How to Properly Utilize Ultimate Thor?

[Mr. Sam]

Right then, I think that Thor is a fantastic character, as evidenced by my avatar. He's got real depth that other characters lack - his down-to-earth, liberal political views mixed with his Asgardian god background make, or made, for an interesting read. He's definitely my number one ultimate character, at least in how well he's been modified from his 616 counterpart.

That being said, he hasn't really been looked into in massive depth in any comics, save perhaps Ultimates 2. And there, you had what? Well, impressive storytelling, some great fight scenes, some comparisons to Jesus and a fake origin story.

That being said... After that, actually, I think I should call this thread "How to Properly Utilize Ultimate Thor further?" Alright, that being said, don't you think he deserves more. At least an Ultimate Iron man style miniseries where we deal with his life separately from the Ultimates. With such a fantastic character, don't you think he deserves a story where he's looked into without it being completely cluttered by other characters.

Of course, the Loebimates isn't doing him any favours. He's lost pretty much all of his original character, save his Asgardian background. The biggest crime of this atrocity by far. Must be careful not to turn this into yet another Loeb bashing thread though.

How would you properly utilize Thor then? I'd go for a solo miniseries, but it'd have to be longer than four issues in my mind - it'd have to look into his earthly political actions, and I'd love to take a look at Ultimate Asgard. I don't think two issues each would really be fair.

[ThePhenom]

I'd like a Thor mini, perhaps with Millar and McNiven on it, or even JMS and Finch (not just because JMS's current 616 Thor series is fantastic but because he writes depth in his stories well).

[Ramirez IV]

Five issue mini would be great. I'd like to see him go on a personal quest, with flashbacks to both his life in Asgard and his first appearances on earth, becoming sure of who he was and the relationship he had to mortals. Bring in a couple of Ultimate Thor villains, or even Beta Ray Bill as a travelling buddy. An in depth character study, really. Sombre book with peppered with colossal, mythic level fights.

[Mr. Sam]

That's pretty much what I had in mind. Although... you sort of alluded to it, but I'd like Thor to be having some connection with gritty, third world events. Like traveling to third world countries, etc. etc. Obviously pepper them with some more super hero style stuff and bingo, bango.

[Tobias Drake]

I think that confirming that he is definitely, unquestionably, absolutely an asgardian god may have damaged his mystique. Hippy Thor with the questionable background was a fun character, but now he's mostly just Thor with the occasional hippy tendency.

[Blaqueneto]

I think that confirming that he is definitely, unquestionably, absolutely an asgardian god may have damaged his mystique. Hippy Thor with the questionable background was a fun character, but now he's mostly just Thor with the occasional hippy tendency.I'm not sure carrying on with it for longer would've been better. Millar played with it well throughout his run, and it was fun, but I would've been a bit disappointed had he not given an answer by the end of U2.


I'd like a Thor mini, perhaps with Millar and McNiven on it, or even JMS and Finch (not just because JMS's current 616 Thor series is fantastic but because he writes depth in his stories well).Definitely. But I think I would go for Hitch as my first choice for the art. McNiven and Finch are great choices though.

[Kourtis17]

i think that it was good that we didnt know his full backstory since it was questionable wether he was actually a god. Now that it is known, i wouldnt mind seeing ultimate asgard, and his first visit to earth, possibly even giving a greater detail of his relationship with loki.

[Mr. Sam]

His first visit to Earth was when he was born as a child, I believe. Apparently, he "always knew" who he was, it just took the mental breakdown to, er, do something.

Moody teenager Thor would be interesting, at least in a flashback.

[Titanium]

I would like to see an Ultimate Thor mini dealing with the realization he is truly a god and they exist. Maybe other Ultimate God pantheons show up now that the cat is out of the bag. A good ol Thor vs Hercules battle.

[Mr. Sam]

I would like to see an Ultimate Thor mini dealing with the realization he is truly a god and they exist. Maybe other Ultimate God pantheons show up now that the cat is out of the bag. A good ol Thor vs Hercules battle.

Eugh, I really don't like this idea of other God-like characters showing up. Thor's meant to be special!!!

[Hidden Agenda]

This is great thinking. It's a great concept for a course of action for a character.

Ultimate Thor needs to be "off the hook" powerful physically. But being a "god" shouldn't really reflect power as much as it should reflect knowledge and mentality.

But when you look at Thor, in Norse mythology and Marvel history...he was a deity sent to Earth to understand his weaknesses more than his strengths.

So how does a writer take these aspects and make them feel more than "Well Thor should beat Hulk...because he's a god"

Yes Thor should beat Hulk... but why was he sent to Earth, and why can't he beat Hulk?

That's a great Ultimate question that has never answered by Marvel.

A good writer would excite fans by answring this question in the Ultimate Uni.

Maybe a good story would represent why Thor decides as a god why he can't allow himself to beat Hulk (but readers know why and respect it) without Hulk beating him down.

[hunter_peterson]

Look up "magical realism" on Wikipedia. THAT is one of the things that make Thor great. That and the hippiness.

I would love a six-part story that outlines his development (after incarnation) from an extremely arrogant child into the hippy God of Thunder, leader of his own religion. I want him to really experience the worst of human existance, only to try and tackle what he sees as the main problem, the buerocracy.

There could also be a couple flashes of how the other Asgardians veiwed him in the past and during his journey. They need to believe in him as much as his earthly followers. He could finish with some big reveal of himself, like in Ultimate Iron Man 1. Then we could proceed with a villain, perhaps a scary (think Wrath from the Fullmetal Alchemist anime) Absorbing Man. But I would save that for a second volume.

[Mr. Sam]

I like the ideas. Anyway, I'll see if I can get some more discussion going in this. Ultimate Thor's one of those characters that keeps people that are "all about teh powerz" happy as well as pleasing people that are looking for someone a bit more than, well, "Hulk smash."

Looks like Ultimate Origins has piss all to do with Thor, so an origin story would stil be pretty sweet. I mean, we've been told it before - he was some sort of nurse who "always knew who he was" and then had some sort of mental breakdown; possibly fully realizing who he was and having one of those "holy crap!" moments? There's so much potential here, so much material to work with, it needn't even all be used in one series. In fact, it shouldn't be when there's that much you can extract.

[gorthon616]

I think that confirming that he is definitely, unquestionably, absolutely an asgardian god may have damaged his mystique. Hippy Thor with the questionable background was a fun character, but now he's mostly just Thor with the occasional hippy tendency.

Hippie Thor was great. I mean I hated him. But man I loved to hate him. Damn hippie Gods.

[Mr. Sam]

Why would you hate Hippie Thor? Stealing your hard earned tax money?

[seekquaze]

I agree that Loeb has pretty much ruined the Ultimate Thor character with the Shakespeare speech (some writers can pull it off with classic Thor, with Ultimate Thor it is jsut out of place.). Also, he has reduced the deep thinking Thor to just a college frat boy.

At the same time I don't think Millar did Ultimate Thor that many favors either. While he set up an interesting origin. The details of which were only hinted at. With Loki screwing with reality we don't even know what was real or not. That and with the fact Thor seemed to serve little purpose aside from being a whipping boy for the latest villain.

I would like to see a mini series. If we follow the line of thinking that he was "reborn" on Earth than it could be him coming to terms with his past life and maybe even a vision from Odin (but keep Odin shadowed or at least not in his true form to keep the mystique) and start his work. Maybe recieving his equipment.

Also, what I primary want is something to explain why Loki is so much more powerful than he is and if the only reason Thor was able to defeat him in the past was due to Odin constantly restraining him. With Loki that powerful and Odin even more so more than ever it raises the question of what purpose Thor served. Were the Aesir really nothing more than a group of beings that existed in another dimension? Did Thor, who was supposed to be a fierce warrior, always need father to bale him out against Loki? If Thor is supposed to be one of the most powerful superhuman on the planet why does he constantly loose?

[Obsidian Thought]

I haven't really read any of the Ultimates yet except for in Ultimate War and Ultimate Nightmare... but as far as Thor in concerned.. you could still throw some mystery back into his character. Is he really a god? Is Loki really a god? I mean what if they're super-powered beings who are just parading around as mythological earth deities? I like when there is a fine line of mystery to characters like Thor... I don't mind them introducing gods, aliens and magic into the UU..just don't go overboard with the ideas.

[carabas]

I haven't really read any of the Ultimates yet except for in Ultimate War and Ultimate Nightmare... but as far as Thor in concerned.. you could still throw some mystery back into his character. Is he really a god? Is Loki really a god? I mean what if they're super-powered beings who are just parading around as mythological earth deities? I like when there is a fine line of mystery to characters like Thor... I don't mind them introducing gods, aliens and magic into the UU..just don't go overboard with the ideas.
I think you should read The Ultimates vol. 1 & 2 to get what the Thor problem is.

He used to be an extreme left-wing liberal god, come to earth to spred his Word and make the world a better place. He was Ultimate Jesus mor than he was Ultimate Thor. Now he's just an overmuscled superperson with a groupie.

[2-4-5_Trioxin]

I think they did a good job with him and presented him well, well they being millar.

Sometimes less is more. If they over exposed thor they would probablly make him less interesting. Letting things be as they are is the right route in mind, he is far more interesting being a bit of a mystery and doesnt need his whole life chronicled to the point of being boring.

[Mr. Sam]

Obviously not, but surely there are hidden chapters you can reveal with loose ties to existing stories? That way you keep the mystique and the interest alive without revealing too much about the character and making him boring. No?

[TremorDeth]

It would be cool if Loeb hadn't botched the character up in U3...

[MythicBrawn]

First thing would be to revert him to the incarnation established by U1 and U2. Get rid of the idiotic Shakespearan speech and give him back his battleaxe hammer. Valkyrie could have a history similar to his and be more frightening considering what valkyries really do. A mini that explores his background, powers, and his mission on Earth would be good. He definitely has insight into things considering he knew about Banner's failings (from U1).

[hunter_peterson]

Yeah, a scary murderous psychopathic Valkyrie would be nice. They did pick who dies in battle, after all...

And she could be able to reanimate the corpses of her victims, the einherjar. That'd be freaky.

[datriadx18]

Mark Millar's initial vision of the character was really cool... a pseudo-saviour who was doubted by his peers and such. I liked that there was a doubt over his godly heritage... until at the end of Ultimates 2 when we found he was overtly revealed he is a god. That was cool.

[Marcus_Maximus]

I agree that Loeb has pretty much ruined the Ultimate Thor character with the Shakespeare speech (some writers can pull it off with classic Thor, with Ultimate Thor it is jsut out of place.). Also, he has reduced the deep thinking Thor to just a college frat boy.

At the same time I don't think Millar did Ultimate Thor that many favors either. While he set up an interesting origin. The details of which were only hinted at. With Loki screwing with reality we don't even know what was real or not. That and with the fact Thor seemed to serve little purpose aside from being a whipping boy for the latest villain.





That's what I liked about Ultimate Thor.