Lady Thor

[Marvel Boy]

As you may or may not know, Jason Aaron and Marvel received quite a bit of flak when it was announced that a new female Thor was set to appear. But they also received strong encouragement and thanks from female fans for portraying another strong female lead character.

All I can say, since it's start, the new Lady Thor series has been quite entertaining. Odin has returned and he is bemused and scornful over Freyja's handling of Asgardia's affairs but he really bristles when he learns of this new female Thor. The real Thor (who goes by the name Odinson now) is at a loss, bereft of hammer and now his identity, Aaron devotes a whole issue to Odinson and the new Thor (excuse the pun) hammering out their differences.

Aaron swears that the secret identity of this new female Thor is someone whose already been introduced in his run. Clues would seem to point to SHIELD Agent Roz Solomon though part of me wishes it could be Jane Foster (for how cool would that be, that after all these years, that she would be worthy enough to pick up Mjolnir).

Dauterman's art has been a blessing on this book, giving the Lady Thor her own regal flow about her.

So, for as long as this title lasts (with SW looming), it's been quite the thrill ride.

[Doctor Bong Crosby]

The seeds for that idea would have been planted lo many, many years ago on that old "What If?" where it was Jane Foster and not Don Blake, who found Mjolnir on that norweigan cave, becoming a female version of the thunder god and going by the moniker of (shudder...) Thordis.

[Marvel Boy]

Thordis? Man, sounds like a pill I should be taking every morning. :lol:

Jane has appeared in Aaron's run, she was in remission after facing a bout of cancer and Freyja had allowed Jane to move to Asgardia, in effect, becoming an ambassador of humanity/Earth to them, so she at least had an opportunity to pick up Mjolnir. But Lady Thor's inner thought monologues seem to point more towards her being Roz.

I just hope at some point, with all this SW stuff coming up, that they reveal what secret Old Nick Fury whispered into Odinson's ear that caused him to become unworthy. What could possibly become known that would have such an instantaneous effect upon Mjolnir? (and under Aaron's pen, there are some strong indications that Mjolnir may be more sentient that first thought. The hammer has even refused to obey Odin's commands.)

[Marvel Boy]

So, Lady Thor is actually.......

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

....Jane Foster! Odinson had considered her but reconsidered once he learned that Jane's cancer had returned and that she was denying any magical help from the Asgardians. But it would seem that her cancer returned and worsened due to the stress of her transformations into Lady Thor. But she considers the good she could accomplish in the role to outweigh any personal concerns over her health.

I love it, given Jane's long association with Thor, I think this is a fine choice. Kudos to Aaron on how he built and maintained this mystery. All indications seemed to point to SHIELD Agent Roz Solomon, with Lady Thor's inner monologues and scenes showing Roz within the vicinity of Lady Thor's appearances. In fact, Odinson was convinced it was Roz and after helping Lady Thor against the Destroyer, he begged her to reveal the truth to him. She almost did until Roz herself appeared, leaving Odinson dumbfounded as Roz confronted Lady Thor.

My only nitpick, in trying to finally sway Lady Thor into revealing her identity, Odinson promised that if she trusted him enough to reveal the truth, that he would respond in kind by revealing to her the secret that Nick Fury whispered to him that caused him to become unworthy. With all the hype and hoopla about SW, this little nugget on information seems to have been lost in the confusion. I do hope at some point Aaron does reveal this powerful little secret.

[starfoxxx]

Jun 14, 2015 8:48:38 GMT -5 Marvel Boy said:

So, Lady Thor is actually.......

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

....Jane Foster! Odinson had considered her but reconsidered once he learned that Jane's cancer had returned and that she was denying any magical help from the Asgardians. But it would seem that her cancer returned and worsened due to the stress of her transformations into Lady Thor. But she considers the good she could accomplish in the role to outweigh any personal concerns over her health.

I love it, given Jane's long association with Thor, I think this is a fine choice. Kudos to Aaron on how he built and maintained this mystery. All indications seemed to point to SHIELD Agent Roz Solomon, with Lady Thor's inner monologues and scenes showing Roz within the vicinity of Lady Thor's appearances. In fact, Odinson was convinced it was Roz and after helping Lady Thor against the Destroyer, he begged her to reveal the truth to him. She almost did until Roz herself appeared, leaving Odinson dumbfounded as Roz confronted Lady Thor.

My only nitpick, in trying to finally sway Lady Thor into revealing her identity, Odinson promised that if she trusted him enough to reveal the truth, that he would respond in kind by revealing to her the secret that Nick Fury whispered to him that caused him to become unworthy. With all the hype and hoopla about SW, this little nugget on information seems to have been lost in the confusion. I do hope at some point Aaron does reveal this powerful little secret.

Sounds a lot like......

www.ebay.com/itm/What-If-10-Jane-Foster-Thor-VG-F-FAST-FREE-SHIPPING-see-pics-/381288106273?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58c68ac921

.....and you can read it ALL in ONE ISSUE, ha-ha!

[Doctor Bong Crosby]

Jun 14, 2015 10:11:08 GMT -5 starfoxxx said:

Jun 14, 2015 8:48:38 GMT -5 Marvel Boy said:

So, Lady Thor is actually.......

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

....Jane Foster! Odinson had considered her but reconsidered once he learned that Jane's cancer had returned and that she was denying any magical help from the Asgardians. But it would seem that her cancer returned and worsened due to the stress of her transformations into Lady Thor. But she considers the good she could accomplish in the role to outweigh any personal concerns over her health.

I love it, given Jane's long association with Thor, I think this is a fine choice. Kudos to Aaron on how he built and maintained this mystery. All indications seemed to point to SHIELD Agent Roz Solomon, with Lady Thor's inner monologues and scenes showing Roz within the vicinity of Lady Thor's appearances. In fact, Odinson was convinced it was Roz and after helping Lady Thor against the Destroyer, he begged her to reveal the truth to him. She almost did until Roz herself appeared, leaving Odinson dumbfounded as Roz confronted Lady Thor.

My only nitpick, in trying to finally sway Lady Thor into revealing her identity, Odinson promised that if she trusted him enough to reveal the truth, that he would respond in kind by revealing to her the secret that Nick Fury whispered to him that caused him to become unworthy. With all the hype and hoopla about SW, this little nugget on information seems to have been lost in the confusion. I do hope at some point Aaron does reveal this powerful little secret.

Sounds a lot like......

www.ebay.com/itm/What-If-10-Jane-Foster-Thor-VG-F-FAST-FREE-SHIPPING-see-pics-/381288106273?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58c68ac921

.....and you can read it ALL in ONE ISSUE, ha-ha!

Although I never could buy the ending of this "What If...?" story, in which Odin weds Jane Foster (that´s kinda... weird, even for mythological characters...).

[Marvel Boy]

Are those pseudonyms for the creative team for that issue? For I've never heard of Don Glut, Rick Hoberg, or Dave Hunt.

[humanbelly]

Jun 21, 2015 20:39:43 GMT -5 Marvel Boy said:

Are those pseudonyms for the creative team for that issue? For I've never heard of Don Glut, Rick Hoberg, or Dave Hunt.

Rick Hoberg I personally remember as one of the creators of Malibu's THE STRANGERS (only have the first issue, which I enjoyed; keep meaning to acquire the whole series). His art then had a really solid Bronze Age feel at a time when popular tastes were sadly veering away. A bit Al Milgrom-ish, except with more of an ability to capture a sense of life and movement in his figures and within the panels. Dave Hunt WAS a Bronze Age artist-- a bit of a second/third tier guy maybe? But reliable, clean work-- someone that a good inker could do well with, I imagine. Don Glut? Sheesh-- y'got me! I'll have to Google 'im. . .

HB

[Marvel Boy]

Lady Thor's new title sees Aaron and Russell Dauterman pick up from where they left off previously.

Jane Foster's breast cancer has returned with vigor. She's undergoing chemo treatment but every time she transforms into Thor, the magic washes the treatment clean so in effect, she's not getting any better the longer she's Thor. (And HUGE kudos to Aaron for doing his research. The first two pages of Thor #1 sees Jane describing the effects of chemo and Aaron NAILED it. I had to pause for awhile reading the issue for the description was so accurate, it brought forth recent memories).

War is brewing among the Nine Realms as Malekith, leader of the Dark Elves, launches an all-out attack on the kingdom of the Light Elves, with the help of Roxxon, to whom Malekith has promised all the resources they could plunder from the realms. The Council of the Nine Worlds fears getting involved especially considering how Odin is still on the warpath about capturing/killing this new impostor Thor.

Things become even more difficult when Loki becomes involved, seeking to join Malekith's dark congress. After proving his worth to his father, the newly revived King Laufey, (and proving that he is no longer his father's son), Malekith sends Loki after Thor, who is helping to protect the Light Elves. An intense confrontation occurs between a new Thor whose identity and motives are secretive and a Loki who desires to change his future and nature from yore. The two finally have to work together in order to survive the last all-ditch assault on the palace of the King of the Light Elves.

In all, Aaron provides a potent mixture of myth, wit, and action that creates a unique blend and tone for this book and character. Mock all you want about a female Thor but Aaron is doing wonders with her characterization. Dauterman's art is nothing less than amazing and engrossing, capturing that perfect blend of magic and mysticism.

[Doctor Bong Crosby]

I wonder if, carefully considered, keeping on being "Thor" is the right ethical choice for Jane. I mean, I understand her using the power at her disposal to protect innocent lives in an emergency. But to keep on using it consistently despite the fact that it´s nullyfying the effects of chemotherapy intead of searching for another healthy worthy recipient of the power of Thor (after all, it´s not like there´s a shortage of those in the MU) seems to me, at the very least, to recklessly endanger her own life... . What do you guys think?

[Marvel Boy]

On her part, Jane is aware of the danger and consequences. She knows full well that the efforts to save and cure her are being nullified by the magic. The offer has been made for the healers of Asgard to tend to her fully but she declines for fear that they will discover her connection. I think she feels that if Thor is no longer able to carry out his responsibilities, then it's up to her to fulfill them because Mjolnir chose her, not anyone else. Plenty tried to lift Mjolnir, even Odin, but they all failed. So, feeling so chosen, Jane may feel an obligation to fill Thor's role, even if it's killing her.

It's also an indication of Aaron's subtle alterations to the mythos, the idea that Mjolnir, due to the ancient magic, may be more sentient than first thought. So it may not just be the judgement of a person's innate worthiness, but also a personal choice of the hammer itself.