Thor is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby, the character first appears in Journey into Mystery #83 (Aug. 1962) and is based on the god of the same name from Norse mythology.

Publication history

Writer-editor Stan Lee described Thor's genesis:

[H]ow do you make someone stronger than the strongest person? It finally came to me: Don't make him human — make him a god. I decided readers were already pretty familiar with the Greek and Roman gods. It might be fun to delve into the old Norse legends.... Besides, I pictured Norse gods looking like Vikings of old, with the flowing beards, horned helmets, and battle clubs.  ...Journey into Mystery, needed a shot in the arm, so I picked Thor ... to headline the book. After writing an outline depicting the story and the characters I had in mind, I asked my brother, Larry, to write the script because I didn't have time. ...[A]nd it was only natural for me to assign the penciling to Jack Kirby....

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, in a popular and critically acclaimed run.

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 mainstream Marvel continuity and, with many other Marvel characters, re-imagined in an alternate universe for one year. His series' title reverted to Journey into Mystery with issue #503 (Nov. 1996), and ran four different, sequential features ("The Lost Gods", "Master of Kung Fu", "Black Widow", and "Hannibal King") before ceasing publication with #521 (June 1998).

When Thor and the other heroes returned to the Marvel Universe, the 85-issue Thor vol. 2 was launched, premiering with #1 (July 1998). This series began using dual numbering, as if the original Thor series had continued unbroken, with issue #36 / #538 (June 2001). At the time, the Marvel Comics series begun in the 1960s, such as Fantastic Four and The Amazing Spider-Man, were given such dual numbering on the front cover, with the present-day volume's numbering alongside the numbering from the original series. Dan Jurgens was writer for a majority of this series' run, leaving with issue #79 (July 2004). Scot G. Eaton joined him, as penciller, on #68-79. They were followed by co-writers Daniel Berman and Michael Avon Oeming and penciller-inker Andrea Di Vito for the "Avengers Disassembled" crossover storyline through the final issue #85 / #587 (Dec. 2004)

A third volume titled Thor premiered with a first issue cover-dated September 2007. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and penciled by Olivier Coipel.

Fictional character biography

The Marvel version of Thor is noble and very self-assured, sometimes to the point of arrogance. Thor's father Odin 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.

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 battles against supervillains, monsters, cosmic beings, and even other gods.

Thor's principal foe is his adopted brother Loki, who has hated Thor since childhood. Although a master of magic, Loki usually avoids direct confrontations for fear of angering Odin. He is discreetly responsible for the creation and awakening of three of Thor's principal foes: the Absorbing Man; the Wrecker, and the Destroyer. On one noteworthy occasion, Loki's tactics are accidentally beneficial - although successful in using the Hulk to draw Thor into battle, it results in the formation of the superhero team the Avengers, of which Thor is a founding and longstanding member.

Thor's mortal foes include the Radioactive Man; Grey Gargoyle; and Wrecking Crew. Thor's Asgardian foes include the Storm and Frost Giants; the Enchanters Three;Mangog; the Midgard Serpent, the Enchantress and Executioner and the fire-demon Surtur. Thor has also faced a number of mystical and cosmic foes, such as Mephisto, Thanos, the God Eater, the Dark Gods, the Shi'ar Praetor Gladiator, and the god-slayer Desak. Thor has also encountered the Fourth Celestial Host when it arrives to judge Earth.

The Reigning

The majority of the second volume of the title deals with the consequences of Thor's decision to intervene in the affairs of Earth. 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 a stasis, sleeping "the sleep of the gods." With his fate unknown to the Avengers, he is believed to be missing in action.

Thor's hammer Mjolnir is found on Earth and put under U.S. Army protection. Sometime later, the supervillain Doctor Doom is escaping from Hell as Mjolnir falls through that dimensional plane, and tries unsuccessfully to claim the hammer, which eventually comes into the possession of a man carrying a bag with the initials "D.B". During a battle in the superhero "Civil War" between pro- and anti-Superhuman Registration factions, Thor seems to appear and kills the superhero Goliath. This "Thor" is later revealed to be a fusion of cloning technology and cybernetics created by scientists Reed Richards and Henry Pym, and is destroyed by anti-registration superheroes Storm and Hercules.

New beginning

Donald Blake, upon touching the hammer Mjolnir, is transported to the void where Thor has been in hibernation. Blake explains that when Odin originally removed the Blake persona from Thor, Blake was transported to the void Thor now inhabits, and was returned to New York City when Thor broke the Ragnarök cycle. Blake convinces Thor to wield Mjolnir once more, return to Earth, and renew the dual identity with Blake. Blake also reveals that Thor's fellow Asgardians are not dead but hidden on Earth.

Thor rebuilds Asgard in Broxton, Oklahoma, paying for the land with Asgardian treasure. He then learns of the events of the superhero-registration "Civil War" and is angered that Tony Stark (Iron Man) and others used his DNA to create a Thor clone that killed Black Goliath. Following a savage beating at the hands of his former ally, Stark, in a desperate offer to placate Thor, suggests Asgard may be considered a foreign embassy, with diplomatic immunity granted to its inhabitants. Thor accepts but warns that matters between them are far from settled and commences the search for his fellow Asgardians, and although successfully restoring them all (with the exception of Sif who is trapped in an old woman's body), does not attempt to find his father, Odin. He eventually finds his father in Valhalla, waging constant battle with the fire demon Surtur. There Odin advises his son that Thor must lead the Asgardians.

Thor later rescues and heals ally Beta Ray Bill, who after being given Mjolnir aids Thor in a battle against an invading force of alien Skrulls.

Powers and abilities

Thor's physiology also results from his status as a hybrid member of the race of superhumans known as Asgardians and his mother Gaea. Like all Asgardians, Thor is not truly immortal but relies upon periodic consumption of the Golden Apples of Idunn to sustain his lifespan, which to date has lasted many millennia. The strongest of the Norse gods, Thor has performed feats such as lifting a large part of the World Serpent, stated to be one third the size of the Earth , and hurling the Odinsword, an enormous mystical blade, through a Celestial. If pressed in battle, Thor is also capable of entering into a state known as the "Warrior's Madness" ("bärsärkargång" in Norse), which will temporarily increase his strength tenfold. He also possesses virtually inexhaustible godly stamina, high resistance to physical injury (eg. rocket fire, falls from orbital heights ), immunity to all Earthly diseases, and superhuman agility and reflexes.

Thor is a superb hand-to-hand combatant, trained in the Asgardian arts of war, and has mastered most Asgardian weaponry, especially the war hammer, sword and mace. He is also cunning and intuitive in battle, with many centuries of experience. Thor possesses two items that assist him in combat: the enchanted Belt of Strength, and his mystical hammer Mjolnir. The first item doubles his attributes when he wears it (but physically drains him after wearing it), while the second is used for control of his weather abilities; flight; energy projection and absorption; dimensional apertures; matter manipulation and the most powerful of his offensives, the God Blast, and the Anti-Force. At one time, due to Odin's enchantment, while in Earth's dimension, Thor would revert to his mortal form if separated from his hammer for over sixty seconds. Thor has also worn a suit of Asgardian battle armor that he designed or a pair of strong iron gauntlets. He sometimes uses a chariot-like vehicle pulled by two large enchanted goats, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder.

After Odin's death, Thor inherited his father's power, the Odinforce. Thor was then capable of feats such as reconstructing the Earth's Moon, willing the Asgardian monster Mangog into nothingness and, by focusing his entire power into a hammer throw, even decapitated a Desak-occupied Destroyer. Thor later briefly acquired mastery of the Runes, and a level of enlightenment that allowed him to free Asgard from the eternal cycle of Ragnarok, becoming even more powerful than his father.

Enemies

Other versions

In mainstream comic continuity

Beta Ray Bill

An alien from the Korbonite race, Bill warrior proved worthy to lift Mjolnir and was soon afterwards awarded the mystical hammer Stormbreaker by Odin as a reward.

Eric Masterson

Eric Masterson is initially bonded with Thor after Thor is punished for apparently killing Loki. Masterson carries the mantle of Thor for several years, continuing his roles as a member of the Avengers and protector of Midgard. Thor is eventually freed, and in gratitude for his services, Odin provides Masterson with an enchanted mace, which he uses under the alias of Thunderstrike.

Red Norvell

Part of a documentary crew brought to Asgard by Loki, Roger "Red" Norvell meets and falls in love with Lady Sif. Red Norvell is given Thor's Iron Gauntlets and Belt of Strength by Loki to compete with Thor for Sif's affections, with neither realizing this was part of a master plan by Odin to create a surrogate God of Thunder to die fighting the Serpent of Ragnarok and fulfill the prophecy.

Other versions

Earth X

In this universe, Thor and most of the other Asgardians are members of a shapeshifting alien race, with forms and identities determined by the imagination of "Odin", a human Norse storyteller. Thor is made to take on a female form in order to teach him humility, but later returns to his male form, and eventually decides to permanently adopt the persona of Dr. Donald Blake. The Asgardian who previously took on the role of "Loki" chose to become the new Thor.

MC2

In this universe, Thor is the King of Asgard, while Eric Masterson's son Kevin is a member of A-Next, a next-generation version of the Avengers.

1602

In the Marvel 1602 alternate possible past, a version of Thor appears with an alter ego of an elderly Christian priest named Donal — an allusion to Thor's original secret identity Donald Blake. Donal fears and despises his alter-ego, believing that the shared existence will damn him.

2099

Set in a possible future year 2099, the role of Thor is taken by Cecil MacAdam, who belongs to a class of priests known as "Thorites" who worship the original version of Thor.

Age of Apocalypse

In the fictional crossover event "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, traveling with Gwen Stacy to provide aid in human refugee camps.

Dargo Ktor

Dargo Ktor is the host of a 26th-century version of Thor, who is empowered when holding Mjolnir, a subject of worship in that century.

Marvel Mangaverse

A version of Thor appears briefly and aids the heroes against an other-world version of the villain Dormammu.

Marvel Zombies

Thor appears as a cannibalistic zombie wielding a makeshift version of a hammer composed of a concrete block and pipe as he is no longer worthy to wield Mjolnir.

Spider-Ham

Thor appears as a dog called The Dog of Thunder.

Ultimate Marvel

Thor is a member of the superhero team the Ultimates in the Ultimate Universe. Despite his claims to be a Norse god, he is regarded by many to be delusional. When Thor summons an army of Asgardian warriors to fend off an attack by demonic forces commanded by Loki, the Ultimates realize he truly is a god.

In other media

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's Donald Blake identity appeared in the 1980s Spider-Man episode "Wrath of the Sub-Mariner" voiced by Jack Angel.
• 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 Eric Allan Kramer, and Donald Blake by Steve Levitt. The TV-movie was to be a backdoor pilot for a Thor television series.

Marvel animated universe

• Thor has a cameo in the second episode of the Phoenix Saga in the X-Men Animated Series.
• Thor also guest stars in two episodes of the Fantastic Four animated series voiced by John Rhys-Davies.
• John Rhys-Davies reprises his role as Thor in the Incredible Hulk with Mark L. Taylor voicing Donald Blake.
• Thor is seen in the opening credits of The Avengers: United They Stand.

Film

• An animated version of Ultimate Thor appears in the direct-to-video animated features Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2, and is voiced by Dave Boat.
• Thor makes an appearance in the direct-to-video animated movie Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow after his daughter, Torunn, prevents Ultron from regenerating by nearly sacrificing herself. He is voiced by Michael Adamthwaite.
• Screenwriter Mark Protosevich has been hired to write a script for a live-action Thor film. In December 2007, he described his plans for it "to be like a superhero origin story, but not one about a human gaining super powers, but of a god realizing his true potential. It's the story of an Old Testament god who becomes a New Testament god".

Video games

• Thor is a partner assist in Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes.
• Thor is mentioned in Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro.
• Thor appears as a playable character in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance voiced by Cam Clarke.

Bibliography

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 (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
• Thor (a.k.a. The Mighty Thor) #1-   (July 2007 - )

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)

One-shots and limited series

• Thor - I, Whom The Gods Would Destroy (1987; Marvel Graphic Novel #33)
• Thor Corps #1-4 (Sept.-Dec. 1993)
• 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 (Sept. 2003 - Jan. 2004)
• Thor: Son of Asgard #1-12 (May 2004 - Jan. 2005)
• Thor: Blood Oath #1-6 (Nov. 2005- Feb. 2006)
• Thor: Ages of Thunder #1 (June 2008)
• Thor: Reign of Blood #1 (Aug. 2008)

Notes

References

• Marvel Directory: Thor
• The Power of Thor!
• The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
• Larry Lieber interview, Alter Ego vol. 3, #2 (Fall 1999)

External links

• Marvel.com: Thor (wiki)
• The Immortal Thor of Asgard (fan site)
• Comparing Thor of myth with Marvel's Thor
• Alan Kistler's History of Thor - A full history of Thor with various image scans and commentary by comic historian Alan Kistler.