Thor: Ask Me Tomorrow

[proteus_lives]

Greetings True Believers!

Here are some scans from Thor: Heaven & Earth. Thor arrives to answer a dying priest's final question.

Enjoy.



A priest lies dying and Thor arrives and give him a Asgardian potion to ease his pain.

The priest says he didn't think Thor would come.



Four years ago Thor and the Avengers/FF fight and stop some Asgardian baddies in front of a church.

Thor prepares to leaves when a priest asks him, "Who are you?"



Thor says that is for him to decide and he's not allowed to interfere. The priest says he's already interfered and wants his question answered.

Thor promises to return to that very spot in a year and answer his question.

But Thor broke his vow.

The priest question had haunted him and he couldn't meet him. He walks dejected through a orchard. Sif asks him why he's so bummed and Thor explains. He doesn't know who he is and why he's here. Sif tells him to go to the priest and tell him that.



The priest explains to Thor that he's dying and his faith is shaken.

Thor promises to have an answer for him before he dies. The priest asks him not to take forever.









The priest passes.

Comments

[aaron_bourque]

That is . . . terrible art.

[icon_uk]

The art isn't impressive, but the story is an interesting one, also little moments like Thor knowing Latin, quoting Scripture and the mention of Those Who Sit Above in Shadow.

[drmcninja]

This is a topic I sometimes find myself thinking about. In a world where godly figures do walk the earth everyday, in plain sight, how do aetheists, agnostics, and religious people cope? How does it affect their faith? And I love this story for working with that in such an impressive way.

[zaganthi]

That art's something, but the story's great. Thanks for posting

[cypherfdp]

I would be okay with Thor knowing Germanic languages, but Latin? Wha-a-a-a-at?

[icon_uk]

He's been around for millennia, why not? It was a widely used language when the Roman Empire was around.

[zenbro]

Exchange student program with the Roman pantheon.

[baihu]

I could learn basic sign language in a couple of weeks and I've never been deaf or mute in my life; Thor is couple of millennial old as mentioned, what's your point?

[biod]

Something I can't quite put my finger on bugs me about the story, but that might be my favorite depiction of Bifrost.

[drmcninja]

I was thinking the same thing. I think it's the way it flows and splashes, but doesn't pool. It looks solid and intangible at the same time, and its a really cool effect.

[tsunamiwombat]

This story is great. I love the themes, I love the fact that a priest dares to question Thor, and he's shaken by it- he does not abandon his faith, but he is shaken by it.

And that he shakes thor.

THE ART. IS.

TERRIBAD!

[proteus_lives]

"TERRIBAD!"

That reminds me of a line from a movie.

"Murder is bad. Murder is wrong. Murder is baong."

[salinea]

Better, but still too didactic.

[icon_uk]

It's a story about a Norse God discussing the vagaries of religion and faith with a Christian priest, could be it anything other than a touch didactic?

And I was impressed that there was no pat answer at the end, just faith and doubt in fluctuating amounts.

[whitecometrx7]

the asgardians have gods of their own? that's interesting, i never knew that, are there any details about those who sit above in the shadows? names, power level, if they are real? any details

[proteus_lives]

Those Who Sit Above in Shadow kept the cycle of Ragnaroks going because it fed them. Thor killed them before the JMS run.

[shadowpsykie]

wow.... that seems like abeautiful story.... where is this from?

and if my latin is correct.... is he sayin:

Eternal rest give to him, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Rest in peace. Amen.

[proteus_lives]

It's from the mini-series Thor: Heaven & Earth issue 3.

[fungo_squiggly]

LOL @ the terrifying kissy-face Thor in the third panel of the last page.

[greenmask]

I like the art.

[lultam]

Me too

[silverzeo]

DOes anyone else want to see the Warriors Three making a deal of themselves, only to have the Big J.C. standing right behind them, all them scared stiff?

[avantre]

And then behind him can be an even bigger Buddha, and behind him...

[sherkahn]

Ok, I'll bite. The uncle of Thor's isn't Heimdall. Is that the Serpent?

[schala_kid]

Nope since Thor never knew the Serpent existed in the first place.

I'm guess he's from Frigga's side of the family.

Finally...

[the_blue_padre]

As a pastor, I've been waiting a LONG time for this story. I've always wondered how your average pastor/priest/member of the clergy in the Marvel universe handled the existence of Thor. This was a fascinating read.

I think Kurt Busiek introduced me to the idea that superheroes didn't have to JUST be an adolescent power fantasy...superheroes can be used as a vehicle for LOTS of different narratives and concepts...and I like that Thor could lead me, the reader, to reconsider the verse, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, NRSV)

Re: Finally...

[proteus_lives]

Thanks for your input Padre!

[midnightvoyager]

I was okay with the iffy art until that last face Thor makes. PENIS GOES WHERE?

It is a nice enough story, though. It isn't all "SEE HE IS A GOD SO YOU ARE WROOOONG", it's vague enough to let you believe what you want.

[schala_kid]

Yeah the art is weird but I love that panel with kid Loki looking at that...whatever it is.

Also that last page, I love the fact that Thor took his time to give the proper passing rites to the Priest ( I would have never guessed that the God of Thunder knew the Requiem Mass and Corinthians 15:51-54). Also props to the writer for adding macrons and changing the Requiem Mass from plural to singular (it feels more personal that way).

I really enjoyed this issue, we got to see a sensible side of Thor. He is not omnipotent, and despite having powers and being a God he has doubts and uncertainties just like the rest of us.

[baihu]

Just to be clear, isn't it already established for a while that the Norse gods are confirmed to be space alien formless creatures that touched down on earth and were influenced by the Norsemen they happened to meet first to take their current forms? Shouldn't Thor know this or did his memory reset again or something? He could easily have said "I'm a space alien" and everything would be okay?

I mean, I remember the exact story. It was a story of future Thor looking at a dead earth, and then a seer guy (who was never seen again in the comics) shows him their history and how life can spring about again.

[proteus_lives]

You're thinking of Earth X. An alternate universe tale, not canon.

[blackruzsa]

Actually... I LIKE the art, just not the faces....In fact the art is gorgeous in a sketchy way.

[liara_shadowsong]

I greatly enjoyed this story. I also liked most of the art (especially the wonderful depiction of the Bifrost), with the rather notable exception of the faces, which I found creepy.