At the end of Randy Jackson's "Walt Simonson's Thor" discussion last year, I posted: "I'm waffling between "Dan Jurgens' Thor" and "Walt Simonson's Ragnarok." I've finally made up my mind. Before I get to it, though, I would like to re-read Dark Horse's Norse Mythology series (18 issues total) by Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell and others as a warm-up. I pause now to complete that task...
VOLUME ONE:
- Thor & Avengers vs. Destroyer; Asgardian Gods missing; introduction: Jake Olsen
- Thor's life-force merged with that of Jake Olsen
- Versus Sedna, the Sea Spirit
- Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
- Radio talk show host Chucky Diamond smears Thor
- Guest-starring Hercules, the Prince of Power
- Zeus and the Olympian Gods
- Thor & Spider-Man vs. Tokkots
- "Revealed! The Secret of the Dark Gods!
- "Dark Wars" Pt. 1
- "Dark Wars" Pt. 2
- "Dark Wars" Pt. 3
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I first read the Ragnarok saga in a school library 60 years ago. The thought that gods could die -- nay, knew they would die -- was more compelling than anything that I read in the Greco-Roman stuff. It enraptured me. I was a Thor fan before I was a Thor fan.
I have, of course, read many versions of the Norse myths since. Variant translations of the Elder and Poetic eddas, Interpretations from other cultures (Teutonic, Finnish, Swedish, etc.), many version of Der Ring des Nibelungen, and so forth. So I'm no academic master when it comes to these stories, but I'm no amateur, either.
And what I came away with from these books is that P. Craig Russell's work was glorious and magnificent and eye-popping, as usual. But Gaiman's contribution, I thought, was written for children. It is the least sophisticated version I have ever read.
That's my opinion. Come at me if you like.
The credits confuse me:
Story and Words by NEIL GAIMAN
Script and Layouts by P. CRAIG RUSSELL
What's the difference between "Words" and "Script"?
I remember discussing the prose version of this book when it came out. I wouldn't disagree that it was written for children, but I think that's more of a feature than a bug.
My guess would be: Gaiman wrote the Norse Mythology prose book. So he wrote those words, and created (or rather adapted) the story.
But then Russell took that text and, retaining Gaiman's word choices, trimmed it and arranged it and edited it to be a script. Which he then worked from to make the art.
Whenever I am about to begin a "Thor" reading project, I almost always preface it by re-reading "Tales of Asgard"... especially since it was recolored using modern techniques. I read it as individual issues, then again when it was collected in hardcover, then again before finishing off Randy Jackson's aforementioned "Walt Simonson's Thor" discussion.
I gave it a pass this time, however, in favor of the "Warrior's Three" stories by Alan Zelenetz and Charles Vess. As difficult as it was not to read "Tales of Asgard" yet again, I couldn't pass "Warriors Three" because P. Craig Russell and Charles Vess' style are so complementary; the Norse Mythology collections flow right into Warriors Three Premiere Edition.
Here is what I had to say about the "Warrior's Three" stories back in 2019's "Marvel Fanfare" discussion:
#13: “Tales of Asgard” by Alan Zelenetz and Charles Vess. Bragi, the God of Poetry, has gone missing, and the Warriors Three need to find him before the festival. Marvel has tried to resurrect Lee and Kirby’s old “Tales of Asgard” series from time to time, mostly unsuccessfully. This is one of the few times it works. All of Zelenetz and Vess’s tales have been collected in a “Marvel Premiere Edition” hardcover.
#34-37: These four issues I bought new because: Charles Vess. Vess was born to do the Warriors Three and the Warriors Three were created to be drawn by Vess. In 2010, the late, lamented (by me) Marvel Premiere Classics Library line reprinted all four of these issues, plus #13, plus Marvel Spotlight #30 in volume 49 of the hardcover series. The only thing missing was The Raven Banner graphic novel.
There was a time, back in the early to mid-ninties, that I seriously didn't think Marvel would ever recover from the exodus of the Image crew. Not that I thought they were so great, but what Marvel replaced them with was even worse (not exactly "ready for prime time"). About the only titles Marvel had that were worth reading at the time were Peter David's Hulk and Mark Waid's Captain America. Then along came "Heroes Reborn" which dismantled most of what was left. But eventually the "Heroes" did, in fact, "Return," sparking a renaissance which lasted for quite some time. Even heroes who weren't "reborn" (such as Spider-Man), enjoyed a resurgence. But today (and for some time to come, I hope), I would like to take a look at Thor.
ISSUE #1:
The Asgardian Gods are missing. Introdicing paramedic Jake Olson (girlfriend: Hannah; partner: Demitrius). Thor subdues a homeless man named Hank Bradley, who claims to be Heimdal and is holding teachers and children hostage in a daycare center. Thor transports him to the ruins of Asgard which shocks him into telling the truth. Hela and her servant Volloa observe from Hel. Jake Olson's girlfriend has a daughter named Amanda. Jane Foster is a doctor now. Thor returns to Midgard to find the Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch) in the midst of battle with the Destroyer. Thor is beaten nigh unto death and Jake Olson is killed in an exposion.
NOTE: For this discussion, I plan to maintain a comprehensive overview in the initial post (as I am doing with each volume of The Golden Age Superman Omnibus in the "Superman from the Beginning" discussion), but I am also going to maintain the daily posts rather than deleting them (as I am doing in "The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told" discussion).
ISSUE #2:
Wanda casts a hex over Thor while the rest of the Avengers continue to assault the Destroyer (an Army colonel named Preston Case). Meanwhile, Thor comes to his senses in Hel, where he confronts Hela a new player, Marnot, who informs him about the death of the mortal, Jake Olson, and says that he can revive Thor but must first achieve balance. On Midgard, Demetrius breaks the news of Jake's death to Hannah. Thor returns to defeat the Destroyer, then feels compelled to fly away and strike his hammer. By this time, Hannah is letting herself into Jake's apartment to take care of some things and finds Jake himself stepping out of the shower. "Who--" he asks, "be you?"
This series, as I see it, is the third major era of Thor, following Lee/Kirby and Walt Simonson. Dan Jurgens' name is in the title of this thread, but credit should be shared with John Romita, Jr., and no less so inker Klaus Janson.
Looking forward to the crossover with Iron Man and Amazing Spider-Man in a few issues.
Well, perhaps not so few... it will come at #17.
I'll see you there... "if I be alive, and if your mind hold, and if my post be worth the reading."
ISSUE #3:
Thor tries to adjust to his new life merged with Jake Olson. Thor does not posess a complete set of Jake's memories, only vague notions. when in human form, he speaks in Jake's voice, but thinks as himself. He does not know how to tranform back to his own true body, or even if he can. He smoothes things over with Hannah, and agrees to pick Amanda up today after school (even though he does not know what she looks like). Elsewhere, an undersea exploration craft discovers Thor's old ship (circa Journey Into Mystery #120) and disturbs Sedna, the Sea Spirit. Demitrius is up to someting evil. Sedna and her sea serpent attack New York City, and "Jake" discovers he can transform into thor simply by pounding his fist on the ground. the sea serpent swallows Mjolnir and it fails to return. Sedna take Thor beneath the waves, and Jake fails to meet Amanda after school. She is approached by three shady-looking guys.
ISSUE #4:
Although Thor's "Don Blake" persona was abolished years ago, apparently the "60 second rule" which transforms Thor to his human self after being out of contact with Mjolnir for a minute is back in effect. Thor changes to Jake underwater, but is rescued by the Sub-Mariner. While Namor deals with Sedna, Jake tries to summon the hammer from inside the sea serpent. It works. Meanwhile, Amanda had the good sense to go back inside the school when confronted by the gang members last issue, but she is understandably upset by the situation (and doesn't like Jake in the first place), and was eventually picked up by Demitrius. Jake is in trouble with Hannah. Introduction: Majeston Zelia, Perrikus, Adva. Odin is their captive. the issue ends with Thor brooding alone in a bar,.
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