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!"
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Next up in the omnibus is Marvel Comics 1998 Annual Starring Silver Surfer & Thor between issues #4 and #5, but I didn't buy it then and I refuse to read it now. It takes after Thor's return to Earth from the "Heroes Reborn" universe and reunion with the Avengers, but before Thor #1, so it has absolutely no bearing on this story whatsoever. It is written by Tom DeFalco , and the art is so ugly as to be virtually unreadable.
ISSUE #5:
This issue's story plays out against a backdrop of Chucky Diamond's radio show, who is bad-mouthing Thor. Jake Olson meets Jane Foster and considers telling her his secret, but they are interrupted by Dr. Keith Kincaid, Jane's husband. Hannah works at the same hospital (something to do with computers). Meanwhile, a deliveryman makes his way across town while listen to Chucky Diamond's talk show. While on an emergency call, Jake performs a surgical procedure he is not authorized to perform, but saves the patient's life. By this time, the deliveryman has arrived at the radio station and attempts to kill Diamond. Jake heard the call on the police radio, however, and Thor stops him. Thor's hammer seems temporarily posessed. In Asgard, Majeston Zelia, Perrikus and Adva take over the abandoned city.
ISSUE #6:
The story opens with a flashback to Thor's childhood. He and Loki are evesdropping on Odin discussing a race of Gods intent on attacking and destroying Asgard. Actually, Thor/Jake is dreaming of an event which actually happened and he had mostly forgotten. Marnot continues to interfere in his life. Jake is to be honored at a ceremony naming him "Paramedic of the Year." The award is to be given to him by Captain America. Jake refuses to accept. Intro: Thomas ryan, Jake's boss. Jane Foster seems to suspect something's up with Jake. Thor seeks help from Hercules in determining what happened to Asgard. They travel to Olympus, only to find it destroyed and abandoned as well.
ISSUE #7:
The Dark Gods taunt Odin. Apparently he jilted Majeston Zelia at some point in the distant past. In the ruins of Olympus, thor is attacked by first Hermes, then Ares, then Atlas. Hercules has been stripped of his immortality at this point (since Avengers #384), but the other Olympians do not attack him. Thor loses control of Mjolnir once again. Next, Pluto arrives, and finally Zeus. Zeus explains how the Asgardians attacked Olympus at the same time Odin learns that the attack was an illusion cast by the Dark God D'Chel. Hercules sides with the Olympians, but Thor refises to fight. Hercules changes sides, and Zeus sends them both back to Earth. From the Chucky Diamond show, Hercules learns that the Thunderbolts are really the Masters of Evil and heads off to Thunderbolts #22, while Thor continues his quest for the missing Asgardians.
'99 ANNUAL:
Those of you who were reading comics 27 years ago may recall that Thor did not "Return" at the same time as the other "Heroes." He showed up, weeks later (story-time), in Avengers (v3) #1, sporting a beard (which he did not have in the "Heroes Reborn" universe). This story's framing sequence takes at sometime in the recent past or the near future, but the main story tells "The Secret Odyssey of Thor and Dcotor Doom" and takes place prior to issue #1 of the series under discussion. Unlike the Silver Surfer & Thor "annual" (which I did not buy then and did not read now), I did buy and read this one in 1999. Also unlike SS&T, this one does tie in to the ongoing series. It is not only written by Dan Jurgens and inked by Klaus Janson, it is also pencilled by Dan Jurgens. It is a good "done-in-one" story, unfortunately it interrupts the flow of the narrative when inserted between Thor #7 and #8. If nothing else, it explains how Thor had time to regrow his beard by Avengers #1.
NEXT: Spider-Man
ISSUE #8:
Thor attempts to return to Asgard but is repelled. In the Realm Eternal itself, the Dark Gods are holding gladitorial matches and forcing Odin to watch. first up is an emaciated Balder the Brave vs. Perrikus. (A demon named Tokkots had wanted the kill, but was driven away by Majeston Zelia.) Perrikus easily defeats (kills?) Balder. On Midgard, circumstances (*cough* Aunt May *cough*) bring Peter Parker to Memorial Hospital. Jake Olson and Jane foster are both working. Demitrius objects to having his picture taken by Peter for a photo essay/tribute. Tokkots appears and is met by Spider-Man and Thor. Tokkots is one of those annoying "rhyming demons," which Spider-Man plays off of: "Mighty Spidey is the guy--who's here to knock you out of the sky"; "Any loser can make a rhyme--but precious few can battle crime!" Tokkots splits himself in two, and the action continues in Peter Parker, Spider-Man #2.
PETER PARKER, SPIDER-MAN #2:
Mjolnir fails to return and ends up taking out a news chopper hovering nearby. Spidey pursues the hammer while Thor saves the helicopter. thor is on a time limit to regain the hammer before reverting to Jake Olson. Spider-Man continues to ridicule Tokkots' rhyming ("I do not like verse here or there, I do not like it anywhere!"). Aunt May is befreinded by Hannah (whose last name is Fairmont, BTW), who recognizes her from the hospital. Tokkots has a painful reaction to Peter Parker's pager. Working together, Thor and spidey manage to drive him away (back to Asgard, where Thor is currently unable to follow). Peter Parker and Jake Olson meet and shake hands in their civilian identities. This issue is written by Howard Mackie, and drawn by J.R., Jr.
ISSUE #9:
Like it says on the cover: "Revealed! The Secret of the Dark Gods!" This issue is written by Dan Jurgens, but drawn by the "special guest artists" John Buscema and Jerry Ordway. I may not number Buscema's run(s) on those as one of the three "definitive" ones, but in truth any issue he does of any series, indeed every issue of every series, is definitive. And inked by Jerry Ordway, this is one of the best artisit pairings in the title's history. Plus, this issue features not one, but two classic Kirby-designed characters: Replicus (#141) and Orikal (#138-139). Thor learns of Narcisson, which is to Asgard as Apokolips is to New Genesis. In his mortal identity, Jake Olson bonds with Amanda at last.
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