With the release of "Thor" on May 6, 2011 and "Captain America: The First Avenger" on July 22, 2011, Marvel.com presents the Essentials, a series of articles showcasing each character's expansive history and mythology in the Marvel comics.
From character retrospectives to a look at memorable storylines and interviews with key creators, the Essentials will act as the perfect guide for fans both old and new! Look for new Cap Essentials every other Monday and Thor Essentials every Thursday as we head toward the release of each film!
And for even more on "Thor" visit the film's official teaser site as well as its hub page right here on Marvel.com!
By Matt Powell
This week in Essential Thor we discuss the famed run of writer Dan Jurgens and artist John Romita, Jr.; Jurgens' writing pitted Thor against some of the biggest threats he's ever faced as well as his own morals while Romita, Jr.'s pencils crafted a unique view of the Asgardian's world. From the bustling locale of New York City to the majestic beauty of distant planets, Romita, Jr. left a mark on the title as lasting as the battle scars on mighty Mjolnir.
The Mortal Thor
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| Thor vs. the Destroyer |
As evidenced by his Viking lineage and endless tales of battle, Thor is a warrior born. But while Thor adopted Midgard as his second home, he took solace in knowing he wasn't shackled to any of its inhabitants' mortal restraints. Jurgens challenged Thor's mythic power and freedom in his inaugural issue in a brawl with the invincible Destroyer.
Romita Jr.'s cinematic pacing and vibrant pencils in the ensuing battle pushed readers' eyes across the page as every bone-shattering blow and energy blast lavished each panel in epic detail, culminating in Thor’s death at the hands of the Destroyer.
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| Jake Olson |
During the fight, however, Thor unleashed the full power of the storm on his opponent. Unknown to the Odinson, the mortal and EMT technician Jake Olson selflessly tried to save the life of a wounded civilian and, while caught in the midst of the maelstrom, died as a result. Following Thor’s death, the enigmatic Marnot granted an opportunity for the Thunderer to return to the living if he assumed the life and guise of the noble mortal he unknowingly killed. Thor accepted the identity of Jake as penance for his actions and tried to resume the life of the mortal. However, Jake's day-to-day responsibilities soon frustrated the god used to soaring the skyways unbound.
Under Jurgens' pen, Thor vocally protested his mortal reparations to Jake Olson. However, once Thor learned the fate of his beloved Asgard, coupled with his continued immersion into Olson's identity, the mighty Avenger developed a deeper understanding of mortal life.
Thor died in battle with the Destroyer in THOR Vol. 2 #1 and bonded with the mortal Jake Olson in THOR Vol. 2 #2, both of which may be found in THOR BY DAN JURGENS AND JOHN ROMITA, JR. VOL. 1.
The Dark Gods
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| Thor vs. Perrikus |
In crafting villains for his run, Jurgens added depth to the already rich legacy of Asgard and literally had Thor unearth the lost enemies of Asgard's past. Following their freedom, the Dark Gods--Perrikus, Adva, and their lord, Majeston Zelia--quickly sought to resume their revenge plot against their Asgardian oppressors and shaped the eternal realm in their dark image. With Odin, Balder, and Lady Sif imprisoned, Perrikus turned his attention and hatred to Thor, who had previously defeated him in the Odinson's youth.
Thor's one-on-one mêlée with the dark god Perrikus not only dropped the jaws of readers but also shook the Odinson's faith in his hammer, Mjolnir. In a battle to free his Asgardian host, Thor held nothing back and channeled all his frustration into a single hammer throw. Perrikus deflected Thor’s attack and sliced through the enchanted mallet, dispersing its power and revealing disbelief and fear in Thor's eyes. A thunderous pummeling from Perrikus awaited Thor, until he narrowly escaped via the involuntary transformation back to his mortal identity of Jake Olson.
Despite his mortal form, Thor's resolve kept him alive as he found himself shackled in the muck-filled depths of his warped home. Compelled by his desire for freedom and seeing the oppression of his brother-in-arms, Volstagg, Thor fought his way back to Perikkus to regain his hammer to prepare for his final confrontation with his enemies.
Perrikus destroyed Mjolnir in THOR Vol. 2 #10 while Thor released himself of his enslavement and repaired his hammer in THOR Vol. 2 #11, both of which are collected in THOR BY DAN JURGENS AND JOHN ROMITA, JR. VOL. 2.
Once Enemies, Now Allies
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| Thor and the Destroyer vs. the Dark Gods |
To further bring Thor down to a human level, Jurgens added humility to Thor's mortal arsenal. As Thor regained his hammer from Perrikus he swiftly departed, much to the surprise of the captured Asgardians and his father, who thought his son a coward. Unknown to Odin, Thor departed to enlist the aid of the being which killed him, the Destroyer. Thor's nobility allowed him to humble himself in asking for aid from his powerful foe with the offer of restoring the life force stolen by the armor back to his mortal body. Thor additionally garnered the aid of the Prince of Power, Hercules, who also sought vengeance against the Dark Gods who destroyed his home of Olympus. The trio fought valiantly against legions of adversaries to free their captured brethren and liberate Asgard.
Thor went to the Destroyer and Hercules for help and freed Odin, Balder, Sif and Asgard in THOR Vol. 2 #11-12, collected in THOR BY DAN JURGENS AND JOHN ROMITA, JR. VOL. 2.
It's Not The Hammer, It's the Enchanter
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| Enrakt |
Jurgens continued to strip the Odinson of his godly comforts by subtly hinting at an apparent separation between Thor and Mjolnir, which lapsed in returning to Thor's hand per its enchantment. The separation came to a head when Thor fought the Absorbing Man and hurled his hammer at the villain. Mjolnir did not return to his master upon reaching the full extent of the throw, but rather collided and embedded itself within the side of a building. Without the hammer in his possession, Thor would revert to his Jake Olson identity without any means to transform back. As Olson attempted to regain Mjolnir, he was rejected and immobilized by Enrakt, one of the Enchanters and a foe from Thor's past.
Mjolnir first disobeyed Thor in THOR Vol. 2 #5, while Thor fought the Absorbing Man and finally confronted Enrakt in THOR Vol. 2 #14. These tales can be found in THOR BY DAN JURGENS AND JOHN ROMITA, JR. VOLS. 1 and 3, respectively.
The Mad Titan Thanos
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| Thanos and Mangog |
In his final arc with artist Romita, Jr., Jurgens allied two formidable opponents who could easily aggravate Thor on their own with nothing less than the fate of the universe at stake. The mad titan Thanos and his servant, the nigh-invulnerable Mangog, journeyed to bring balance to the cosmos in the form of unequivocal death. Thanos' death plot tasked him to find three items: the Chalice of Ruins, the Map of All-Ending, and the Illumination stone. When combined, these three objects would lead Thanos to the identity of the Designate, Tarene, whose fabled tears would give the beholder the ability to cause endless death throughout the universe. Thor chased after the duo to prevent their acquisition of the items, but despite his partnership with the former herald of Galactus, Firelord, he suffered at the hand of the beastly Mangog.
As the embodiment of a billion, billion souls, the savage Mangog's power is undeniable. Mangog and Thor knew each other well in the throes of war, however the beating delivered to Thor in defense of the Designate, Tarene, left the hero defeated and unconscious. Thor vindicated himself in his last confrontation with Mangog by shocking the beast with internal blasts from Mjolnir that cast him into the depths of an abyss. Thor then turned his attention to Mangog's master, Thanos. Armed with new weapons empowered by Odin, Thor engaged Thanos and hammered the would-be tyrant into submission.
Thor's battle with Thanos and Mangog spanned THOR VOL. 2 #21-25, all of which you can find in one handy volume in THOR BY DAN JU8RGENS AND JOHN ROMITA, JR. VOL. 4.
