Here at Comic Booked, we love our super heroes. We also like to think that we can be pretty tolerant of just about anything that the comic book companies want to throw at us. Even when things get a little crazy, we are still very supportive and, while we may not always agree, we can at least understand the reason behind the changes. This time, though… I am not so sure.
Believe me, this is already a very Thor subject with a lot of people.
I wrote an article a while ago about crossing the genders of our favorite characters. Mostly it was meant as a joke, but there are some truths that we need to evaluate. But, first, lets see what all the hoopla is about. Here is an excerpt from the Marvel press release:
This October, Marvel Comics evolves once again in one of the most shocking and exciting changes ever to shake one of Marvel’s “big three” – Captain American, Iron Man and Thor – Marvel Comics will be introducing an all-new THOR, GOD OF THUNDER. No longer is the classic male hero able to hold the mighty hammer, Mjölnir, a brand new female hero will emerge will who will be worthy of the name THOR. Who is she? Where did she come from and what is her connection to Asgard and the Marvel Universe?
“The inscription on Thor’s hammer reads ‘Whosoever holds this hammer, if HE be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.’ Well it’s time to update that inscription,” says Marvel editor Wil Moss. “The new Thor continues Marvel’s proud tradition of strong female characters like Captain Marvel, Storm, Black Widow and more. And this new Thor isn’t a temporary female substitute – she’s now the one and only Thor, and she is worthy!”
Series writer Jason Aaron emphasizes, “This is not She-Thor. This is not Lady Thor. This is not Thorita. This is THOR. This is theTHOR of the Marvel Universe. But it’s unlike any Thor we’ve ever seen before.”
THOR is the latest in the ever-growing and long list of female-centric titles that continues to invite new readers into the Marvel Universe. This female THOR is the 8th title to feature a lead female protagonist and aims to speak directly to an audience that long was not the target for Super Hero comic books in America: women and girls.
So, we know that Thor will become unworthy of the power granted him by Odin and thus no longer be able to wield the power of Thor. This means that someone has to come along and take up the hammer. No problem. I am good with that part. After all, the Power of Thor has been granted to others in the past.
Puddlegulp, formerly football star Simon Walterson, was a frog that Thor helped (when Thor was turned into a frog) to defeat rats when the two races were at war. Afterwards, a sliver of Mjolnir was left behind and Puddegulp lifted it and was turned into Throg, Frog of Thunder. Funny, but a great storyline. Add to this list a huge host of other characters including Captain America, Hulk, Superman, Wonder Woman, and various versions of Thor.
This is not the first female to be granted the power of Thor. I really do not have a problem with the way the storyline has been described. I think it actually sounds kind of cool that the Thor we know will be deemed unworthy, for whatever reason, and, instead, a female will come along and be able to lift the hammer and serve Asgard. I think it is interesting and somewhat fitting that such a male chauvinist character will now be portrayed by a woman. The real question is what are we gonna call Thor if not Thor? Hey, Axe-Guy with long yellow hair!
My problem is with the delivery.
Disney chose to present this breaking comic book news on The View… Really? Can they not making it look like they are desperately trying to rope the female demographic into buying comics? Next up on Maury, Deadpool’s paternity test. Good Morning, America. Any late night show. Yahoo News. Even Comic Booked would have been a great place to stage your presentation of such a major change to an iconic character. But, The View?
Maybe this is really just preparing us for a whole new series of Marvel films. After all, the current run of movies has been way to male dominated. Iron MAN. Thor, GOD of Thunder. The Avengers, a team made up of four men and only one woman (and she does not even have any powers). So, are we all ready for new movie characters that are all female? I still have to wonder if someone at Marvel read my article…
Tonight on The Colbert Report, Marvel is going to reveal the big secret about Captain America and the changing of the guard, since the Iron Nail drained all of the super soldier serum from Steve Rogers recently and left him old. Maybe we are in for another female character? Perhaps Sharon Carter did not die in Dimension Z during the first part of Rick Remender’s run and she has really just been bulking up, John Romita Jr. style, and will now be the new Captain America… All we need now will be an Iron Girl err, Lady, umm, Woman? Iron Woman? Just does not really sound right. We already have a She-Hulk.
and people ask me why i buy dc stuff… this is really dumb. pretty much every single aspect of it.
I wonder who she really is. Valkyrie, perhaps?