Thor is now a chick!

Alright. Thanks.

Ah, yes. I'm very familiar with that picture. Wonderful!

Alright, thank you. I'm trying to have the subject stay on topic.

Dr. Muttonchops wrote: Do you suppose that's why my Superwoman stories are unpopular here, because they're not original?

Trust me, anytime one of your stories gets 1000 or more hits, plenty of folks are enjoying it, myself included! The hit meter has become my best motivator.

Ah, I see. Thanks for telling me about that.

But back on topic: Like I said, personally I'm fine with a female Thor, possibly because I simply love female superheroes that much, but if she were her own original offshoot, that would be great for me too.

lfan wrote: First previews (well, some of the cover art is not really new):

www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=23409

ElF

Well this doesn;'t't sound all that promising-not necessairly from a female centric perspective but from a comic narrative. The secret of marvel comics has always been making sure the protaginist is relatable and well-the protaginist. Little mixed on Teenage Ms. Marvel-but they do get that right. They do a great job of it actually.

The idea of an unkown woman picking up the hammer from thor(whoses still around) and taking it on absentee adventures-well thats not the greatest idea i have heard ever-that said-well take a look at it. It maybe one of those things where we learn more about her over the next several issues-but the "Woman of mystery" storyline-ahh never does much for me.

But the "Man/Person of Mystery" is one of the oldest tropes (not all tropes are bad, they get reused for a reason). The secret is that you can't hold it for long. I sure hope that they don't do that. (I still think it's Thor's daughter from myth, the best she's wearing seems like Thor's belt of Strength.)

And, even so, not telling you all of someone's full backstory, or their name, doesn't mean that you don't get to know them. It does mean that the writer will need to be good to make up for it. But you are right, the secret to Spider-Man is that the story is about Peter Parker. That's the genius of Stan Lee, and the legacy he left behind.

But, this book also has additional baggage. In that Thor is still a character in this (from the preview and the talk before when they were talking about it). I thought it might be another book, but it seems like it's in this one. I say baggage, as now it has to tell a story about two people. OTH, if it's done right they are going to contrast each off the other.

And Thor is now taking part of a time honored trope himself -- the Fall of the Hero. He's no longer worthy, and he now starts an arc where her learns what it means to be Thor -- it should be far more than merely carrying a hammer or even passing it's fitness test. If that is written well -- the story will be utterly fantastic. it's the source of some of the best stories. Demon in a bottle (Iron Man) is the fall of the hero and his redemption, and it's probably the best Iron Man story ever.

OTH, done badly, it's also some of the biggest tripe ever. So Only time will tell.

I'm going to buy it for the Super Strong Female link. That's good for an issue or two. But I'm taking a wait and see on the story, to see if it's good enough to keep me reading.

I will say that I found the adding the "s" to "he" in the first page to be .. a bit cheesy. And why is that text in English anyway?

Also Thor's fall is ENTIRELY psychological. Because Fury whispered something to him, and suddenly his not worthy. So he wasn't worthy BEFORE, but he didn't know something, but the hammer said he was worthy. He KNOWS he's not, and suddenly the hammer rejects him. Seems all fishy.

TwiceOnThursdays wrote:
And Thor is now taking part of a time honored trope himself -- the Fall of the Hero. He's no longer worthy, and he now starts an arc where her learns what it means to be Thor -- it should be far more than merely carrying a hammer or even passing it's fitness test. If that is written well -- the story will be utterly fantastic. it's the source of some of the best stories. Demon in a bottle (Iron Man) is the fall of the hero and his redemption, and it's probably the best Iron Man story ever.

OTH, done badly, it's also some of the biggest tripe ever. So Only time will tell.

You hit the head on the nail here. Marvel characters (well all comicbook characters) tend to be defined by a couple of stories told over and over again-and this is kind of Thors one. Is he worthy of it? This is the basically the plot of his first movie, and you see tinges of it in avengers as well.

It can be done well. It can be tripe.

The female centric part of this....well this well looks like we are going to get a character we are not going to see very long at least in a staring role. If Staring is even what she gets. This sounds like a background character who does stuff mysteriously until thor gets his mojo back. A woman doing a mans job-which you know she can-but well we all know whats right with this story? This doesn't seem like a story thats going to pass the Bechnal test if you know what i mean.

Which is a shame-becuse this is a kind of good idea-and if done well it could be fun-a marvel mainstay is replaced by a woman. However its less intresting if its I love lucy doing an "i can do your job just as well" type deal.

The last guy to borrow Thor's powers for awhile, ended up getting a similar powerset of his own after he had to give them back as thanks for doing a good job with them. So this new Thor lady might still get to stick around after Thor inevitably gets them back.

Granted said guy was eventually killed off in the pre Avengers dissembled purge.

Don't forget Beta ray bill!

Just bought it.

Spoiler:

I don't think your spoiler is a spoiler. Does anyone else who has read it think so? I think it's something that people with our interests should be told.

That said, I really liked it. The story is about what I expected so far: Thor has to redefine himself now that he's not "worthy". Thor's battle was a bit "we need this to happen" (seems quick/forced).

I'm willing to give it another issue (or so) to see if it keeps being interesting, and at this point, I think that's a pretty good bet.

TwiceOnThursdays wrote: I don't think your spoiler is a spoiler. Does anyone else who has read it think so? I think it's something that people with our interests should be told.

That said, I really liked it. The story is about what I expected so far: Thor has to redefine himself now that he's not "worthy". Thor's battle was a bit "we need this to happen" (seems quick/forced).

I'm willing to give it another issue (or so) to see if it keeps being interesting, and at this point, I think that's a pretty good bet.

Agreed

While trying to sleep last night I got to thinking about this subject and how it came to be. Correct me if I'm wrong, Nick Fury told Thor something, then Thor could not pick up his hammer. He was unworthy. The magic of unworthy would have known about what Nick told Thor already. So I'm wondering does the magic see if the person think they are worth or not. If that is the case, then someone who is insane and believe they are worth can pick up the hammer. OK I'm done with the silly stuff for now.

Just so you know, I'm currently commissioning something that started out with a similar line of thought. It's turning out far more epic than it's silly origin though. I almost feel bad that it's going to be so awesome that It's centered around my silly idea. I've already commissioned She-Ra w/ Thor's hammer -- This one is based on a certain DC Villainess with Psychological training and penchant for hammers....and I have encouraged the artist to "girly up the hammer". So, in talking we laid something out, added another character, and then that sparked the idea of using the hammer for rain, and ... it's a bit epic now.

But back to your statement.

There is a loose state where a hero or "someone who is worthy" probably has to have a reasonable amount of confidence, so maybe Fury's statement just stole Thor's confidence. Without that, he's now not worthy. I don't buy this explanation for a few reasons. It shouldn't be that easy to ruin Thor's self-confidence, nor would whatever he told Thor affect Odin. If you've read the issue, Odin can't lift the hammer now either. Also, the definition of "worthy" has to have more than that, though maybe this is one of the many tests.

But since a verbal statement made Thor unworthy, then it does seem that a psychological effect is coming into play.

A wildcard explanation is that Mjolnir has some level of sentience that it uses to determine "worthy". Thor certainly talks to his hammer like it's alive (and he was in the issue, pleading with it). And even Odin treated it a bit like it should listen to him. So maybe Fury whispered to Thor -- Mjolnir hears it through Thor: and suddenly Thor and his father are no longer worthy. And neither is any of the other male Asgardians who tried to wield it. (But I can't imagine that most of them haven't tried before and failed.)

Which is why the "worthy" test is weird. All we know is that in the past the following people have (in one way or another) been judge worthy: Captain America, Beta Ray Bill, Odin, Odin's Father (Bor?), Superman, Wonder Woman, Rouge (after she's absorbed Thor's essence in What if), crappy alternative timeline for the ultron story I think Black Window briefly held him, but I think "crappy" means we should ignore this one). I think Storm has only held a replica Hammer. Eric Masterson. And that cameraman -- I had to google is name, Roger "Red" Norvil from Thor 276, Wonder Man (though I think this is bullshit, all modern definitions of him, he's too unbalanced to be "worthy", though that might be the key).

The story did make it seem like Mjolnir was being stubborn and maybe somehow the criteria had morphed a bit.

I think few would find fault with Captain America, Superman, Beta Ray Bill, or Wonder Woman. Rouge had Thor in her, so she got a pass. The rest of these people, I have no idea why they'd be worthy and a whole slew of other people would not be. I mean really, Odin isn't worthy. Few kings would be, unless arrogance is a key component. (it might be, Odin might have made the definition.)

I do have a theory that the test is in part genetic (at least it's easier to pass if you are), and therefore the new Thor is related to Thor (perhaps his daughter, he has one in legend, Thrud), or a sister or aunt. Obviously it's not the only test (see Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain America). Though most of the other people who wielded the hammer -- it was an emergency, and/or there was some tacit approval from Thor. This even holds for Beta Ray Bill. The hammer could judge some one "Worthy for the moment" for an emergency, and without that cause, later refuse to be lifted.

Only the cameraman "red" violates it -- but IIRC Loki had used some tricks to get him labeled as "Thor" so the hammer would accept him. A bit of the "Thor is also a title and a role" (Thor does have specific roles to play in Ragnarok.)

Though next up I think I need to commission Enchantress with the hammer....