Men? Or will he be using all his power to confront something equally intimidating, the Phoenix Force? If so, what kind of battle will that be?

Brevoort: As we've already shown in the preview of "AvX" #1 we've been running, Thor's going to be at the forefront of the Avengers away team tasked with preventing the Phoenix from ever reaching the Earth -- so he's going to be away from the team vs. team fighting at least at the outset. When facing something akin to the Phoenix Force, Thor is one of the very few Avengers capable of operating very comfortably on that level. But assuming he gets back to Earth and enters the combat with the X-Men, he'll be a pretty unstoppable force. I wouldn't bet on the Juggerlossus against him, for instance.

Woahhhhh s***, that just put a huge smile on my face because I LOVE it when writer's play up Thor's power.

That's why I cant wait for us to get a Thor tv show, because The Avengers is great but the full extent of his power can't be shown due to the "team work" nature of the show.

Thor should be the backbone of every operation he takes part in.

Definately

The Avengers are never really the same when he's not around. He certainly leaves a major void, so does Cap for that matter.

Yep, I feel the exact same way whenever he's not with the team.

 

[MMMMM...Pancakes]

The Avengers are never really the same when he's not around. He certainly leaves a major void, so does Cap for that matter.

I feel exactly the same way, Cap and Thor are essential for Avengers IMO. I couldn't care less about Iron Man, though.

 

[Gamma Burst]

Thor- June Solicitations

MIGHTY THOR #15 & 16
MATT FRACTION (w) • PEPE LARRAZ (a)
CoverS by WALT SIMONSON

ISSUE #15
• The communal nightmare continues for the nine realms as the Mares run wild
• The Enchantress completes her latest masterpiece of madness and mayhem: the transformed Dr. Donald Blake!
• What if someone dreamed of a death metal god hungry for power and revenge?

ISSUE #16
• Transformed into…the DECONSECRATOR!
• Enchantress and her Keep unleashed upon a slumbering Asgardia!
• Besieged in dreams and in waking life! When will this nightmare ever end…?
32 PGS. (EACH)/Rated T+ …$3.99 (EACH)


JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #639
Kieron Gillen (w) • RICHARD ELSON (a)
Cover by STEPHANIE HANS
ASM IN MOTION VARIANT ALSO AVAILIBLE

• The MANCHESTER GODS dread URBAN PANTHESISM arises in the north of Otherworld, the British Subconscious!
• Don’t look panicked. We just mean “Civil War”. A Civil War that Asgardia refuses to interfere in.
Publicly. Behind the scenes, Loki is a one-man intervention force.
• Also: Secret mission from Hela!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99


JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #640
KIERON GILLEN (w) • RICHARD ELSON (a)
Cover by STEPHANIE HANS

• Otherworld Aflame!
• Can the Knights of the Round Table, Merlyn, Arthur, and even Captain Britain himself resist the power of the infernal, industrial North!?!
• Meanwhile Loki’s mission deep inside the Manchester God itself discovers something that changes everything...
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99






THE MIGHTY THOR ANNUAL #1
J.M. DeMatteis (w) • Richard Elson (a)
Cover by Patrick Zircher
Variant Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS

• Thor caught in a war of eons between two cosmic entities!
• Can even Galactus and the Silver Surfer tip the balance?
• An eternal game for the fate of the universe enters its final match, with Oblivion himself ready to take the prize!
56 PGS./ ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$4.99

 

[Vartha]

My latest Thor

 

[Vartha]

MAN, wish Art Adams did an interior Thor story

 

[Gamma Burst]

MAN, wish Art Adams did an interior Thor story

Same here, mate! I'm a big fan of his work, and I've loved every Thor rendition I've seem from him.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I love how Loki's gotten drafted into doing all of Asgardia's dirty work. I also love that Gillen's crossing the series over with Otherworld. I love British folklore and magic and Captain Britain. Can't wait for that.

 

[Gamma Burst]

I'm also a big fan of it!

 

[Vartha]

I love how Loki's gotten drafted into doing all of Asgardia's dirty work. I also love that Gillen's crossing the series over with Otherworld. I love British folklore and magic and Captain Britain. Can't wait for that.

I almost feel sorry for Loki at times lol. Tho I think the banter between Loki and Leah are something I love more. Like the Warriors III interactions. lol

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah. I hope they're not completely cold toward each other after Loki commanded Leah to do something last issue.

 

[moraldeficiency]

Yeah. I hope they're not completely cold toward each other after Loki commanded Leah to do something last issue.

He'll make it up to her, they'll be bffs yet. Then she'll probably die as the catalyst for him becoming evil again.

 

[Gamma Burst]

He'll make it up to her, they'll be bffs yet. Then she'll probably die as the catalyst for him becoming evil again.

Yeah, that's very probable,imo.

 

[moraldeficiency]

It'll be one of those things where all the good he tries to do will result in everyone he loves dying and him becoming "loki" loki over it or him needing to become more powerful to save them all so he has to merge with ikol to save them so he gives up himself. Something like that, definitely. Gillen said it was going to be bittersweet.

 

[plushbug]

Yeah. I hope they're not completely cold toward each other after Loki commanded Leah to do something last issue.

He'll make it up to her, they'll be bffs yet. Then she'll probably die as the catalyst for him becoming evil again.

I'm hoping she'll cool down from totally disgusted with him once she sees his scheme work. And I'd like to hope it sinks in that he's right, they've got to cut to the chase in dealing with Nightmare, taking him on sleeper by sleeper just doesn't cut it, and that what he's done isn't just about saving his own life, here.

I think the prospect that really scares me, is that she'll turn out to be meaning it, when it comes to her disparaging views of him. It was one thing when we had her back in the Fear Itself issues saying "I am not Loki's girlfriend...I'm only waiting here for him because Hela said so..." and one kind of goes "Yeah, riiight, as nobody's mentioned girlfriends so far, sounds like the lady doth protest just a bit much!" and then they had things going back and forth during the attack on the Serpent's fortress, and it looked like they were both having fun with that...but in this latest arc, the tone's shifted a bit. There's a cooler, more consistently unimpressed and bored tone to her zingers that has me wondering if we aren't going to be handed it at some point, that yes, actually, all her protection of Loki has just been about her doing her job as Hela's handmaiden. Especially now we've had the bit about Hela still having work for him. (??)

Gotta admire the way thinking about this provokes imagining all the nasty possibilities.

 

[Vartha]

hehe Still snicker when I read Thori's reaction to Son of Satan. "will you be my master?"

 

[plushbug]

hehe Still snicker when I read Thori's reaction to Son of Satan. "will you be my master?"

The smitten look in those glowing little red eyes is just delightful.