Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: June 2008
Cover Price: $3.99
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Patrick Zircher
During the era of the Third Ragnarok, an attack on Asgard by Frost Giants left an enormous hole in the gleaming city’s exterior wall. And, though the giants were fended off, the Asgardians could not leave such a breach in their defenses open for very long. Fortunately, a humble mason from Earth found his way across Bifrost the Rainbow Bridge and offered to rebuild the wall within a year. In return, he asked for the hand of Amora the Enchantress. The Asgardians laughed at him and made him a counteroffer: if he could finish in six months (an impossible task – they thought), he’d have Amora along with the sun and the moon. When the six months were up, the mason had laid all but a few bricks. And, when the Asgardians refused him his winnings, he revealed his true guise: that of a Frost Giant. A survivor of the previous battle who intended to take his revenge. Unfortunately for him, he was quickly defeated by Thor who then went out and slaughtered even more Frost Giants; later, he paraded their heads through the streets of Asgard.
Eight eras later, Loki tricked the Enchantress and gave her away to the Frost Giants in return for 100 days of food. Back in Asgard, without the Enchantress to pick he golden apples that provided their immortality, the Asgardians began to worry about their continued health. Threatening Loki’s very life, Odin commanded that he retrieve Amora from the giants. But, neither Loki nor Amora could engineer such a challenge and Thor had to come to their rescue. And, while both of these victories might be cause for celebration, Odin notes that his son’s arrogance continues to grow. Perhaps a lesson in humility will be in order?
Both of these tales can stand alone but it’s clear that they’re building to something grander. Thor’s attitude is certainly in need of adjustment but he keeps coming to the Asgardians’ rescue. That’s a hard balance to maintain. The artwork and flowery narration wonderfully combine together to create a true feeling of myth-making. This isn’t Thor, the super-hero. No. This takes place eons before the Thor we know today. But, despite that, it’s great to see an early tale of Thor – long before he learned humility. It’s Norse myth at its finest in terms of art, story and character. And, even better, there’s more to come! (the larger story is continued in Thor: Reign of Blood)
On Ebay: Thor | Matt Fraction | Pat Zircher
On AtomicAvenue: Thor
Very interesting. Considering what I’ve seen from the trailer, attacks by Frost Giants and Thor’s lack of humility are big plot elements in the upcoming film…
If this book came out now as opposed to 2008, I would say it was purposefully released to compliment the movie.
However, it seems more like this would have been released right around the time that the Thor script was being written…? maybe I’m reading too much into it *shrug*
Comment by Donny B — January 19, 2011 @ 10:03 am
I think you’re reading a bit much into it. Lack of humility and Frost Giants have always been an important part in Thor’s history prior to his time on Midgard (Earth). This one-shot just does a great job of telling this untold story in Thor’s past.
Comment by Doorman — January 19, 2011 @ 11:46 am
Good call.
I’ve never read Thor. I know almost nothing about him aside from the occassional cameo (which obiously do nothing to flesh out his character)
Comment by Donny B — January 21, 2011 @ 5:05 pm