The God of Thunder Finally On His First Feature Film...Hype On!!

It is pretty much to be expected that I will be reviewing the film “Thor” for Movie Hype since I am a Marvel comics nut and that I pretty much almost own (or owned, since I lost a small number in a flood) every issue of the comic series since Thor first appeared in “Journey Into Mystery”. I even used "Thor" as my profile avatar in this site for awhile (people asked me: "Is that He-Man?" LOL!). To hype up the film adaptation of Marvel’s own “God of Thunder”, let me just promote the film the only way I know best. Make an informed write up on the characters we’ve all seen in the trailers and what we’ve heard about in numerous blogs.  This is a guide if you will for potential watchers with no comic book background to promote the movie "Thor".  If you'd like to see my actual full review of the film, please click right here.

I still remember the first time I came across my first “Thor” comic book when I was 6 or 7. I was looking for a copy of the latest “Spider-man” and “Superman” comic when my brother told me that I should check out “Thor” (I didn’t know at the time he had the early issues hidden in his room). He said “he’s cooler than “Hulk” and way stronger than “Superman””. So here I was, and I immediately took his advise and I read my first “Thor” comic (titled ‘Turmoil in the Timestream”) and I’ve been addicted ever since. Little did I know that I was beginning a hobby that will become a passion up to this day.

But enough about my personal childhood memories. I know “Thor” isn’t as popular as the big red “S” or as familiar as the web-slinger. When J. Michael Straczynski and Oliver Coipel re-launched the Thor title after “Civil War” and before "Secret Invasion", I knew they re-created him to fit an adaptation in film. Judging from the trailers, this “Thor” is a wild blend of “Ultimate Thor” and Coipel’s designs. There is no Dr. Donald Blake and references an issue taken from “Fantastic Four” when Doctor Doom wanted to obtain Thor’s hammer (after his disappearance and assumed death) and it was guarded by the government. (See the final scene in Iron Man 2). I will do my best to keep things short….

Who is Thor? 

              



 


To be played by Chris Helmsworth. The Marvel character Thor is based on the Norse mythological god of thunder. Thor is known as Thor Odinson; the son of Odin, the ruler of the Norse gods and Gaea, the elder goddess also known as Mother Earth, and was created to be the most powerful hero in the Marvel Universe by Stan Lee. Thor was sent to Earth to live the life of a mortal man named Dr. Donald Blake so that he can learn humility. Thor is the strongest of the gods, his power only surpassed by his father Odin. His name is spoken in hushed whispers in the mountains of Jotunheim and monsters cower in fear at the mention of his name. He made his mark as the slayer of Storm and Ice giants; powerful beings who are about 200-300 feet tall. His arch-nemeses is the serpent that encircles the world called Jormangand and its father, Loki; the trickster and one of the most powerful sorcerers in all the nine worlds.

So how strong is Thor? Well, he has lifted the World (Midgard) Serpent (that weighed billions of tons), threw an 80,000 ton sword through a god-like celestial, he fought a war against the giants and trolls for 9 months without rest (constant combat with no food or sleep), he toppled the oldest being; a gigantic fire-demon called Surtur and can stop a huge 1000 foot mega-tsunami by hitting it with his hammer. His feats in the comic books are so amazing that fans waited for a battle between Superman and Thor. There is an unpublished/unfinished work that Superman actually got defeated by Thor but DC will not allow their flagship character to be treated as such ("powerful characters" are part of DC's marketing strategy). Only after 20 years (with Busiek and original JLA/Avengers artist George Perez at the helm) Marvel (recovering from near-bankruptcy)  agrees for “Thor” to take a dive to Superman in the 'new' JLA/Avengers crosssover (2003-2004). Marvel’s flagship is Spiderman after all, but look closely, Thor brushed aside Doomsday (monster that killed Supes) in issue 4 of that limited series. He even drove off GALACTUS from devouring an inhabited planet by making him fear for his own safety in an early issue.





Thor is the wielder of the enchanted hammer; Mjolnir the crusher. This is Odin’s greatest creation and is known as one of the most unstoppable weapons in the Marvel Universe. It can absorb and release energy, open portals to different plains of existence, summon and help channel the elements of storm which is Thor’s birthright, and is the bane of the World serpent. Oh, there is almost nothing that can resist its power when it is thrown. No one but who is worthy can lift it and so “Whosoever can hold this hammer if he be worthy shall possess the power of Thor” was inscribed on the hammer by enchantment. Only a few have lifted the hammer though some were allowed because of a universal threat and desperate need. Thor is one of the few characters who can defeat a mindless Hulk (arguably the strongest incarnation in Hulk # 300), and stand toe to toe with Thanos, who murdered half the universe’s population to pay tribute to his lover “Death”. (sounds pretty dark right?, casual comic fans usually regard Darkseid as being more evil than Thanos, but real readers, or as Lee calls them "True Believers" know the truth)

Who is Jane Foster?




Jane Foster is the nurse who worked under Dr. Blake who dared love a god. It may well be an attempt for woman-empowerment since she has dared to challenge the will of Odin though he had decreed that no immortal can love a human. She was infused with the spirit of the Lady Sif (goddess of time and space) so that she can have a chance to prove herself worthy. In current "Thor" continuity, she is now a medical doctor and has been married. However, the chemistry between god and mortal is still alive and Thor still cares deeply for Foster.  Jane is to be played by Natalie Portman.

Who is Odin?

                            

      


The ruler of the gods and the most powerful of this race of gods. He has enough power to destroy a galaxy and is the wielder of the Odin force; the birthright of all the sons of Bor. (Thor is the only heir to his power) As powerful as he is, his powers aren't limitless and requires the Odin Sleep to replenish his energies. Odin is seen as an excellent strategist though and has exhibited a cunning and methodical nature. Odin is to be played by Anthony Hopkins.

Who is Loki?




Loki is the adopted son of Odin and was born a storm giant (he was considered not normal because of his human-like size). He is the most powerful sorcerer (yes, the true sorcerer supreme) in the Marvel universe that he took on the entire X-men and Alpha Flight teams and they were nearly annihilated. He has access to the runes, and to the ancient magic that exist in the nine worlds. (norse mythology has 9 worlds: includes Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim, Niffleheim and Hel in the Yggdrasil the world tree) oh, yes, Loki can also become a woman...gender holds no limits for a sorcerer of his caliber and he is extremely hard to kill.



Who is the Destroyer?

 


A destructive force designed by Odin to be his weapon against the celestials. The Destroyer is the only thing in the nine worlds that is more powerful than Thor (other than Odin) but it usually depends on what life force gives it life (though a normal human can empower it and it will be stronger than Thor). It is almost virtually indestructible and being a creation of Odin, it can lift Mjolnir. The Destroyer has awesome firepower and strength.

So there you are, I tried to give you a background on the upcoming Thor movie. Watch it please, but expect it to be watered down since its budget was almost cut in half. For a movie like Thor to truly succeed, it has to have a budget that matches the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I am hoping for the best though!

Review of the film posted under Movie Hype!! right here.