Thor: Son of Asgard
Encyclopedia
Thor: Son of Asgard is a comic book
series published by Marvel Comics
from March 2004
to January 2005
. Written by Akira Yoshida and illustrated by Greg Tocchini, the series follows Thor
's early adventures in Asgard
with Sif and Balder. It was originally a limited series
of six issues but, thanks to popular demand, it was later extended to an ongoing series
that lasted for twelve issues in total.
attack them. Working together, the three young warriors defeat them. After this feat, Odin decides to send them on a quest to find four mystical elements that will then be fashioned into an enchanted blade. The four items are: a scale from the dragon Hakurei; a feather from the snow eagle Gnori; a jewel from a mine of Jennia; and a vial of water from the Lake of Lilitha.
Both the Norn
Queen Karnilla
and Loki learn of the quest and separately try to stop the trio from completing it. However, when Karnilla captures Loki and attempts to convince him to aid her in overthrowing Odin, he refuses and instead informs Thor, Sif, and Balder of her plan. Sif, Balder, and Loki return to Odin to prepare for Karnilla's attack, while Thor completes the quest.
After the attack, Karnilla kills Thor with an arrow, but he is revived by the healing power of water from the lake and Sif's tears of love. Then the Norn Queen menaces the life of Loki. Balder offers his life in exchange for Loki's. He explains his action by the value of life and that there is good in every soul. Karnilla flees.
One month after the battle, the enchanted blade is finished. During a banquet, Odin presents the sword Svaden and gives it to Balder for his mercy and compassion.
, Sif now has now two rivals in the competition for Thor's affections. The two blondes remind her that she lost her golden hair, after Loki jealously cut it and replaced it with enchanted black hair made by dwarves. Taking advantage of her vulnerability, Amora and Loki work together to trick Sif into stealing the Mirror of Mycha.
The Mirror of Mycha is an enchanted mirror that, when the proper spell is cast upon it, will cause the person who is looking into it to fall in love with the person holding it. The legend says that only a woman's touch can give life to the mirror.
Loki casts the spell. Amora steals the mirror from Sif and uses it on Thor. Brunnhilda and Sif decide to fight together against the sorcerers. During the fight, Brunnhilda breaks the mirror and the spell over Thor vanishes. Sif has to apologize and explain why she would have tricked him with the Mirror of Mycha. Thor forgives her and they exchange their first kiss.
to learn how to succeed. They tell him that he must first face death. After his return to Asgard, he discovers that the Storm Giants have attacked the city and kidnapped Sif. Odin tells Thor to stay and guard Asgard and he and the gods will go rescue her. Due to his feeling for the young woman, Thor disobeys his father and finds himself worthy to lift Mjolnir.
On his horse Treibold, Thor travels to Jotunheim
. He defeats many Storm Giants to face Rugga, their king. Rugga tells him he was offered immortality by the Goddess of Death, Hela
, if he turned Sif over to her. Thor goes to confront Hela. During the confrontation, Hela threatens to kill Sif. However, when Thor offers himself in her place, Hela decides against killing him because it would not break Odin's heart as she had hoped since Thor would die an honorable death.
comics with Asgardians; however, Marvel chose finally to use a more modern tone. Akira Yoshida explained, "The first issue was lettered and I had already seen the proofs when my wonderful editor MacKenzie Cadenhead called and said that the general feeling at Marvel seemed to be to make the dialogue more colloquial. She explained that we should tone down the THYs and HATHs and NAYs, so younger comic fans could pick up the book and enjoy it as well without getting turned off by the older-sounding language."
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
from March 2004
2004 in comics
-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
to January 2005
2005 in comics
- January :* January 3: Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit, dies at age 87.-April:*April 13:**DC Comics announces the discontinuation of its Humanoids and 2000 A.D. titles....
. Written by Akira Yoshida and illustrated by Greg Tocchini, the series follows Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
's early adventures in Asgard
Asgard
In Norse religion, Asgard is one of the Nine Worlds and is the country or capital city of the Norse Gods surrounded by an incomplete wall attributed to a Hrimthurs riding the stallion Svadilfari, according to Gylfaginning. Valhalla is located within Asgard...
with Sif and Balder. It was originally a limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
of six issues but, thanks to popular demand, it was later extended to an ongoing series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
that lasted for twelve issues in total.
Plot
The series is composed of three storylines: "The Warriors Teen" (issues #1-6), "Enchanted" (issues #7-9), and "Worthy" (issues #10-12).The Warriors Teen
In Thor: Son of Asgard #1-6, titled "The Warriors Teen," Thor and his friends, Sif and Balder, have snuck into the trophy room and Thor tries to lift Mjolnir, without success. He states that someday, he will be worthy enough to lift it. Three giant spiders enchanted by LokiLoki (comics)
Loki is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. He is the adoptive brother and archenemy of the superhero Thor. He is based on the being of the same name from Norse mythology...
attack them. Working together, the three young warriors defeat them. After this feat, Odin decides to send them on a quest to find four mystical elements that will then be fashioned into an enchanted blade. The four items are: a scale from the dragon Hakurei; a feather from the snow eagle Gnori; a jewel from a mine of Jennia; and a vial of water from the Lake of Lilitha.
Both the Norn
Norns (Marvel Comics)
-Publication history:The Norns first appeared in Journey into Mystery #102 , and were adapted from mythology by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
Queen Karnilla
Karnilla
Karnilla is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Karnilla the Norn Queen is a sorceress and the Queen of Nornheim...
and Loki learn of the quest and separately try to stop the trio from completing it. However, when Karnilla captures Loki and attempts to convince him to aid her in overthrowing Odin, he refuses and instead informs Thor, Sif, and Balder of her plan. Sif, Balder, and Loki return to Odin to prepare for Karnilla's attack, while Thor completes the quest.
After the attack, Karnilla kills Thor with an arrow, but he is revived by the healing power of water from the lake and Sif's tears of love. Then the Norn Queen menaces the life of Loki. Balder offers his life in exchange for Loki's. He explains his action by the value of life and that there is good in every soul. Karnilla flees.
One month after the battle, the enchanted blade is finished. During a banquet, Odin presents the sword Svaden and gives it to Balder for his mercy and compassion.
Enchanted
In Thor: Son of Asgard #7-9, titled "Enchanted," Sif is the only girl in a class of male warriors until the arrival of Brunnhilda. With this female warrior and AmoraEnchantress (Marvel Comics)
The Enchantress is the name of two fictional characters in the Marvel Comics universe, the first of which is a powerful sorceress named Amora and is one of the most notable antagonists of Thor.-Publication history:...
, Sif now has now two rivals in the competition for Thor's affections. The two blondes remind her that she lost her golden hair, after Loki jealously cut it and replaced it with enchanted black hair made by dwarves. Taking advantage of her vulnerability, Amora and Loki work together to trick Sif into stealing the Mirror of Mycha.
The Mirror of Mycha is an enchanted mirror that, when the proper spell is cast upon it, will cause the person who is looking into it to fall in love with the person holding it. The legend says that only a woman's touch can give life to the mirror.
Loki casts the spell. Amora steals the mirror from Sif and uses it on Thor. Brunnhilda and Sif decide to fight together against the sorcerers. During the fight, Brunnhilda breaks the mirror and the spell over Thor vanishes. Sif has to apologize and explain why she would have tricked him with the Mirror of Mycha. Thor forgives her and they exchange their first kiss.
Worthy
In Thor: Son of Asgard #10-12, titled "Worthy," Thor, frustrated by his incapacity to wield the hammer Mjolnir, decides to travel to the NornsNorns (Marvel Comics)
-Publication history:The Norns first appeared in Journey into Mystery #102 , and were adapted from mythology by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
to learn how to succeed. They tell him that he must first face death. After his return to Asgard, he discovers that the Storm Giants have attacked the city and kidnapped Sif. Odin tells Thor to stay and guard Asgard and he and the gods will go rescue her. Due to his feeling for the young woman, Thor disobeys his father and finds himself worthy to lift Mjolnir.
On his horse Treibold, Thor travels to Jotunheim
Jötunheimr
Jötunheimr is one of the Nine Worlds and the homeland of the Giants of Norse Mythology — Rock Giants and Frost Giants.-Legend:...
. He defeats many Storm Giants to face Rugga, their king. Rugga tells him he was offered immortality by the Goddess of Death, Hela
Hela (comics)
Hela is a fictional character, the Asgardian goddess of death in the Marvel Comics universe, based on the Norse goddess, Hel. The ruler of Hel and Niffleheim, the character has been a frequent foe of Thor...
, if he turned Sif over to her. Thor goes to confront Hela. During the confrontation, Hela threatens to kill Sif. However, when Thor offers himself in her place, Hela decides against killing him because it would not break Odin's heart as she had hoped since Thor would die an honorable death.
Development
Originally, the dialogue was supposed to be written in "old world" style as in other MarvelMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
comics with Asgardians; however, Marvel chose finally to use a more modern tone. Akira Yoshida explained, "The first issue was lettered and I had already seen the proofs when my wonderful editor MacKenzie Cadenhead called and said that the general feeling at Marvel seemed to be to make the dialogue more colloquial. She explained that we should tone down the THYs and HATHs and NAYs, so younger comic fans could pick up the book and enjoy it as well without getting turned off by the older-sounding language."
Digests
- Thor: Son of Asgard, Vol. 1: The Warriors Teen, collects issues #1-6, October 20042004 in comics-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
, ISBN 978-0785113355 - Thor: Son of Asgard, Vol. 2: Worthy, collects issues #7-12, April 20052005 in comics- January :* January 3: Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit, dies at age 87.-April:*April 13:**DC Comics announces the discontinuation of its Humanoids and 2000 A.D. titles....
, ISBN 978-0785115724
Trade paperbacks
- Thor: Son of Asgard, collects issues #1-12, August 20102010 in comics-Events:*February 18: Jim Lee and Dan DiDio were announced as the new Co-Publishers of DC Comics, both replacing Paul Levitz.-January:*January 3: Tibet dies at age 78...
, ISBN 978-0785141563
Public reception
- Thor: Son of Asgard #9 reached the Top 300 list in terms of direct sales estimates in October 20042004 in comics-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
. - Thor: Son of Asgard #12 reached the Top 300 list in terms of direct sales estimates in January 20052005 in comics- January :* January 3: Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit, dies at age 87.-April:*April 13:**DC Comics announces the discontinuation of its Humanoids and 2000 A.D. titles....
. - Thor: Son of Asgard, Vol. 1: The Warriors Teen reached the Top 100 Graphic Novels/TPB's in terms of direct sales estimates in October 20042004 in comics-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
.
External links
- Thor comics at Marvel Comics' official site
- Thor: Son of Asgard at Marvel.com
- Thor: Son of Asgard at the Immortal Thor