Origins of Marvel's heroes continued: Thor vs. the Norse World

Journey in Mystery #83 (1962)

In 1962, Marvel Comics reintroduced the public to Thor, the Norse god of thunder, in Journey in Mystery #83. Marvel took the already crafted world of Norse mythology and brought it into the comic book world. Marvel kept many qualities of the mythology incorporated but also made many changes to make the character a good fit into the Marvel storylines. An examination of some of the major characters and elements reveal both the changes and the surviving elements of the original myths.

Thor

     Marvel employs many of Thor’s Norse traits to make up the comic book character but also chose to incorporate differences as well.  One obvious similarity between the myths and the comic comes from Thor’s mighty hammer, Mjolnir, existing in both worlds. In Norse mythology, Thor needed a magical belt and gauntlets to wield Mjolnir properly. Marvel’s version allows Thor to use the hammer alone. The Thor of Norse myths exhibits bright red hair and red beard while Marvel’s version carries the nickname of “goldilocks” due to his long blonde hair. Both Thors hold love for a special woman, with Marvel's Thor loving the mortal Jane Foster while the Norse Thor married the Asgardian, warrior-woman Sif. Norse Thor even carried on affairs with others like the giantess Jarnsaxa. Thor’s temperance comes across as the largest character difference between the two versions. Marvel’s Thor portrays a strong yet benevolent god of thunder while Norse myths portray him a warrior with a violent temper, who seems to revel in the slaughter of any who would challenge him.  These two Thors vary yet mirror one another.

Donald Blake

     Donald Blake played the ever-needed role of the secret identity of Thor in the comics, which exhibits a strong departure from the legends of the Norse god. Thor would strike hammer to the ground and in a flash reappear as the meek human that became Thor’s connection to the common man. Norse mythology certainly never gave Thor a dual identity. In a switch in the 1980s, Marvel reaffirmed the legend of the thunder god by eliminating the secret identity and claiming Odin gave Thor that time as a human only as another test for him to pass and grow in wisdom and learn humility.  Trials of Thor by Odin reflected the myths. So a divergence from the classic stories by Marvel turned into an affirmation of them in the end.