Episode 1614 Talkback - Spotlight on The Mighty Thor in the Silver Age
Adam_Murdough
Posts: 506
Whosoever downloads this podcast, if they be worthy, shall possess the knowledge of... Thor in the Silver Age! Chris Eberle spins the titanic tale of how Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and friends permanently expanded the definition of what superhero characters and stories could be, by incorporating the ancient mythology of the Norsemen into the modern mythology of Marvel Comics. Hearken to the origins of Marvel's Mighty Thor, his fabled homeland of Asgard, and his friends, foes, and family, and wonder at his earliest adventures, which take him from the streets of New York to the furthest reaches of space! Cosmic grandeur awaits! (3:02:02)
Listen ye here!
Behold ye also the video version!
Listen ye here!
Behold ye also the video version!
Comments
You guys were half right about it happening at the conclusion of the original series, as at the time Marvel was using their dual numbering scheme; both the main number since relaunch, and the original numbering for the title, appeared on the cover in the info box.
He was also a playwright, and a very successful concert organizer, which he did alongside his comic-book writing career.
That’s what she said.
My first strong memory of Thor was in an issue featuring Odin on earth fighting members of the Egyptian Pantheon. I remember a beautiful John Buscema splash page with Odin fighting an Egyptian god, swinging a car by the rear bumper. Beautiful stuff!
http://peerlesspower.blogspot.com/2014/05/humble-pipe.html?m=1
http://comiccoverage.typepad.com/comic_coverage/2007/04/odin_allknowing.html
Cheee! Yeah, Stan had a good point there. Though George's heart was undoubtedly in the right place, I don't think the world was quite ready for a special All-Napping issue of Thor!
Of course, with the slow-moving, "decompressed" storytelling that defines today's comics, maybe George (if he's still reading comics) finally got his wish for relaxed, action-free superhero stories.
Re: Donald Blake's most recent appearances.. Matt Fraction touched on Blake, both in his Iron Man AND Thor runs. In Fraction's 2nd Iron Man arc, Blake has a pretty key role. Tony essentially wipes his mind to keep Norman Osborn from getting any chance of discovering all the superhero registrations from Civil War (This was in Dark Reign). Stark gives power of attorney to none other than Donald Blake (knowing that Thor and Cap could eventually restore him.. I suppose I won't spoil the rest). Point is, Blake very much was in that story.. I think 2009 or so was when that came out?
Fraction also had his Thor run not too much later and I remember Thor speaking with Blake in it, who was characterized as a sort of non-corporeal entity in one of the early issues.. as was mentioned by you guys. That was also pretty recent- last 5-6 years or so.
Not sure if Fraction continued on with those concepts for Blake in either run, I eventually dropped both of them (They were just OK, and I had other books that were more floating my boat at the time). But FWIW.
There's a video on youtube that goes into some of those side-by-side comparisons of Kirby's work on Thor and the New Gods. It is a 4-part series. The total time if you watch all 4 parts is less than an hour. The Thor/New Gods talk starts around the mid-way point of part 3.
Anti-Life Equation Themes of Jack Kirby Part 3
The combination of good Marvel superheroics, Norse mythology, and space adventures was a natural draw for me when I started reading comics in the Bronze Age.
Again, I appreciate your work on these episodes and will keep listening as long as you grace us with your time and effort. Thanks, guys (and gals when you have Dani or any other female participants)!