I cop up front to never having read a single comic they’ve appeared in—though I desperately want to—but I think from observation and what I’ve gleaned via the Internet alone that I’m not wrong in saying few concepts could be more definitively 90’s than the Thor Corps.
I’ve said before that I didn’t read much Thor back when I was a kid, but I was dimly aware of the Thor Corps via stuff like Wizard, Marvel Age and just passing the covers in the shop. It was a concept that both baffled and delighted me as so many comic book-related things did at the time. I could understand the idea that somebody else could wear Iron Man’s armor, fill in for Batman or even make a claim—or four claims—to the name of Superman, but even I knew Thor was different than that; he wasn’t a costume or even a name to be passed down, he was a mythological figure whose whole deal was that he was in fact Thor, the Norse god of thunder. There couldn’t be four guys who were Thor.
And yet there were.
Actually there was another Thor in the Marvel Universe even before that, but that’s a story for another day…
Anyways, they made for a cool visual, and examining each character on their own, it’s actually a neat mix:
-The original and legitimate Thor; son of Odin, prince of Asgard and all that jazz.
-Thunderstrike, the “Everyman Avenger,” in reality architect Eric Masterson who got fused with Thor for a time and was in fact subbing for him when the Corps originally formed; he eventually got his own identity and ultra-90’s costume, sleeveless leather jacket and ponytail included.
-Beta Ray Bill, freaking phenomenal horse alien who proved worthy of wielding Thor’s hammer back in the Walt Simonson days, got his own golden mace, Stormbringer, and has been “oath brother” to the big T ever since.
-Dargo Ktor—‘Nuff Said.
So from what I’ve read, the Thor Corps formed when the original Thor’s old nemesis Zarrko the Tomorrow Man—great name—tricked Dargo into fighting Masterson, then Bill stepped in and they decided to join forces as what could have been the greatest hair band since Poison, but instead turned out to be a pretty solid super hero team who had a crazy time travel adventure. Later on, after Masterson became Thunderstrike, the band got back together with the real Thor along for the ride this go-around and fought a dude named Demonstaff.
It honestly sounds tremendous and I’m begging for a trade of this stuff to coincide with Thor’s movie next year.
More than that, now that I know guys like Dan Slott and Evan Skolnick are hanging on my every word here, I’m gonna appeal to whoever’s game, be it current Thor writer Matt Fraction, Thor Corps creator and steward Tom DeFalco, or even that Christos Gage kid if there are no other options: Let’s bring back the Thor Corps, guys!
I will guarantee you that if Marvel.com doesn’t make Dargo Ktor the shocking fan favorite character of 2011, it won’t be from lack of trying.
(Thanks to the aforementioned Mr. DeFalco for not only giving me a topic to write about tonight, but creating an idea here I seriously think sounds rockin’ and could have legs given the chance)
I love this post. I admired the Thor Corps art on the office wall today. It was glorious
ReplyDeleteDefinitely part of the inspiration for the post. When in doubt, post topics can just about always be found on the walls of the Marvel offices.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I have always been a fan of the Thor Corps, I think it's a great concept.
ReplyDeleteAs an Aussie science fiction writer I’ve been a Marvel Thor fan since the original Journey into Mystery of August 1962.
If you get a chance check out some of my Marvel (mainly Odin and Thor) fan fiction. Just scroll down below my author profile and you will see over 40 fan fiction stories here:
http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1276881/David_Scholes
Only read one issue, an old, ratty-looking one my best friend lent me in high school, and I have to admit it was pretty cool having all those Thors running around.
ReplyDeleteNothing to add, you just made me reminisce. *tear*
It kind of reminds me of another 90's power trio, Rod Stewart, Brian Adams and Sting singing "All for Love" on the Three Musketeers soundtrack. Come to think of it, putting together a redundant trio of frontmen seemed like a big thing in the 90's: Three Tenors, etc.
ReplyDeleteTom, I don't think I speak only for myself when I say the world would love to see you drawing Thor Corps, possibly in a crossover with Rod Stewart, Brian Adams and Sting.
ReplyDeleteGosh, there is so much effective material here!
ReplyDeleteThis will not really have effect, I consider like this.
ReplyDelete