Monday, May 9, 2011

Thor

Real Name
Thor Odinson

Occupation

Warrior, adventurer; former monarch, paramedic, construction worker; (as Donald Blake) physician, surgeon

Citizenship
Asgard; honorary US citizen

Place of Birth
A cave in Norway

Known Relatives
Odin Borson (father, deceased), Gaea (mother), Frigga (adoptive mother), Loki (adoptive brother, deceased), Balder, Hermod, Tyr, Vidar (half-brothers), Buri (Tiwaz, paternal great-grandfather), Bolthorn (maternal great grandfather), Bor Burison (grandfather, deceased), Bestia (paternal grandmother, presumed deceased), Vili, Ve (paternal uncles, deceased), Sigyn (sister-in-law), Solveig (sister-in-law, deceased), Jormungand (Midgard Serpent), Fenris Wolf (nephews), Hela (niece), large extended family via Gaea and others

Group Affiliation
Gods of Asgard, Avengers; formerly Queen’s Vengeance, Godpack, Thor Corps

Education
Tutored by scholars of Asgard; (Blake) M.D.

Height
6'6"; (Blake) 5’9"

Weight
640 lbs; (Blake) 150 lbs.

Eyes
Blue

Hair
Blond

Powers
As the son of Odin and Gaea, Thor's strength, endurance and resistance to injury are greater than the vast majority of his superhuman race. He is extremely long-lived (though not completely immune to aging), immune to conventional disease and highly resistant to injury. His flesh and bones are several times denser than a human's.

As Lord of Asgard, Thor possessed the Odinforce, which enabled him to tap into the near-infinite resources of cosmic and mystical energies, enhancing all of his abilities. With the vast magical power of the Odinforce, Thor was even able to dent Captain America’s virtually indestructible shield with Mjolnir.

Abilities
Thor is trained in the arts of war, being a superbly skilled warrior, highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship and hammer throwing.

Other Info
Thor is one of several powerful ancient beings who dwell in a magical realm called
Asgard. Throughout history, these Asgardians have been revered and worshiped as gods. Ages ago, Odin (lord of the Asgardian) desired a child who would one day exceed him in power. Therefore, Odin wooed Gaea (the earth goddess), and from their union Thor was born in a small cave in Norway on Earth. Odin then took Thor to be raised in Asgard by his wife, Frigga. (To learn about the above highlighted characters, race, and/or place, just click on their names.)

The young Thor grew up alongside his adopted brother Loki, who was always jealous of his more favored sibling. Thor grew in power and popularity and on his eighth birthday, Odin had the hammer Mjolnir created for him, enchanting it with powerful magic. Odin decreed that Mjolnir would be presented to Thor when his son had been proven a worthy warrior. After spending the next eight years training and performing heroic deeds, Thor was given the hammer and declared the greatest warrior in Asgard. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about Loki and/or Mjolnir. Note: Beware of the revealing outfit worn by Loki--in his woman form---at the bottom of his bio page.)

After many years of battle, Thor began to grow headstrong and proud. On one occasion, Thor broke a truce between the Asgardians and the Frost Giants, nearly starting a war. Therefore, to teach his son a lesson in humility, Odin sent Thor to Earth in the mortal body of a crippled medical student, Donald Blake. (To learn about the Frost Giants, click on the highlighted name above. Also, the third picture posted is of Thor as Dr. Blake.)

Stripped of his hammer, his powers, and memories of being an Asgardian, Thor (as Blake) graduated medical school with top honors, gained a reputation as a caring family doctor and a brilliant surgeon, and opened a private practice in New York City. He worked beside a caring and skillful nurse, Jane Foster, and the two fell in love. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn about Jane Foster.)

After ten years on Earth, Donald Blake received a subconscious prodding from Odin to vacation in Norway where the alien race the Kronans were preparing to invade Earth. Fleeing into a cave (which was actually Thor's birthplace) Blake discovered a plain walking cane in a secret chamber. When Blake struck the cane against a boulder, he transformed into the mighty Thor, and the cane became Mjolnir. Thor fought against the Kronans and their invasion was thwarted. Tapping the ground with Mjolnir, Thor was able to transform back into Donald Blake, holding the simple wooden cane once again. (To learn about the Kronans, click on their highlighted name above.)

Blake returned to New York, using his secret identity of Thor to fight crime, defend Earth, and contend with the jealous and hateful Loki. One of Loki's tricks led Thor and other heroes, including Ant-Man (Hank Pym), Wasp (Janet van Dyne), and Iron Man (Tony Stark) to fight the Hulk (Bruce Banner). However, learning of Loki’s manipulations, the heroes (along with the Hulk) bested Loki and agreed to continue their partnership. The heroes formed the team known as the Avengers. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the Avengers as a team and/or individually.)

Despite the sincere love between Blake and Foster, Odin was displeased by the relationship between a god and a mortal. He forbade Blake from revealing his identity to her, creating a strange love triangle between Foster, Thor, and Thor’s alter-ego, Blake. Even though Donald Blake knew he was the legendary Thor, he still lacked his full memories from his former life as an Asgardian. However, over time his memories slowly returned, until one day Odin finally revealed himself and restored Thor’s complete memory. Thor was then reintroduced to his childhood friend and former lover, the Asgardian warrior Sif, further complicating Thor’s love life on Earth. However, the love affair between Thor and Jane Foster eventually ended when Foster fell in love with a mortal man, Dr. Keith Kincaid. Resuming their ancient romance, Sif and Thor were betrothed, and Sif lived on Earth posing as Donald Blake’s cousin. But, wedding plans were canceled for Thor, because Sif grew bored with Thor's time spent as Blake, and returned to Asgard. (To learn about Sif, click on her name above. Note: Beware of the very revealing outfit on Sif's bio page.)

Later, an enemy of the Asgardian gods known as the fire demon Surtur, ravaged a distant galaxy (the "Burning Galaxy") for the sake of forging his Twilight Sword. A fleet of survivors of the galactic massacre from the planet Korbin traveled the cosmos in search of a new home, under the protection of their noble guardian, Beta Ray Bill. As the fleet ventured close to Earth, Thor mistook the Korbinites as enemies and attacked them. At one point, Thor became separated from Mjolnir and reverted into Donald Blake, while Beta Ray Bill retrieved and wielded the hammer (magically unliftable to all but the most worthy). With Donald Blake helpless and defeated, Bill made a claim to keep the hammer to fight back against Surtur’s demons. Then Odin had Thor and Beta Ray Bill compete for the right to use the hammer and Beta Ray Bill won; however, Odin awarded Bill a similar weapon called Stormbreaker, rather than disarm his son. Once Thor, Bill, and Sif defeated Surtur’s demons, Odin transferred the enchantment that changed Thor into Donald Blake onto Stormbreaker, so that Bill could revert to his mortal form. Therefore, Thor decided to abandon his Donald Blake identity, and resided in Asgard. (To learn about the characters/race/item above, just click on their highlighted names.)

After sometime, Thor sought help from Nick Fury (director of S.H.I.E.L.D.) to create another human identity to enable him to live among humans. Therefore, Thor began to use the guise of a construction worker with the alias of Sigurd Jarlson. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about Nick Fury and/or S.H.I.E.L.D. Note: Beware of the revealing outfit worn by some in the background on Nick Fury's bio page picture.)

At one point, Hela cursed Thor so that his bones became brittle, yet he was prevented from dying from his injuries. Humiliated but determined to remain a warrior to the end, Thor donned a suit of battle armor to support his fragile body. However, Loki took this opportunity to release the Midgard Serpent (the beast prophesized to kill Thor and start Ragnarok--the apocalyptic end of the Asgardians). Despite his weakened condition, Thor was able to kill the Midgard Serpent and, thanks to Hela’s curse, Thor survived the battle although his body was completely broken and battered. Loki then sent the enchanted Destroyer (an animated indestructible suit of armor) to torment Thor. However, Thor managed to send his spirit into the Destroyer armor and take command of it. He then traveled to Hela's realm known as Hel in the Destroyer and began wreaking havoc. The desperate Hela had no choice but to fully restore Thor’s original body and release him from her curse. (To learn about the above characters, event, and thing, click on the highlighted names above. Note: Beware of the revealing outfit on Hela's bio page.)

Thor, in his civilian identity of Jarlson, had become friends with the architect Eric Masterson and his son, Kevin. Later, Eric was kidnapped by Mongoose who had previously attacked Thor, attempting to gain a cell sample. Thor tracked Eric to the High Evolutionary’s European base at Mount Wundagore. Thor was able to free Eric; however, while there, he learned that the High Evolutionary and the Greek demigod Hercules were actually missing. Accompanied by Eric, Thor rescued Hercules and the High Evolutionary from the ancient galactic entities known as the Celestials in the Black Galaxy. Upon returning to Earth, they were again attacked by the Mongoose, and Eric blocked a blast of energy meant for Thor, giving Thor and Hercules a chance to defeat Mongoose. With Eric dying from Mongoose’s attack, Thor pleaded with Odin for aid on Eric’s behalf. Odin reluctantly agreed to save Eric, but did so by merging Thor and Masterson together, body and soul. With Thor and Eric sharing the same body, some problems began with Eric's private life and the custody of his son. However, the two's bodies were eventually separated by a Celestial. (Click on the highlighted names to learn about the characters, place, and people.)

Later, during a tremendous battle between the Surtur and the frost giant Ymir, Thor recovered Surtur's powerful sword to oppose the elemental giants. Weakened by his separation from Masterson, Thor was easily stopped by Surtur and Ymir; however, Masterson willingly merged with Thor again, even though it meant giving up part of his life. While Ymir and Surtur fought over the sword, Thor opened a dimensional rift that sucked them both in. Later, for Eric’s courageous efforts, Odin granted him an enchanted mace. Still able to transform into a version of Thor, Eric adopted a new separate heroic identity, "Thunderstrike." (To learn about Ymir, click on his highlighted name above.)

Sometime later, Thor fell in battle with the psychic entity, Onslaught. Thor vanished, along with the Avengers and other heroes; but, they were merely reborn to another dimension, Counter-Earth. He eventually returned through the reality altering power of the boy Franklin Richards--son of the Fantastic Four’s Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn about the different characters, group, and place. Note: Beware of the form-fitting outfits worn by the Invisible Woman on her bio page.)

When Thor returned, he discovered that Asgard was being held captive by the cruel Dark Gods (beings formerly banished by the Asgardians to the farthest reaches of the universe). They sent the Destroyer to Earth on a rampage, leaving the Avengers defeated and Thor nearly dead. The mysterious being named Marnot (secretly Hescamar, one of Odin’s magical ravens) offered to restore Thor in exchange for taking the place of Jake Olsen (a paramedic who died during the battle). Thor agreed, fighting the Destroyer again and banishing it to another dimension. Thor found he could transform between himself and Olsen, although he had none of Olsen’s memories, making it difficult to maintain two identities. (To learn about the group and/or character above, just click on their highlighted name.)

Later on, the Dark Gods attacked Olympus and left it in ruins. Thor and Hercules uncovered the truth and led a battle against the Dark Gods, eventually freeing both Asgard and Olympus. Afterwards, Thor remained on Earth with his dual identity of Jake Olsen. (To learn about Olympus, click on the highlighted name above.)

Among his later adventures, Thor rescued a woman named Tarene. She would later take on the identity of "Thor Girl" out of admiration of Thor. Later, Thor and Thor Girl battled the time-travelling Gladiator (Kallark), who vowed to destroy Thor in a preemptive strike to prevent a terrible horror that he believed Thor would inflict in the future. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the characters.)

While Thor failed to defend Asgard against an army of monstrous Asgardian trolls during one of Odin’s "Odinsleeps" (a time when Odin recharges his energy and is left vulnerable), Odin punished Thor, stripping him of his immortality and left him on Earth. Shortly afterward, Loki brought the Destroyer back to Earth, animating it with the soul of Tarene. Ultimately, the Destroyer was thwarted and Tarene was restored, but during the battle, Thor was severely wounded. Jane Foster ended up tending to Jake Olsen's wounds; but, she was unable to treat Thor's. So, Odin brought Thor to Asgard and physically separated Thor from his alter ego to allow Thor to heal while Jake Olsen was returned to his life on Earth. However, later on, Surtur appeared on Earth and a group of Asgardian heroes and allies confronted the demon and its hordes. Thor Girl used her powers to restore Thor to full health, joining with Odin and the Asgardian warriors against Surtur. In the end, Odin tapped into both Thor and Thor Girl's powers to deliver a fatal blow against Surtur; however, Odin sacrificed himself in the process.

In mourning the loss of his father, Thor initially refused to take Odin's throne. However, eventually a discussion with Jake Olsen convinced Thor to accept the responsibilities of the new monarch of Asgard. Thor did so, gaining his father’s might, the "Odinpower," as a right of rule.

Later, Thor used the Odinpower to have Asgard as a floating city hovering over the town of Broxton, Oklahoma. After sometime, Loki again caused problems by revealing to Balder that he was Odin’s son (a secret kept from Balder). Loki also manipulated Thor into slaying his own grandfather, Bor, and spurred Balder into claiming the throne of Asgard and exiling Thor. However, when Norman Osborn (aka Green Goblin--then leader of the US peace-keeping forces) schemed with Loki to invade Asgard with his Dark Avengers team and super-human armies, Thor defended Asgard. Eventually, Loki switched sides after Osborn’s supremely powerful pawn, the Sentry (Robert Reynolds), threatened to destroy both Earth and Asgard. The mad Sentry slew Loki, but was ultimately defeated by Thor, and Osborn’s forces were also defeated with the aid of Thor’s comrades from the true Avengers. Afterward, under the leadership of Steve Rogers (aka Captain America), Osborn’s Avengers were disbanded, and a new Avengers team, including Thor, was forged.

To learn more about Thor, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Thor_%28Thor_Odinson%29.

3 comments:

  1. I would agree, I really liked the Thor movie. Now that I know more about the back-story of Thor I am glad they wrote the movie they way that they did, I don't think it would have been as fun to watch a movie about a crippled pre-med with godlike amnesia.

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  2. I agree. It was also interesting how they used the name "Donald Blake" in the movie as Jane Fosters ex-boyfriend, who was a doctor.

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  3. In all honesty, I think the movie was WAY less confusing than his real bio ;-) (Probably because the movie only looked at one aspect and was only an hour or so long.)

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