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.

Contents

[edit] Depictions in modern popular culture

[edit] Comics

Marvel Comics' Thor
Marvel Comics' Thor
Thor (front) and Loki as depicted in the animated cartoon Valhalla
Thor (front) and Loki as depicted in the animated cartoon Valhalla
  • Marvel Comics publishes a comic book series called The Mighty Thor, in which various depictions of the Norse Pantheon inhabit the Marvel Universe. Several elements from this version of Thor are original additions, most notably Thor's blond hair and clean-shaven face, or the fact that Mjolnir gives him the power to fly.
  • Thor is also a recurring character in Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon. In this version, Thor is physically closer to the original myth than in the Marvel series: he is red-haired, sports a beard, behaves like a Viking (he has a taste for rape and pillaging) and needs to wear the belt Megingjord and the special iron gloves that go with it to use his hammer Mjolnir (spelled "Miolnir" to further differenciate the character from the Marvel version).
  • Larsen's Thor plays a part in the origins of Kid Thor, another comic book character created by Robert Kirkman and Mark Englert in their mini-series Capes.
  • Thor also appears predominantly in Rob Liefeld's Supreme, a pastiche of Superman, in which the title character robs the thundergod of his enchanted hammer Mjolnir. As in the Marvel Comics, Mjolnir gives its bearer the power of flight.
  • Thor is also the main character of Michael Avon Oeming's Hammer of the Gods.
  • Thor also appears in Bill Willingham's Elementals series. Main Article: Thor (Comico Comics)
  • 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 an 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 the character Durkon Thundershield, a Dwarven priest. He is depicted as a comical party animal who is often prone to drunkenness and acts of rather questionable wisdom. He is often accompanied by an angel that acts as Thor's advisor, though generally has more common sense than Thor.
  • In the manga and anime Matantei Loki RAGNAROK, Thor is depicted as a teenager called Narugami who was sent to kill Loki by Odin. In the manga, he does not remember it at first; however, in the anime, he decides not to, seeing how he has no reason to do so.

[edit] Film

[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.
  • In Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, Thor is a playable character that can be summoned to help the main protagonist
  • Thor is also a playable character in Marvel Ultimate Alliance. A game in which you assemble a team of Marvel Comic's characters.
  • In the game Tales of Symphonia, when a cannon of super power is mentioned it is referred to as Thor's Hammer

[edit] Literature

[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"
  • The Norwegian hard rock band TNT has two 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".
  • The painting "Thor's battle against the giants", by Mårten Eskil Winge, appears in the cover of LP "Harbringer of Metal by Finnish doom metal band Reverend Bizarre.
  • The metal band "Amon Amarth" composes songs about Norse mythology and Thor is a common subject for their songs.
  • In the song No Quarter by Led Zeppelin, Thor is mentioned in the third line 'The winds of Thor are blowing cold'

[edit] Television

  • Thor is a recurring character in the Sci-Fi TV 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 experiment to see if it is possible to climb air shafts with magnets. As Jamie is coming up the shaft making tremendous noise, Adam exclaims "Thor, god of thunder, is trying to enter my building."
  • 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 sitcom Black Books, the bearded Manny is reprimanded by his abusive boss Bernard Black with the words "Oi, Thor, get on with it!"
  • Thor has also appeared in the cartoon, "Dave the Barbarian", to find his lost hammer.

[edit] See also

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