Thor (Marvel Comics)

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Thor
Art by Mike Deodato.
Publisher Marvel Comics First appearance Journey into Mystery #83 (August 1962) Created by Stan Lee Larry Lieber Jack Kirby Based on the mythological character
Characteristics Full name Thor Odinson Species Asgardian, from Asgard Affiliations Asgard Avengers Warriors Three Thor Corps Notable aliases Dr. Donald Blake, Jake Olson, Sigurd Jarlson Abilities Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, speed and reflexes, Extended lifespan, Weather control Via Mjolnir: Flight Energy projection Dimensional travel Matter manipulation Force blast

Thor (often called The Mighty Thor) is a fictional character and a superhero appearing in the Marvel Universe. Based on the god of the same name from Norse mythology and created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Journey into Mystery # 83 (Aug. 1962). The uncredited initial inker was Joe Sinnott.^[1]

Contents 1 Publication history 2 Fictional character biography 2.1 Protector of Midgard 2.2 The Reigning 2.3 Civil War 3 Powers and abilities 4 Other versions 4.1 Eric Masterson 4.2 Age of Apocalypse 4.3 Marvel 2099 4.4 26th Century Thor 4.5 Ultimate Marvel 4.6 Marvel 1602 4.7 Marvel Mangaverse 5 In other media 5.1 Television 5.2 Video games 5.3 Film 5.4 Toys 6 Bibliography 6.1 Main series 6.2 Annuals 6.3 One-shots and limited series 7 See also 8 References 9 Links

[edit] Publication history

Writer-editor Stan Lee described Thor's genesis as following the creation of the Hulk. "I thought it would be fun to invent someone as powerful as, or perhaps even more powerful than, the Incredible Hulk. But how do you make someone stronger than the strongest human? It finally came to me: Don't make him human — make him a god,".^[2]

Following Thor's debut in the science fiction/fantasy anthology title Journey into Mystery, the 13-page feature "The Mighty Thor" continued to be plotted by Lee but scripted by Lee's brother Larry Lieber or Robert Bernstein (working under the pseudonym "R. Berns"). Penciling was by either Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck, or, for a single issue, Al Hartley. Then with Journey into Mystery #101 (Feb. 1964), the series began a long and definitive run by Lee and Kirby that lasted until the by-then-retitled The Mighty Thor #179 (Aug. 1970).

The five-page featurette "Tales of Asgard" was added in Journey into Mystery # 97 (Oct. 1963) followed by "The Mighty Thor" becoming the dominant cover logo with issue #104 (May 1964). The feature itself expanded to 18 pages in #105, which eliminated the remaining anthological story from each issue; it was reduced to 16 pages five issues later.

Journey into Mystery was retitled The Mighty Thor with issue #126 (March 1966). "Tales of Asgard" was replaced by a five-page featurette starring the "The Inhumans", from #146–152 (Nov. 1967 – May 1968), after which featurettes were dropped and the Thor stories reverted to Marvel's then-standard 20-page length.

Once Kirby left the book, John Buscema and Neal Adams each drew a few issues. Buscema became the regular artist with issue #182 (Nov. 1970) and continued to draw the book almost without interruption until #278 (Dec. 1978).

Lee stopped scripting soon after Kirby left, and during Buscema's long stint on the book, the stories were mostly written by Gerry Conway, Len Wein or Roy Thomas.

Thomas continued to write the book after Buscema's departure, working much of the time with the artist Keith Pollard, but for several years The Mighty Thor had a changing creative team.

Walt Simonson took over both writing and art as of #337 (Nov. 1983). Simonson's run as writer-artist lasted until #367 (May 1986), although he continued to write – and occasionally draw – the book until issue #382 (Aug. 1987).

He introduced many popular characters, such as Beta Ray Bill, and dealt with Ragnarok, the end of the world prophesied in Norse mythology, as brought on by the fire demon Surtur.

Simonson's run was popular and critically acclaimed, and is often considered to be the modern definitive take on the character since the original Lee-Kirby run.^{[3] [4]}

After Simonson's departure, Marvel's editor-in-chief at the time, Tom DeFalco, became the writer. Working primarily with artist Ron Frenz, DeFalco stayed on the book until #459 (Feb. 1993).

As a consequence of the "Heroes Reborn" crossover event of the 1990s, Thor was removed from Earth-616 and revamped in a new universe. The title reverted to Journey into Mystery with issue #503 (Nov. 1996).

When Thor and the other heroes eventually returned to the Earth-616 Marvel Universe, a new Thor title (Thor vol. 2) was launched, which received dual numbering halfway through the run. This second Thor series ran 85 issues (July 1998–Dec 2004), with dual numbering beginning as of vol. 2, #36, with the final issue in the old numbering being #587. (At the time, the Marvel Comics series begun in the 1960s were given dual numbering on the front cover, bearing the present-day volume numbering along with numbering from the original series.) Dan Jurgens was writer for a majority of this series' entire run, leaving with issue #79, prior to the Avengers Disassembled crossover storyline in Thor #80-85 by writer Mike Avon Oeming and artist Andrea Divito.

Marvel announced in 2006 that Thor will receive a new solo title, to be written by J. Michael Straczynski, in 2007.^[5]

[edit] Fictional character biography

The Marvel version of Thor is noble and very self-assured, sometimes to the point of arrogance. Thor's father Odin (ruler of the Norse Gods) decides his son needs to be taught humility and consequently places Thor (without memories of godhood) into the body and memories of an existing, partially disabled human medical student, Donald Blake.

After becoming a doctor and thoroughly believing himself to be the young surgeon Blake, he later discovers Thor's disguised hammer and learns to change back and forth into the Thunder God. The real Blake's persona remains elsewhere until many years later, after Odin becomes satisfied of Thor's humility and lifts the spell, thereby removing the need for a mortal alter ego. The mortal experience, however, shapes Thor into an honorable and courteous individual, who is loyal to all comrades. His membership with the Avengers also gives him a great respect for human nature at its best.

Thor, along with other Marvel Asgardians, has a distinctive, stylized manner of speech that resembles Elizabethan English. He often uses archaic words like "thou," "verily," and "nay."

[edit] Protector of Midgard

Being the son of the Elder Goddess Gaea, Thor has a natural affinity for Earth and feels obliged to protect the mortals that occupy it. Thor's time on Earth is marked by constant battles against super villains, monsters, cosmic beings and even other gods.

Thor's principal foe is his adopted brother Loki, who has hated Thor since childhood. While a master of magic with power that dwarfs even that of Earth's Sorcerer Supreme Dr. Strange, ^[6] Loki prefers to employ the use of minions in his battle against Thor. Ever the schemer, Loki is cautious not to be seen to be directly involved for fear of angering Odin. To that end, Loki creates two long-lasting foes — the Absorbing Man and the Wrecker. Loki also tricks others into fighting on his behalf, such as the giant Asgardian troll Ulik, the dragon Fafnir and the Silver Surfer.

Sometimes, however, Loki overreaches himself and faces disaster. Guiding a mortal to the shrine of the Asgardian Destroyer — which then absorbs the mortal's essence and battles Thor — almost proves fatal for Loki, as Odin became aware of the conflict and promises that should Thor perish, the trickster god would quickly follow. On another occasion, Loki uses the Hulk as a lure to draw Thor out; while this proved successful, it resulted in the formation of the superhero team the Avengers, of which Thor is a founding and longstanding member. ^[7]

Thor's other mortal foes include the Wrecking Crew and the Grey Gargoyle, but among his most powerful foes are the Asgardian monsters as Mangog, the Frost Giants, the Enchanters Three, the Executioner, Malekith the Accursed, the Midgard Serpent and the fire-demon Surtur. Thor's gallery of mystical/cosmic rogues extends to Mephisto, Thanos, the God Eater, the Dark Gods, the Sh'iar Praetor Gladiator, and the god-slayer Desak. Thor has even fought against the combined might of the Celestials, when their Fourth Host arrived to judge Earth. ^[8]

[edit] The Reigning

Much of the second volume of the title deals with the consequences of Thor's decision to intervene in the affairs of Earth. ^[9] After reluctantly assuming the throne of Asgard, Thor sees mortals at their worst and reshapes the world in his image.

A nightmarish future follows as Thor and the Asgardians conquer Earth and slay or imprison those who oppose them, including a young religious mutant called Davis; Zarrko the Tomorrow Man; Perrikus of the Dark Gods; the U.S. Government, and even his fellow Avengers. He marries Amora, the Enchantress, and has a son, Magni.

Wracked with guilt, Thor is eventually drawn into a final battle with Tarene and a Desak-occupied Destroyer in a time-travel bid to undo what he has done.

As soon as the timeline is reset, Loki revives Surtur, who forges new uru hammers for Loki's Storm Giant followers and begins Ragnarok, a.k.a. Götterdämmerung or "the twilight of the gods".

Thor learns that the Ragnarok cycle is the result of self-styled "gods to the gods" known as Those Who Sit Above in Shadow, who feed on the cycle.

Thor confronts the Norns (Fates), breaking the Ragnarok cycle, and then enters hibernation in deep space. With his fate unknown to the Avengers, he is believed to be missing in action. ^[10]

[edit] Civil War

Two years later and just prior to the events of Civil War, Thor's hammer Mjolnir is found on Earth and put under U.S. Army protection. Six months later, Doctor Doom - who escapes from Hell as Mjolnir falls through that dimensional plane - tries unsuccessfully to claim the hammer. The hammer is later claimed by a mysterious man carrying a bag with the initials "D.B". ^[11]

A clone of Thor - grown by Reed Richards and Hank Pym from hair fragments taken by Stark himself during an early Avengers meeting and fused with Pym's cyborg technology - brings a battle between the heroes to a standstill when he kills Goliath with what is later revealed to be a technological copy of Mjolnir. ^[12] The clone is later destroyed by the immortal hero Hercules who uses the clone's own weapon against him. ^[13]

[edit] Powers and abilities

Thor is the Norse god of thunder and lightning. Like all Asgardians, Thor is not truly immortal but relies upon periodic consumption of the Golden Apples of Idun to sustain his lifespan, which to date has lasted many millenia.

The strongest of the Norse gods, Thor has performed feats such as lifting part of the World Serpent's mass and hurling the Odinsword, an extra-dimensional object of incredible power, through a Celestial. ^[14] Thor possesses tremendous superhuman strength rivaling other Marvel powerhouses such as the Hulk, Hercules, and Gladiator. He also possesses godly stamina, is highly resistant to physical injury and possesses superior speed and reflexes. If pressed in battle, Thor is capable of entering into a "berserker rage" which will increase his strength tenfold. ^[15]

Thor is also a superb hand-to-hand combatant and has mastered a number of weapons such as the war hammer, sword, and mace. Thor is also very cunning and intuitive in battle, with many centuries of experience. Thor possesses two items that assist him in combat: the Belt of Strength and his mystical hammer Mjolnir. The first item doubles Thor's strength, ^[16] while the second is used for flight; weather control; energy projection; dimensional control; matter manipulation and the most powerful of Thor's offensives, the God Blast ^[17] and the Anti-Force. ^[18] Thor also possesses a pair of gauntlets which enable him to wield Mjolnir when using these latter offensives. ^[19]

Thor eventually inherits the Odinforce, and becomes as powerful as his father, Odin. In this form, Thor is capable of manipulating vast amounts of energy for a variety of purposes including temporary augmentation of physical attributes, energy projection, matter manipulation and interdimensional teleportation. While in possession of the Odinforce, Thor is capable of decapitating a Desak-occupied Destroyer with one hammer throw. Thor later acquired the knowledge of the Runes and a level of enlightenment that allowed him to free Asgard from the eternal cycle of Ragnarok. Leaving Asgard to become "Endgame Thor" and a cosmic deity, he entered into hibernation in an unknown location in space. ^[20]

[edit] Other versions

[edit] Eric Masterson

Eric Masterson is initially bonded with Thor after a life-threatening injury, and after Thor is punished for (seemingly) killing Loki, has control of Thor's form. Thor is eventually freed and Odin then gives Masterson an enchanted mace, which he uses under the alias of Thunderstrike.

[edit] Age of Apocalypse

In the Age of Apocalypse, Donald Blake never discovers that he is the reincarnation of Thor, and is instead an agent of the Human High Council and a doctor, travelling with Gwen Stacy to provide aid in human refugee camps.

[edit] Marvel 2099

Set in the future of Marvel 2099, the role of Thor was taken by a man called Cecil MacAdam, who belongs to a class of priests known as "Thorites."

While the true Thor remained missing, Mjolnir was discovered and used briefly by a resurrected Captain America in the 2099: Manifest Destiny oneshot.

[edit] 26th Century Thor

Dargo Ktor is the host of the 26th Century Thor and later teams up with Eric Masterson and Beta Ray Bill in the limited series "Thor Corps".

[edit] Ultimate Marvel

Main article: Ultimate Thor

Thor is a member of the superhero team the Ultimates in the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Although considering himself to a be a Norse god, he is regarded by many to be delusional.

[edit] Marvel 1602

Thor appeared in Marvel 1602: his alter ego was an elderly Christian priest named Donal; a throwback to Thor's original secret identity Donald Blake; who avoids making the transformation if possible for fear of damning his soul.

[edit] Marvel Mangaverse

Thor's Mangaverse version was introduced in the 2002 Eternity Twilight one-shot, in which Thor battled the Hulk.

[edit] In other media

[edit] Television

• Thor's first appearance in television was in the segment "The Mighty Thor" of the syndicated, anthological animated television series The Marvel Superheroes, originally syndicated in 1966.

• Thor appeared in an episode of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends titled "Vengeance of Loki" (1981/1982)

• Thor appeared in the live action TV-movie The Incredible Hulk Returns. Thor was played by Erik Kramer, and Donald Blake by Steve Levitt. This Thor was a viking warrior summoned via a magic hammer that also gave off electrical bursts, but he was not as powerful and god-like as the comic character. The TV-movie meant to serve as a backdoor pilot for a Thor television series.^[21]

• Thor has a cameo in one part of the X-Men Animated Series.

He has guest starring roles in two episodes of the Fantastic Four animated series voiced by John Rhys-Davies.

John Rhys-Davies reprises his role as Thor in an episode of the Incredible Hulk animated series where he forces Hulk to Detroit to help Gargoyle find a cure for a gamma virus.

[edit] Video games

• Thor is a main character in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. He is voiced by Cam Clarke.

• Thor has a cameo appearance in Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes.

• Thor is mentioned in the Spider-Man video game.

• At the end of Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro, the Daily Bugle runs an article stating that Thor was the hero who defeated Hyper-Electro.

[edit] Film

• In mid-2006, Marvel Studios announced plans to release a Thor feature film scripted by Mark Protosevich.^[22]

• Ultimate Thor appears in the direct-to-video animated features Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2. He is voiced by Dave Boat.

• Thor is referenced in the 1987 film Adventures in Babysitting, with a blond-haired garage mechanic named Dawson (played by Vincent D'Onofrio) whom one of the young children believes is Marvel Comics' Thor.

[edit] Toys

• In the 1970's, Mego released a Thor action figure, one of many Marvel characters released by them. This figure is one of the primary characters used by Toyfare: The Toy Magazine for their comic strip Twisted ToyFare Theater.
• A Thor action figure was released by Toy Biz in the early 1990's as part of their Marvel Superheroes toyline.
• Toy Biz released a Thor action figure as part of a boxset of the Original Avengers. This set also included action figures of the Giant-Man, Hulk and Iron Man as well as miniture figures of Ant-Man and Wasp.
• A short-lived Avengers toyline was produced by Toy Biz which included both Thor and his half-brother Loki.
• Thor has appeared twice in the Toy Biz's Marvel Legends toy line. His first figure was produced for Wave 3 of the line. Another figure was later produced for their Giant-Man Series.
• In 2007 when Hasbro took over the Marvel line, the company announced that "Lord of Asgard" Thor would appear in the second wave.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Main series

• Journey into Mystery #83-125   (Aug. 1962 - Feb. 1966)
• Thor (a.k.a. The Mighty Thor) #126-502   (March 1966 - Sept. 1996)
• Thor Corps #1-4   (Sept.-Dec. 1993)
• Thor (a.k.a. The Mighty Thor; #1-85   (July 1998 - Oct. 2004)
  • Cover-titled The Mighty Thor: Lord of Asgard from #45-67; The Mighty Thor: Lord of Earth from #68-#79

[edit] Annuals

• Journey into Mystery Annual #1 (1966)
• Thor (a.k.a. The Mighty Thor) Annual #2-19   (1966 - 1994)
• Thor Annual '98; '99; 2000; and 2001  (1998-2001)

[edit] One-shots and limited series

• Thor: Rough Cut #1 (Sept. 1998; pencil-only reprint of Thor vol. 2, #1)
• Thor: Godstorm #1-3 (Nov. 2001 - Jan. 2002)
• Thor: Vikings #1-5 (2004)
• Thor: Son of Asgard #1-12 (May 2004 - Jan. 2005)
• Thor: Blood Oath #1-6 (Nov. 2005- Feb. 2006)

[edit] See also

• Thor Girl
• Beta Ray Bill

[edit] References

[edit] Links

• Marvel.com Bio
• MDP: Thor - Marvel Database Project
• Marvel Directory entry for Thor
• Larry Lieber interview, Alter Ego vol. 3, #2 (Fall 1999)
• The Grand Comics Database
• The Immortal Thor of Asgard