Thor: Godstorm

Thor: Godstorm #1-3

by Kurt Busiek, Steve Rude (Illustrator)

In a tale of two worlds, Thor fights epic battles against trolls, evil scientists and super-villains-and balances his life as a god, a hero and a doctor as Loki manipulates him from afar and Odin banishes him from Earth! What is the Godstorm, and can the God of Thunder hope to defeat it? Plus: in a tale of Asgard past, Thor battles Uroc, the Uru Monster!

Collecting:

Thor: Godstorm #1-3; Thor (1966) #408-409 (Tales of Asgard backups); Busiek/Rude; bonus story by Mike Mignola

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Mythology, Fantasy, Fiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.

Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.

During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).

Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.

In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.

In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.

In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.

Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.

Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,

Reviews

[Ignacio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Para el fan del Thor de Kirby (y Lee), este tebeo es un dulce. Busiek se sirve de sus hitos más recordados (la historia dentro de la historia, la presencia continua del panteón nórdico, Loki como villano detrás de cualquier conflicto) para ponerlos al servicio de un Steve Rude más cercano a Kirby que nunca. Sobre todo una plasticidad en la acción y un gusto por el detalle que enriquece la mayoría de viñetas si decides prestarle atención. Sí que, en el entintado, John Nyberg, Gary Martin o el propio The Dude me hubieran gustado más que Mike Royer, pero quizás entonces el dibujo se hubiera alejado de ese homenaje continuo en la base de Tormenta divina. También, los argumentos son menores, demasiado Journey Into Mystery 108, pero el propósito central se cumple sobradamente.

[Nicolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Godstorm is a welcome throwback to the days when Jack Kirby was creating the stories of Marvel's Asgardian. Kirby drew to emphasize action and dynamism and less on realism, so every panel packed a punch and crackled with energy. The stories themselves were built on the old Viking myths but with a new cosmic sensibility that fit with the U.S. Space Age optimism. Thor was still a god for explorers but they now searched the cosmos instead of the northern seas.

Godstorm came out during Dan Jurgens' under appreciated run on the Thor monthly, hence the Jake Olson persona that was Thor's mortal identity. It has Kurt Busiek writing, which was a treat. Busiek wrote The Avengers and Iron Man during Heroes Return in the late 1990's, he even had a turn at writing a Captain America annual, but he never had Thor and Busiek had a special tale here. Steve Rude handled the art, whose clean lines and dynamic figures is a marriage of Milton Caniff and Jack Kirby, hence this reader's introductory paragraph about the King. Rude is one of a handful of artist whose retro style reminds me of Kirby.

In a miniseries, Busiek weaved a lot of plots but settled them all cleanly at the end. His plot reads like a classic Avengers story, a Norse legend, a family story, and a sibling rivalry packaged as a modern comic book. There's a lot going here but Busiek sticks to the classics, like having Loki as the main antagonist because he's pretty much the anti-Thor, most great Thor stories will always have Loki because they so different but the same.

This was a great read, and this reader is glad to have rescued this from a bargain pile of forgotten books.

[Alex Sarll]

Corny but jolly retro-Asgardian antics, written by Kurt Busiek (who at worst is generally a safe pair of hands when it comes to superheroes), and illustrated by Steve Rude. The latter being a name I know but can't quite place, but who judged by this sample, has a major Kirby influence. Not quite so bad, thank goodness, although there is a frontispiece which is a bit 'this thunder god is assembled incorrectly'. The main problem is that in places Busiek seems to be writing down to that level, his Wasp as airheaded and his Jane Foster as wet as Stan Lee's. Still, the basic idea is good - Loki convincing one mighty tempest not to take orders from Thor, it then returning to plague him through the years - and by the final installment, it's almost feeling like a rough sketch for Busiek's Astro City work, with the focus as much on a mortal family in the shadow of the battle as the mythic combatants. Also, whatever my reservations about some of his other depictions, Rude does give excellent storm.

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. A retell yet again of Thor's earliest days. Too much and all over the place. I would revisit in the future because I usually love Busiek but reading lately so much Thor it was a headache.

[Little Timmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

An OK story and plot. Art was decent but didn't seem to fit the story. Not one of my favorite comics, not recommended

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thor: Godstorm (2001-2002; collected 2011): written by Kurt Busiek; illustrated by Steve Rude and Mike Royer: Fun homage by Busiek, Rude, and late-career Jack Kirby inker Mike Royer to the sort of story normally found in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's run on The Mighty Thor in the 1960's. Thor's battle with the sentient thunderstorm Godstorm occurs in three different eras as depicted in the story.

Busiek does that thing he does in which his writing is both homage (to Stan Lee) without being overly imitative of Lee's melodramatic verbiage. Steve Rude gives us his own action-packed, sometimes cartoony pencils, made to look just a bit more Kirbyesque than usual by Rude and inker Royer. My only complaint here would be that I'd like more of Busiek, Rude, and Royer's Thor. It's swell. Highly recommended.

[Sunil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurt Busiek and Steve Rude team up for a throwback Thor story that's perfectly enjoyable in a classic "superheroes talk about themselves and their special attacks during a fight" way. I liked the frame story of an old storyteller spinning some Thor yarns for young Vikings, relating three different times Thor faced off with an EVIL STORM summoned by Loki. There are some cute asides here and there; I'm just a sucker for that device in general. The actual story is fine with some Thor/Loki shenanigans and some exploration of Thor's dual mortal-god identity and how he struggles with his loyalty to both Asgard and Midgard. The back-up story illustrated by Mike Mignola where Thor fights a rock monster is forgettable padding.

[Frans Kempe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thor faces Loki and Godstorm in three stories

[Jefferson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The great artwork by Steve Rude helps to elevate a mediocre script. The real treat here is a short backup story featuring some early work by Mike Mignola.

[Joshua K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get what Busiek was going for here, but it’s not really my thing. Rude is great though.

[Drew Canole · Rating 2 out of 5]

With long time Kirby inker Mike Royer inking Steve Rude's best attempt at Kirby... this really does look like a lost Silver Age classic. I find Busiek's superhero work to be boring. Astro City didn't interest me, Marvels gets a pass because of the Alex Ross artwork, and now this. It feels like a Stan Lee comic (not a compliment) and I just don't have the passion for the Thor Lore that Busiek shows here.

Great looking book though! Fans of Kirby's Thor may find a lot to like here.

[Orrin Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable throwback of a book, done sort of in the style of those "Tales of Asgard" backup features in old Thor comics (very literally, in fact, in the backup story).

The main story is written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Steve Rude, doing his very best Jack Kirby imitation, and hitting it pretty darn well. There's some neat stuff in it, and it does a good job of hearkening to the comics of yore.

I actually picked this up for the backup story, written by Tom Defalco and drawn by none other than Mike Mignola, also here doing a Jack Kirby imitation, and also knocking it pretty much out of the park. The backup was my favorite part, unsurprisingly, though it's a little slight, in the style of the "Tales of Asgard" pieces it emulates. I really liked Uroc, the Ur-metal monster, who seemed like a perfect evocation of a great Jack Kirby monster.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an all-ages book, Godstorm is decent enough. The story is moderately clever and the art is nice enough. Kids should love it. It's not great, though. The writing is more than a tad didactic, and the (often declamatory) dialogue is taken to faux-archaic extremes that would embarrass Stan Lee. The best thing about the book is the inclusion of a Mignola-penciled short that follows the main event.

Adults, proceed with caution.

[Mark Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art style was reminiscent of Jack Kirby, which is a good thing. The storyline was straightforward, no convoluted, twisty paths that left you puzzling from page to page. Thor's egocentricity comes through as he launches into speeches about how great he is, in the middle of battle, and in the third person. Made me smile. The bonus piece by Mignola was very much in his own style of art. This was a quick read, not a lot of substance, done in bold primary colors of the good old days.

[Devero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurt Busiek imbastisce una trama interessante con un risvolto finale decisamente ambiguo, e Rude da fondo al suo stile bilanciandolo bene con le influenze Kirbyane. Una lettura decisamente godibile, a metà tra lirismo ed epopea.

[Devero · Rating 3 out of 5]

In se questa miniserie non è malaccio, soprattutto per i disegni di Rude.
Ma da Kurt Busiek mi attendevo di più.