While the gallant, golden-haired warrior of the Avengers steals the screen with lightning force in Marvel blockbuster movies as sworn protector of Asgard, the Asgardians series by George O’Connor (Olympians series) sheds a slightly different light on this iconic hammer-wielding thunder god of Norse mythology. His version presents a cruder depiction of the god of thunder imbued with a healthy dose of swaggering charm and bravado.
The frame story begins with a gruff, primitively dressed Thor wandering about on a desolate island toward the edge of a river. He seeks passage from a lone ferryman to transport him across to Midgard so he can return to his celestial home in Asgard. The ferryman agrees to grant his request only if Thor can prove his identity as the mighty warrior of myth and legend. From there, a series of extraordinary tales of his adventurous exploits unfold: The anecdotes run the gamut of origin stories ranging from how he procured a pair of goat steads to drive his chariot throughout the nine realms to the forging of his powerful hammer Mjollnir. Then there’s the day his iconic hammer was stolen by Thrymr, king of the Jotnar, and how he ransomed it in exchange for Freyja’s (Vanir goddess of beauty) hand in marriage—and the cunning scheme concocted by the mischievous trickster Loki to retrieve it. Packed with mythic tales like nested Russian matryoshka dolls, one story leads right into the next in Arabian Nights fashion, stringing together various stories that paint a panoramic mosaic of Norse mythic lore.
Interwoven into these stories are themes of cultivating perseverance, building strength of character, and discerning truth from deception. Character designs capture the essence of their distinct roles and personas. The Herculean-like brute strength of Thor, the wily craftiness of Loki, the riotous and sinister nature of Thymr, and a host of other characters occupy dynamically charged scenes with narrative and character interplay. As in his other series, O’Connor provides a glossary of Norse deities, places, and magical weapons accompanied by content endnotes that went into adapting and shaping these stories, thus making this a fun and insightful supplement to youth-based mythology collections.
Asgardians: ThorÂ
By George O’Connor
Macmillan First Second, 2024
ISBN: 9781250760791
Company Age Rating:Â 10-14
NFNT Age Recommendation: Tween (10-13)
