The Four Color Media Monitor

The Valdosta Daily Times wrote about Dan Jurgens' latter half of his Thor run (originally 1998-2004), where the deity drawn from Norse mythology became lord of Asgard again, following one of father Odin's revolving door passings, and predictably, they fluff-coat the whole affair, coming as it was at a time when Marvel's artistic quality was plummeting:

Dan Jurgens embarked on an intriguing storyline for Thor about 20 years ago.

For what seems like the umpteenth time, Thor has inherited Odin’s throne in Asgard.

Given the addition of the Odin power to his powers as the god of thunder, Thor decides to rule and make the rules for not only Asgard but Earth, the place he has long sworn to protect as both an individual and as an Avenger.

He will right the wrongs he finds on Earth.

Famine in areas with little water, he brings the rains to make the land arable.

People oppressed by dictators, he uses his powers and his Asgardian warriors to free them and oust the dictators.

People dying from illness, he provides Asgardian medicines, science and magic.

As Thor sets about these tasks, he gains followers who pray to him and critics who question his right to claim sovereignty anywhere and everywhere he sees fit.

In “The Mighty Thor, Lord of Asgard: Gods on Earth,” Jurgens, along with numerous artists, create a fascinating tale of Marvel Comics’ Thor as well as raising questions of the corruption of righteous power and the right to free will.

As Thor sets about to do right while claiming he has no ambition to start a new religion, he upsets political alliances, angers religious leaders as their traditional followers place their faith with Thor, risks starting wars, etc. Thor becomes consumed with his power, influence and zeal for his mission.

The premise itself might've been interesting, but IIRC, it all ended in 2004 with Thor going into death limbo, and now that I think of it, this is just another take on the whole "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" premise that was explored back in the Bronze Age in the X-Men, when Jean Grey was seemingly changed into the Phoenix (and look where that whole idea later went. Simply insufferable). What Jurgens accomplished in the first half of his Thor run, did not work out in the second part, and it's around the 50th issue that would serve as a good jumping-off point.

The story arc is one of several occasions when Thor has ascended to Asgard’s throne due to Odin dying, stepping down or declared missing. Thor has ascended the throne again in more recent pages of his monthly comic book, for example.

Though the Avengers eventually become involved in this story arc – well, Iron Man and Captain America, anyway – their lack of involvement, as well as almost no involvement from any other Marvel superheroes to curb Thor’s mission seems out of step.

After all, to assure he is available to make immediate changes on Earth, he’s moved Asgard to a position floating above New York City.

Here, the columnist at least hints at a problem that metastisized at the time - lack of plausible continuity from one series to another, and a sign of how continuity crumbled under Quesada and Bill Jemas' rulership. It was very sloppy, but it's long been clear they didn't care.

Still, “Gods on Earth” raises intriguing questions about the corruption of power and faith vs. tangible actions. It’s a storyline worth looking for in back issues or for the collected edition available for order and possibly found rummaging through discount book stacks.

With the lowercase lettering that was a sad staple then, and is still prevalent in some of their books today? I don't think so. When Quesada took over as EIC at the time, even the veteran writers working for them at the time were affected in some way, and whatever merit they had prior got lost. Thor was one of the casualties of Quesada's meddling. I have simply no interest in buying the 2nd half of the Jurgens run from the time, as a result.

Labels: history, marvel comics, msm propaganda, Thor