Thor: Myth to Marvel

by Martin Arnold

The myths of the Norse god Thor were preserved in the Icelandic Eddas, set down in the early Middle Ages. The bane of giants and trolls, Thor was worshipped as the last line of defence against all that threatened early Nordic society. Thor's significance persisted long after the Christian conversion and, in the mid-eighteenth century, Thor resumed a symbolic prominence among northern countries. Admired and adopted in Scandinavia and Germany, he became central to the rhetoric of national romanticism and to more belligerent assertions of nationalism. Resurrected in the latter part of the twentieth century in Marvel Magazine, Thor was further transformed into an articulation both of an anxious male sexuality and of a parallel nervousness regarding American foreign policy. Martin Arnold explores the extraordinary regard in which Thor has been held since medieval times and considers why and how his myth has been adopted, adapted and transformed.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, Medieval, History

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Bill Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting account of the God of Thunder's evolution from Norse deity to MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) super hero.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a comprehensive background on the sources for Thor and most of Norse mythology which really turns out to be useful in dismissing Atlantean and Aryan bunkum later on. Oh yes, there's a good deal said about the rise of German nationalism and the absolutely batshit crazy people who decided to coöpt some lovely tales to justify their own bloody minded nationalism.

The last chapter, on the comic book hero, wanders a bit and draws dodgy conclusions, but this may seem more so because I happen to know the material.

Solid book.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating stuff, especially the latter half's discussion on the part that the co-option of Thor and Norse mythology in general played in various nationalist feuds.

The discussions on Norse mythology in its contemporary time was also extremely interesting.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference work on the history of Thor's usage in Europe, especially around the 1600s to the 1800s.