Thor is, after all, immortal. He was around for thousands of years before taking up the Donald Blake identity and became a member of the Avengers. So it only makes sense that writers would occasionally take advantage of that by telling tales from Thor's past. We saw that when we took a look at Thor Annual #8 a year or so ago.
A few years before that issue was published., Thor Annual #5 (September 1976) also did a flashback story. In fact, writer Steve Englehart and artist John Buscema flashed back to the beginning of time.
We start with an overview of Norse mythology, covering the creation of the universe and Asgard through the creation of the human race and the gods of Asgard being worshiped by the Vikings. It's a great beginning, with the epic story told very concisely but still brought to life by Buscema's magnificent art.
So when Thor sees some Vikings fighting an unknown enemy army, he jumps in to help his worshippers. The enemy, though, turn out to be Greeks, who have their own gods to call on. They summon Hercules.
The two gods slug it out for several pages in typically wonderful Buscema fashion. When Thor realizes he's facing another god, this comes as a surprise for the Thunder God. He didn't know any gods other than the Asgardians existed. He calls a one-week truce, challenging Olympus to an all-out war at the end of that week.
Thor is acting purely out of his pride. He wants a war to prove that the Asgardians are superior to any other group of gods--there is literally no other reason to fight. It's a reminder that this is Thor as a young man--the man who would have to learn humility by being turned into a crippled human before he was really worthy of being a hero.
Anyway, neither Odin nor Zeus will agree to go to war. Thor marches off in a snit, but it turns out he'll get his war anyways. Loki, in his usual trouble-making mode, sneaks into Mt. Olympus, impersonates Thor and ticks off the Greek pantheon enough to start the war.
A huge battle ensues. Once again, Buscema's art brings it to life, especially a spectacular splash page.
It's also a lot of fun to see the various Marvel versions of the two pantheons battling each other. In the end, the Asgardians appear to win, though there are a lot of casualties. The Valkeries are busy taking the dead to Valhalla.
Neither Odin nor Zeus took place in the battle and we soon find out why. Odin refuses to declare a celebration after the victory. So Thor, once again in a snit, gathers up some of his comrades and they march to Athens, intending to take over. But the Athenians barely even acknowledge them and Thor discovers he has no powers.
He finds out several things:
1. Zeus and Odin has mutually agreed to allow the battle to happen to teach their followers (at least the ones that lived) a lesson.
2. Both sides were led to believe they had won.
3. Both sides learn that they literally cannot conquer the others' earthly followers. The small-g gods are all powered by their worshippers and no god has power over a people group that worships someone else.
Thor storms off in yet another snit. He might very well be setting the single-issue snit record here. He is given a vision of the future in which he fights along with the Avengers. But that will happen only after he learns some humility.
The story really does have the feel of a story from ancient myth. Both the beginning--recounting creation according to Norse mythology--and the rhythm of the rest of the story gives it this mythic vibe. And, of course, John Buscema's art makes it all look fantastic. The ethics of Zeus and Odin agreeing to teach a lesson in humilty that leads to many violent deaths can be debated, but overall the story is great.
Next week, we'll jump over to the DC Universe and visit with the Spectre.
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