30 Days of Winter: Day 24 - Last Stands - Skurge at Gjallerbru

[proteus_lives]

Greetings True Believers!

Any day of Last Stands must begin with the greatest of them all....the Tale of Skurge, the Executioner who stood alone at Gjallerbru.

Walt Simonson gave Skruge an ending so epic, so metal that the warriors and the skalds of the world unite in respect and honor.

His name was as Skurge! Say it, damn you, say it loud!




Hela, goddess of the dead and Hel stole mortals that were not hers to take in Midgard. The Thunderer and his warriors cannot allow this. So Thor, Balder and a crew of M-16 toting Einherjar travel to the realm of the dead to get them back. Skurge the Executioner. Ever the enemy of Thor and Balder travels with them. For he is tired of defeat, the mocking laughter of others and the way the Enchantress toys with his heart.

The battles are long and difficult but the forces of Asgard win back the stolen souls. They flee the underworld with the armies of Hel hot on their heels. At the end of Hela's kingdom is the Gjallerbru. A stand must be made here to delay the armies of evil.













"He stood alone at Gjallerbru...and that is answer is enough."

Comments

[valtyr]

This is magnificent, but my favourite bit is Skurge saying that Baldur is too kind to laugh at him.

[valtyr]

By which I should elaborate, my favourite heroes, in general, are the ones who are kind, and it's a quality often overshadowed by badassery and big fights. Grand gestures are great and I love them, but the sort of daily kindness that means Baldur's never laughed at Skurge is something I find very powerful, and Skurge's awareness and appreciation of that kindness is really touching.

[proteus_lives]

"Motto and High-Five"

"my favourite heroes, in general, are the ones who are kind, and it's a quality often overshadowed by badassery and big fights."

I agree and I think it's why we share an admiration of heroes like Balder and Steve.

I agree it is powerful. Especially when you consider that Skurge has crossed swords with Balder for centuries. But still admires him, there is a page I didn't poste here (It's on my other Skurge post) but it's where a demon of Hel is trying to trick Skurge and Balder warns him. The demon, who has taken the form of the Enchantress says Balder is lying. Skurge immidently rears back with the thought "Yet Balder spoke and the Bright One never lies!"

I loved how even though Balder has kicked his ass up and down the Nine Worlds and how Skurge tried to kill him again and again, it never crosses his mind for a moment that Balder would lie.

Balder is my favorite Thor character and in my top ten characters of all time list. Not because he's a powerful Norse God but because he stands out from the crowd with his kindness. He once down the sword and tried to walk the path of non-violence. He questioned Asgard's culture and prophecy.

And I love his complex and trope-reversal relationship with Karnilla, Queen of the Norns.

A great character and perfect companion for Thor when used right.

[valtyr]

Yes, definitely - Baldur is a genuinely decent person; not just saving people from monsters, but giving his cloak to a guy who's cold, without a moment's thought. Not that the other Asgardians aren't good people - it's one of the reasons I did like JMS's run, that the Asgardians were nice, like Hogun helping change a tyre - but Baldur is just, well, he's constantly thinking of the effects his actions have on others, he's genuinely introspective rather than emo or wangsty.

And I think that's even better because he's not super-smart or super-powerful, but he doesn't let that stop him from giving his all, whether it's going after enemies or trying to lead a fractious court. Yes, moving in with Doom was pretty stupid, but Baldur gave it thought and felt it was the best decision he could make at the time, and could explain his reasoning. And he is genuinely and sincerely remorseful when he doesn't live up to his own standards.

Yeah, he's a fantastic supporting character; I loved the Thor-Loki-Baldur interplay in JMS's run.

Aha!

[charlottesmtms.livejournal.com]

*That's* the other posting of this topic I remember, and the other scan that you mentioned!

I'll admit, I *still* have issues with the inkings done, in this era (had a tendency to look rather sloppy; I had similar issues with certain titles in the INFERNO storyline, for similar reasons) but this is one of the few that actually sits well ... also one of the few times that Balder's old armour doesn't bug me (but it still reminds me of 'dueling Pac-Men', on top of his head)

I know - one man's drink, another's poison!

[polarisnorth]

Motto. I love kind heroes. Balder when he's written well is one of my favorites. (Steve will probably always be first, though.)