Marvel's Thor is Now a Woman, Comics Studio Announces

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**LuciusAR**

I assume this is just a change in one particular series, no a fundamental makeover of the character. A bit like that time that Spiderman became Latino?

**Goliath**

Grey Templar wrote:
If it is true, I forsee it flopping horribly.

Thor is a male character, full stop. No amount of gender equality PC nonsense can change that.

There are plenty of great female characters from Norse mythology and comic book canon to pull from. No need to pollute existing icons.

Even if there has been a female Thor in the comics, the idea was stupid from the start.

Here's the thing. Thor (male guy) isn't suddenly becoming female. He's becoming unworthy and so switches to carrying his old axe Jarnbjorn (as seen on the cover of Avengers #35).

Thor (male guy) will still be doing superhero stuff with the avengers and such, he's just no longer the god of thunder.

Mjolnir still has the associated powers, and if they be worthy, whosoever shall lift this hammer shall wield the power of Thor (the god). The female character is worthy of lifting the hammer, and so wields the power of Thor (the god). She has the power of Thor (the god) so why shouldn't she call herself Thor (the god)? Thor (male guy) is still Thor (male guy), he's just not as powerful.

Think of it this way: in The Dark Knight Rises, if Bruce Wayne hadn't become Batman again, he would still have been Bruce Wayne. Even if Selina Kyle had taken on the mantle of Batman, he would still be Bruce Wayne, and she would be Batman, so why shouldn't she call herself Batman?
Better analogy: At the end of Final Crisis, Batman (Bruce Wayne) was zapped with the Omega Sanction by Darkseid and sent to the past. while he was stuck in the past (and so unable to be Batman) Dick Grayson took over the mantle of Batman. Does this somehow "pollute" the character of Batman? or would it only be "polluting" the character if a woman had taken over the mantle?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

LuciusAR wrote:
I assume this is just a change in one particular series, no a fundamental makeover of the character. A bit like that time that Spiderman became Latino?

You mean that time in 2011, which is still ongoing? (also he's half latino, half black)

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Grey Templar wrote:
Indeed.

We the consumers may not get to say what they make Thor to be, but we sure as Hell get to make them to change it back and apologize.

Are you a consumer though? Do you currently read Thor: God of Thunder or any of the Avengers titles he appears in? and will you stop purchasing them as a result of this news? Or are you just someone on the internet going "OH MY GOD THEY DID A THING THIS IS AN OUTRAGE" without actually having any stake in it?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

reds8n wrote:
Frankly I think Falcon replacing Rogers as Cap. America is a bigger deal

This is the part that I thought would have been all over the internet originally, but that was before the Thor news hit he web.

**gorgon**

Alpharius wrote:
What is actually more amazing is the number of times 'mainstream' media falls for this crap and gives the comics companies free advertising.

Superman is dead! (Until he wasn't.)
Superman's new look and powers! (Until he got the old ones back.)
Captain America calls it quits! (For the 87th time.)
Captain America is dead! (Until he wasn't.)
Green Lantern is dead! (Until he wasn't.)
Green Lantern is gay! (No, not THAT Green Lantern...one in another dimension.)
Thor is dead! (Until he wasn't.)
Thor's a girl! (You see where this is going.)

It's almost as if they plan things that get a sensational headline...

And forget mainstream media...look at the reactions here and other nerd forums. Even the regulars get in a tizzy over something that will last a year and then be mostly forgotten.

**curran12**

Now now, gorgon, logic and pattern recognition does not have a place in the realm of comic book rage. Because THIS TIME IS FOR SUPER SERIOUS.

**Seaward**

I think Wolverine becoming an undocumented migrant fat-acceptance-promoting otherkin transwoman is going to be the bigger story.

**Goliath**

curran12 wrote:
Now now, gorgon, logic and pattern recognition does not have a place in the realm of comic book rage. Because THIS TIME IS FOR SUPER SERIOUS.

Exactly. This exact same thing happens every year or so, and the outrage is kind of predictable.

Though I am rather surprised at the complete lack of people complaining about the fact that Steve Rogers has lost his powers, and so Sam Wilson (Falcon; a black man) will be taking over as Captain America. I was expecting far more outrage about that.

**Chongara**

Holy crap that was fast: http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/15/entertainment/man-demands-changes-in-thor-comic/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Spoiler:

**Goliath**

Seaward wrote:
I think Wolverine becoming an undocumented migrant fat-acceptance-promoting otherkin transwoman is going to be the bigger story.

Hahahahahahaha! It's funny because Wolverine is dying in September.

**reds8n**

Actually he's about to die in the comics so they will be looking for a replacement

http://marvel.com/news/comics/2014/7/10/22841/covering_the_death_of_wolverine_pt_4

Although the Earth X ref'ed earlier had a fat and middle aged Wolverine IIRC.

**Goliath**

reds8n wrote:
Actually he's about to die in the comics so they will be looking for a replacement

http://marvel.com/news/comics/2014/7/10/22841/covering_the_death_of_wolverine_pt_4

Although the Earth X ref'ed earlier had a fat and middle aged Wolverine IIRC.

My assumption is that it'll be X-23.

**squidhills**

Seaward wrote:
I think Wolverine becoming an undocumented migrant fat-acceptance-promoting otherkin transwoman is going to be the bigger story.

Is this true? Because if it is, it would be the first interesting thing they've done with Wolverine in... well, ever. I'd actually read that for the novelty, if nothing else.

**curran12**

Yeah, I mean, when yo uget down to it, there is one word to describe Wolverine: "Sniktbub".

**gorgon**

Goliath wrote:
curran12 wrote:
Now now, gorgon, logic and pattern recognition does not have a place in the realm of comic book rage. Because THIS TIME IS FOR SUPER SERIOUS.
Exactly. This exact same thing happens every year or so, and the outrage is kind of predictable.

Though I am rather surprised at the complete lack of people complaining about the fact that Steve Rogers has lost his powers, and so Sam Wilson (Falcon; a black man) will be taking over as Captain America. I was expecting far more outrage about that.

As a long time Cap fan, I've grown to dislike the "Steve Rogers lost his powers" storylines. For one thing...what "powers"? And why does he of all heroes have to get taken down a notch?

The other major issue I have is the lack of versimilitude regarding the serum and his "powers". It doesn't seem like something he should "lose" or "get sucked from him," and it shouldn't cause all that muscle mass to dissolve into nothingness.

But it's obviously not something to get upset about, because the obvious point to all these changes is the inevitable "Heroes Restored!" storyline in 12 months or so, complete with new #1 issues for many titles and lots of collectible covers. It's always much, much more about the restoration than the deconstruction.

**curran12**

While I agree with your general assessment, gorgon, I do see a bit of value in the "powers lost" chapters that comics go through. Those story arcs act as a reboot to the world or story's relative power creep. If you don't have it, you eventually run into what you could call a Dragon Ball Z problem where the next threatening bad guy is so powerful that they require the same power increase from the hero, and generally invalidate any character not at that power level.

IMO, it is better to reset things rather than let them reach that point.

**Laemos**

This sure is a bunch of people who are worthy to use that hammer.

**squidhills**

Goliath wrote:
Hahahahahahaha! It's funny because Wolverine is dying in September.

Wait, he's dying instead? Well that's just crap. Everyone knows nobody dies for reals in comic books anymore. Especially not Mister "Let's put him in all our titles" Wolverine.

Bucky didn't stay dead. The Punisher didn't stay dead... twice. Cap didn't stay dead. Norman Osborne didn't stay dead. I could go on, but I think you guys get the idea.

I don't like the idea of turning Thor into a legacy character (DC is overflowing with those and Marvel has a few of its own) just to put some breasts on the cover of the book, especially when there already several perfectly good female Asgardians that the writers are ignoring (and have done so for years) who could pick up a hammer and hit dudes with it.

But hey, no matter how bad this turns out to be, Marvel will never come up with an idea dumber than "Let's turn the Punisher into Frankenstein with a Gatling gun for an arm."

**curran12**

squidhills wrote:

But hey, no matter how bad this turns out to be, Marvel will never come up with an idea dumber than "Let's turn the Punisher into Frankenstein with a Gatling gun for an arm."

Ahem...

Spoiler:

**Goliath**

squidhills wrote:
Goliath wrote:
Hahahahahahaha! It's funny because Wolverine is dying in September.

Wait, he's dying instead? Well that's just crap. Everyone knows nobody dies for reals in comic books anymore. Especially not Mister "Let's put him in all our titles" Wolverine.

Bucky didn't stay dead. The Punisher didn't stay dead... twice. Cap didn't stay dead. Norman Osborne didn't stay dead. I could go on, but I think you guys get the idea.

I don't like the idea of turning Thor into a legacy character (DC is overflowing with those and Marvel has a few of its own) just to put some breasts on the cover of the book, especially when there already several perfectly good female Asgardians that the writers are ignoring (and have done so for years) who could pick up a hammer and hit dudes with it.

But hey, no matter how bad this turns out to be, Marvel will never come up with an idea dumber than "Let's turn the Punisher into Frankenstein with a Gatling gun for an arm."

~~What do you mean by 'Legacy Character'?~~ Never mind, I realised what you meant. I don't think that they are turning him into a legacy character, really. He's losing his powers for a while, and someone else is filling in (as god of thunder) Thor will still be around, just with an axe rather than Mjolnir.

**Platuan4th**

Goliath wrote:
squidhills wrote:
Goliath wrote:
Hahahahahahaha! It's funny because Wolverine is dying in September.

Wait, he's dying instead? Well that's just crap. Everyone knows nobody dies for reals in comic books anymore. Especially not Mister "Let's put him in all our titles" Wolverine.

Bucky didn't stay dead. The Punisher didn't stay dead... twice. Cap didn't stay dead. Norman Osborne didn't stay dead. I could go on, but I think you guys get the idea.

I don't like the idea of turning Thor into a legacy character (DC is overflowing with those and Marvel has a few of its own) just to put some breasts on the cover of the book, especially when there already several perfectly good female Asgardians that the writers are ignoring (and have done so for years) who could pick up a hammer and hit dudes with it.

But hey, no matter how bad this turns out to be, Marvel will never come up with an idea dumber than "Let's turn the Punisher into Frankenstein with a Gatling gun for an arm."
What do you mean by 'Legacy Character'?

Names that people inherit like Blue Beetle, OMAC, etc. Marvel really has as many as DC, though.

**Ensis Ferrae**

DarkTraveler777 wrote:

In the comics Thor's position and power are granted by the hammer and Odin, right? So isn't this kind of recasting plausible in the Marvel universe? I never read Thor or Avengers, so I am out of my comfort zone here.

Not exactly... because Comic Book Thor was a human being, Dr. Blake (a legit human being, not some phony alias as in the movie) who found a staff/cane in a cave somewhere, he could slam the point of the staff/cane into the ground, whereupon, he would essentially be replaced with Thor, God of Thunder.... Thor's "position" at one point as Heir to the throne of Asgard, and eventual crowning/sitting on the throne are due to his birthright of being Thor Odinson, he has since been exiled, and pops in in dire need, wreaks havoc and goes back to exile. His "power" is granted by the Odinpower, or Allsource, not the hammer. The hammer only works/reacts to him when he is in it's good graces.

This change isn't saying "Steve Rogers died, so now Bucky has been put into the suit, because he's awesome" this is a "SHIELD met some random girl named Stephanie Rogers, and determined she was worthy of the mantle/title of Captain America, so she put on the suit in the absence of Bucky and/or Steve"

**squidhills**

curran12 wrote:
squidhills wrote:

But hey, no matter how bad this turns out to be, Marvel will never come up with an idea dumber than "Let's turn the Punisher into Frankenstein with a Gatling gun for an arm."

Ahem...

Spoiler:

After all the trouble I went through to have that abortion of a comic book erased from my memory... Do you know how much therapy you've undone with that picture? DO YOU?

You will be recieving my psychotherapy bill in the next week or so. I expect prompt payment, sir.

**Ensis Ferrae**

Platuan4th wrote:
Goliath wrote:
squidhills wrote:
Goliath wrote:
Hahahahahahaha! It's funny because Wolverine is dying in September.

"Let's turn the Punisher into Frankenstein with a Gatling gun for an arm."
What do you mean by 'Legacy Character'?

Names that people inherit like Blue Beetle, OMAC, etc. Marvel really has as many as DC, though.

I'd heard that they were "killing" Wolverine off... but I'll believe it when they have an open casket funeral, on the pages (it's basically the ONLY way a comic character stays dead, for a while.

And isn't "Punisher with a gatling gun arm" basically just Cable with a skull on his chest?

Also, Marvel Studios needs to step on Fox's head and override them, if they try to bring a Deadpool movie out with all the shenanigans they crammed into him in the Wolverine Origins movie. (seriously, DP doesn't have cyclops vision, teleporting, and wolverine style samurai swords)

**nkelsch**

Gender-bent versions of characters are a thing... a thing people actually really like. And sometimes the gender opposite universe characters and stories become as good if not better than the original.

Not sure why everyone is so butt-hurt... They can do whatever they want... I always love to see how 'fandoms' feel like they have ownership of a franchise due to time invested and then act like something is being taken from them.

Any idea if it is a reboot, a self-contained mini-series or something else?

**Relapse**

How many Marvel comic book heroes, once they died or changed in some way, stayed that way?

The only one I can immediatly call to mind who stayed dead is Captain Marvel from the late 60's.

I'm sure there might be some others, but it mostly reminds me of those scenes in the movies where someone looks like they died, everyone gets their emotional moment, then suddenly, the pesrson coughs or gives some otjer indication of life.

**Ensis Ferrae**

nkelsch wrote:

Not sure why everyone is so butt-hurt... They can do whatever they want... I always love to see how 'fandoms' feel like they have ownership of a franchise due to time invested and then act like something is being taken from them.

Any idea if it is a reboot, a self-contained mini-series or something else?

Thing is though, I think many fandoms do have "ownership" of a franchise, as they are the ones who are driving revenue to whatever company it is providing the product..

From the sounds of this new direction with Thor, it's probably in your "something else" category (as I view it anyways... similar to how the Ultimate timeline is different from the "real" one, etc) This would be the opening series in a new chapter of the Thor story... He's (yet again) been deemed unworthy by something (gods know what... Odin is dead, and it was usually Odin who is supposed to determine that), but apparently there MUST be a "god of thunder" and the new "god of thunder" is really the "goddess of thunder"

Judging by the reactions elsewhere online, the outcry from the fans will mean Marvel makes this a rather short chapter, and bring things back to "normal", perhaps with a spinoff series somewhere, or they'll ad this girl to the pantheon of Mjollnir wielding people throughout the various realms (joining guys like Beta-Ray Bill) and she'll crop up from time to time as the "real Thor" has need of more than one hammer

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Relapse wrote:
How many Marvel comic book heroes, once they died or changed in some way, stayed that way?

The only one I can immediatly call to mind who stayed dead is Captain Marvel from the late 60's.

I'm sure there might be some others, but it mostly reminds me of those scenes in the movies where someone looks like they died, everyone gets their emotional moment, then suddenly, the pesrson coughs or gives some otjer indication of life.

This is the wikipedia article that I found with the best list I've seen thus far... Of course, how many of these characters are waiting in the wings for their own eventual resurrection?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deceased_American_comic_book_characters

**Mr Nobody**

I personally like the symbolism of a woman being worthy of wielding the power of Thor.

**Ensis Ferrae**

Mr Nobody wrote:
I personally like the symbolism of a woman being worthy of wielding the power of Thor.

I agree with this.... And upon reading, re-reading and re-reading again... .and again... It is VERY unclear as to whether this new Character will be named Thor, or will carry another name... as they say, she is worthy of the hammer, and the name of Thor.... So, it's entirely possible that she will be like Beta-Ray Bill, and possess the powers/hammer, but not actually CARRY the name Thor, but merely is viewed as being "worthy" of the name.

**timetowaste85**

I enjoy the tears of all those who are pissed off at the change. Now what the freaking hell happened to cause Steve Rogers to AGAIN give up the mantle of Cap?!

**Zond**

Maybe this will usher in a new era of more prominent non white male straight superheroes, poignant finite storylines... Who am I kidding.

Anyway this is like the hullabaloo over Idris Elba being Heimdall. Pointless.

**Compel**

I don't follow comics (Never did 'appreciate' them, the full books like Long Halloween would take me about an hour to read through, tops.)

However, presumably in the comics, Asgard is still some kind of actual place, in some form or another / plane of existence, what have you. So when the person who is holding the hammer goes there, who, well, are they? Are they 'Thor' then, or are they person-who-is-granted-the-powers-and-personnae-of-Thor?

And what happens to ex-Thor now? If he turns up at Asgard, who is he?

And, slightly off-topic. On the comic-book characters never stay dead angle. How's Uncle Ben doing? I imagine he's been resurrected for a short while a few dozen times but I imagine he's one of the few comic characters that's mostly stayed in the ground.