Thor in popular culture
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Thor appears frequently as a character in works of modern popular culture, largely due to his presentation as "Donner" (the German form of his name) in Richard Wagner's opera cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen. This subsequently lead to many depictions based off of this representation, although some are closer to surviving representations Wagner's opera was based on.
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[edit] Depictions in modern popular culture
[edit] Comics
- Marvel Comics publishes a comic book series called The Mighty Thor, in which various depictions of the Norse Pantheon inhabit the Marvel Universe.
- Thor is the hero, along with Odin and Loki in the Valhalla graphic novel series published in Denmark by Interpresse. Originally published in Danish, translations were made into Dutch, German, French, Swedish, and Finnish. Several animated movies were also produced from the series.
- Thor makes an appearance in DC Comics' Sandman comic series, written by Neil Gaiman. Thor is portrayed here as an overly muscular, red-bearded man, who eats his fill and hits on goddesses. He is also portrayed as a bit dim-witted, unlike in the Marvel universe. Thor also appears in DC Comics' Action Comics #761 (January 2000), where he teleports Superman and Wonder Woman to Asgard to fight a thousand-year war against an army of demons. Thor dies in battle and gives his hammer, Mjolnir to Superman. After Superman and Wonder Woman defeat the demons, Thor descends from the heavens and offers to grant them any wish they the desire. Their wish was to be returned to their own realm and time. Thor appeared in this story as a grizzled war-god. He stood about seven feet tall and wore gray armor with the letter 'A' for Asgard on his chest plates. He also had a winged helmet and wore a blue cape of fur.Thor makes a appearance in Jack Kirby's Fourth World #2 and JLE#31.
- Toothgnip, the title goat of the webcomic Goats, is Thor's third goat.
- Thor appeared in a Dilbert comic strip offering Dogbert a position, citing a need to "update the pantheon's image".
- Thor was the focus of a practical joke started by a Dilbert comic strip, whereby the prankster builds up static electricity from dragging their feet across a carpet, then greets an unwitting friend with the declaration: "Behold. I am Thor, God of Thunder."
- In the webcomic series Sparkling Generation Valkyrie Yuuki, Thor appears as a red haired and bearded young man who, after attacking Yuuki with his hammer, proceeded to train her to become a proper Valkyrie.
- In the webcomic The Order of the Stick, Thor is a recurring character, serving as the patron god of Durkon Thundershield, a Dwarven Cleric. He is depicted as a comical party animal who is often prone to drunkenness and acts of rather questionable wisdom.
[edit] Film
- Thor has a small but important role in the movie Adventures in Babysitting (inspired by the Marvel Comics version).
- Thor is featured in the 1989 Terry Jones comedy Erik the Viking, in which the title character goes on a quest to Valhalla.
- Thor appears in a low budget Italian barbarian film called 'Thor the Conqueror'. Released in 1983 and directed by Tonino Ricci.
[edit] Games
- The name "Thor" has been used as the name of a BattleMech in the MechWarrior series of games. Other Norse-inspired 'Mech names include "Loki", "Ymir", "Ragnarok", "Fenris", and "Valkyrie-mech". In the MechAssault series, the "Valkyrie" VTOL and the map "Jotenheim" are homages to Norse mythology.
- A DOS computer game called God of Thunder (later released as freeware) allows the player to play as Thor. [1]
- Thor was an ancient and technologically advanced civilization who mastered time travel in the world of Tales of Phantasia.
- In the Halo video game series, the Master Chief's battle armor is named Mjolnir, after Thor's hammer.
- On the radio stations in the game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Thor can be heard promoting his own series of self-help tapes.
- One of the summons in Golden Sun is Thor, in which he descends from the sky sends bolts of lightning to the opponent.
- Thor was one of the three main gods that could be worshipped while playing as the Norse in Age of Mythology.
- In the MMORPG Ragnarok Online Thor refers to the latest server implemented by Level-Up Games in the Philippines which features 3rd party protection system in the form of padded packets and RagDefender which was implemented in jRO. The server's launch date is on September 21, 2006.
[edit] Literature
- Thor is mentioned briefly in Neil Gaiman's American Gods novel.
- Thor appears in several novels by the late author Douglas Adams; namely, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and Everything, The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul, and The Salmon of Doubt. In The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul he is heavily involved in the plot.
- Thor is also written about as the manliest God in the book The Alphabet of Manliness by the internet satirist Maddox
- Thor is a minor character in K.A. Applegate's young adult fantasy series Everworld.
[edit] Music
- Thor, under the German form of his name, "Donner", appears in Richard Wagner's opera cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen. Near the end of das Rheingold he produces a thunderclap with his hammer, to reveal a rainbow bridge over which the gods can enter the newly-built Valhalla.
- Thor is also the stage name for the Canadian hard-rock solo artist and theatrical strongman, John Mikl, who owns the copyright for 'Thor the Rock God.' Mikl's career has spanned from the late 70's to the present (2006).
- Manowar wrote a song titled "Thor (the Powerhead)" as part of their 1984 album "Sign of the Hammer"
TNT (band) has several songs on their album Knights of the New Thunder that are about Thor. Tor with the Hammer (which the band Powergod covered, and Ready to Leave.
[edit] Television
- Thor is a recurring character in the Sci-Fi T.V. series Stargate SG-1. He is the Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet, where his species is portrayed as technologically-advanced little gray beings akin to the purported Roswell Greys. The Asgard are said to have inspired the Norse Mythology and the Futhark alphabet, which can be seen occasionally written on Asgard technology.
- Thor the Barbarian was the host of the fringe reality show of the same name.
- Thor's Hammer was used in the show First Wave as an alien device that could travel through time and alternate dimensions.
- Thor appeared in an episode of The Life and Times of Juniper Lee to stop Loki.
- It is stated that Norman in Mighty Max was once Thor, as well as other famous mythical heroes.
- A number of cartoons that featured Thor came out in 1966: Captain America, The Marvel Superheroes, and Mighty Thor. All were voiced by Chris Wiggins.
- On a april fools day episode of the The Drew Carey Show Thor is referenced by Mimi when Drew comes into the office wearing a viking helmet.
- Thor is also referenced on the discovery channel show Mythbusters in an expirement to see if it is possible to climb air shafts with magnents. As Jamie is coming up the shaft making trumendus noise, Adam exclaims "Thor, god of thunder, is coming up my air shaft."
- In the anime Saint Seiya, Thor was a human character who shared a name with the Norse God and worn an armor based on Jörmungandr, the sea serpent.
- In The British comedy Black Books Manny is told to "Get on with it Thor!" by his abusive boss Bernard.
- Thor has also appeared in the cartoon, "Dave the Barbarian", to find his lost hammer.
