Here we go again

I seem to have lost my marbles yet again, either that or the one that has been rolling around in my head finally got in the correct slot, but I have started up another blog.  "What's left to blog about?" you ask?  I know, this blog covers pretty much everything on my mind minus religion and politics, and I have Hold Your Hammer High to deal with those, so what else is there?  It turns out, I'm missing one of the time honored traditions of our little geeky community and that is a character specific blog!

I'm not talking about another Superman, Batman, Captain America or Spider-Man blog, either.  Nope, I'm going for one of the favorites from my childhood.  Quasar!  ... You know, the guy with the Quantum Bands. ... Former SHIELD Agent? ... Protector of the Universe? ... Aw, heck, this guy:

Still drawing a blank, huh?  Well. then why don't you check out Quantum Bands, my new project all about Quasar.

Thor’s Day – Thor #344

Today we’ll be looking back at a classic comic from my collection.

Series:                           Thor (Volume 1)

Issue:                             344

Title:                              “Whatever Happened to Balder the Brave?”

Art & Story:                   Walter Simonson

Colors:                            Christie Scheele

Lettering:                        John Workman, Jr.

Editing:                           Mark Gruenwald

Editor In Chief:              Jim Shooter

Cover:                             Walter Simonson

We open at Nornkeep, Fortress of the Norn Queen, Karnilla.  A large wolf walks into the gates and the guards do nothing, since they recognize this wolf as Geri, one of Odin’s companions.  Geri has come to summon Balder, who apparently has accepted Karnilla’s invitation from issue 342, back to Asgard.  Baldur agrees to go back.

Meanwhile, Odin sits in silence on his thrown, looking at the injured Muninn.  Frigga, Odin’s wife, enters and lets him know that she’s been worried about him and she wants to help.  Odin hints at what he wants Balder to do, saying only that he may never forgive Odin.  Odin relates what happened since he returned from his visit to Earth, which included Heimdall showing him Muninn and Odin speaking with his raven for a long time.  He tells Frigga that “The danger is even greater than I feared.”  When Balder arrives, Odin tells him that he must deliver a message to Loki, the god responsible for Balder’s death (in Thor #274).  Odin convinces him that Balder is the only possible messenger, and Balder accepts.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Lorelei (disguised as Melodi) is giving Thor (disguised as Sigurd Jarlson) a backrub, where she pushes a little too hard in one spot and hurts him.  Apparently the backrub is so relaxing that Thor falls asleep!  This ticks Lorelei off but she leaves him a note about cooking him dinner on Saturday, and then goes back to her own apartment.

We join Balder as he rides, on his horse Silverhoof, out of Asgard and towards Loki’s castle.  He faces many dangers, such as the Living Landslide, Forbidden Forest and Deadly Desert, eventually making it to the Castle of Loki.  On the path up to the castle, he is attacked by what he believes are Trolls, but he recognizes them just before he is overwhelmed, but that remains a mystery for the reader.

The Smith has now completed forging the sword Twilight and he tempers it in lakes of brimstone.

Back at Loki’s castle, Balder is brought in, hands tied behind his back, and confronts the God of Evil with the accusation that he is harboring Demons of Fire.  Loki tells Balder that Odin’s rules don’t apply in his castle, and the demons aren’t his.  They belong to Malekith, The Dark Elf.  Apparently, Malekith and Balder are there to compete for Loki’s aid in the coming battle.  Malekith taunts Balder and the Bright One breaks his bonds and escapes.  The demons pursue him, and Balder begs Loki not to make him fight, as he has sworn to never do battle again.  Finally, cornered and desperate, Balder reaches for a dropped sword.

On Earth, Sigurd is back n the construction site, helping clean up in the wake of Fafnir.  Jerry, the foreman, is suspicious of Sigurd’s SHIELD connections and how he jumps around the site with little effort.  He finally pieces it together and realizes that Sigurd is actually Spider-Man.

Balder, now holding a sword, begs the demons not to make him fight, but they are intent on killing him.  They throw their spears and one gets a glancing blow.  This is Balder’s breaking point.  He leaps into battle and Kills. Them. All.  When he makes it back to Malekith and Loki, Balder stabs at Malekith and the Dark Elf vanishes, leaving only his robes behind.  With all that done, Balder delivers Odin’s scroll to Loki, who tosses it aside.  He tells Balder that he has already accepted Malekith’s offer, and he waited until k now to say anything because “…it was so delightful to watch a pacifist slay <Malekith’s> thousands that I simply couldn’t bring myself to mention it before this.”  This, along with Loki’s continued taunting, so enrages Balder that he cuts of Loki’s head!

In Nornkeep, Karnilla and Hagg are wondering about Balder’s fate when an alarm sounds.  Apparently, Karnilla keeps a watch for anyone leaving Loki’s castle.  This time it is Balder, with a look on his face that makes both of them realize that something bad has happened.  Balder is riding Silverhoof out into the expanses beyond Nornheim, to lose himself in the trackless desert.

Meanwhile, in the Castle of Loki:

Where it comes from: As those that have seen Thor: The Dark World will recognize Malekith, although he is dressed slightly more flamboyantly in the comics.  This is the first time we see him, although we heard his voice in issue 341, answering the call of the Smith.  Malekith, while a member of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim, is an invention of Simonson.  This will not be the last time we see him, as he will figure prominently in the storyline we are currently involved in.

I must point out what I think is a coloring error, and that would be on Frigga’s hair.  In this issue her hair is colored black, but in subsequent appearances it is white, as is Odin’s.  I don’t know what color her hair was prior to this, as I have only read some of the pre-Simonson Thor (and now Tom Harris is yelling at me), but I want to chalk this up to a simple error.

Balder’s pacifist vow, which is broken this issue, is a direct result of his visit to Hel, which I discussed back on issue 340. He is still haunted by having sent so many warriors to Hel, and even though his opponents are demons he is treating fighting as an alcoholic would drinking, one is too many.  He falls completely off the wagon in this issue, though, and punishes himself for it by riding out into the endless desert in order to kill himself through exposure.  We will be seeing more of Balder’s fate in the issues to come.

Next time the action returns to Earth where some mystical dealings are afoot, and fast food is the ultimate weapon.

Star Wars TV Openings

No, this is not TV openings for actual Star Wars TV shows.  Instead, I want to present to you 1980's TV openings with a Star Wars twist.  I watched all of these shows at one point or another and I would have loved to see the Star Wars versions of them.

Magnum, PI

Rather fitting, since Tom Selleck was up for the role of Indiana Jones, but had already committed to play Thomas Magnum.

A-Team

I love the A-Team and this is a great tribute.  (Much better than the J-Team that my friends and I did for a paintball game.)

Air Wolf



Two Star Wars versions of the Air Wolf opening theme.  Very nice job on the graphics in this one.

Dallas

I can really see this working.  A high powered political intrigue set in the Star Wars universe.

Macgyver

I can see that making a bomb out of duct tape, bubble gum and three paper clips could be considered a Jedi power.

Love Boat

OK, this would just be a really weird show.

I hope you all enjoyed these as much as I did.

A Great Web Comic

Image Copyright Paul Taylor

Today I'd like to tell you about a web comic that I've been reading for a number of years now.  It's call Wapsi Square and it is written and drawn by the incredibly talented Paul Taylor.  This comic has everything in it.  So much stuff that I couldn't boil it down properly, so I asked Paul how he would like me to describe it, which is as follows:

"Wapsi Square is a slice of paranormal life that blends the mundane with the supernatural, creepy with cute, and fun with the macabre.  Keeping things grounded with character driven stories and mythological elements as metaphors for the human experience, come lose yourself in the world of Wapsi Square and leave the reality you know at the door."

I have enjoyed this comic for the entire time I've read it, and it has given me a new appreciation for women and what they have to deal with.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I have all the answers, but Paul has shined a light on issues that, as a male, I didn't even know were issues.  I would strongly suggest giving it a look.

Should you find you like the comic, as I'm sure most of my readers will, might I also be so bold as to suggest helping it get to 7 days a week.  Paul makes his living doing this comic, but as those of you on the internet know, there's really no guaranteed income.  Through the Patreon website, however, artists can get income from patrons and not have to worry, too much, about where their rent money is coming from.

A Joyous Yuletide to One and All!

I'm taking a break from my traditional postings this week and next week to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season. Be back here on January 9th for more geeky goodness.  Wassail!

Podcast Round-Up

As those of you who read this blog regularly know, I have recently gotten into listening to podcasts.  I thought I'd share the list of those that I either am listening too or am going to check out, just in case you would like to take a listen for yourself.  Also, if there are any not on this this that you think I might like, please let me know.

I should point out two things.  First, these are in the order they appear on my player at the moment, not in any type of ranking.  Second, most of these contain some language that is not appropriate for the entire family.  You have been warned.

The Alton Browncast - Do you like Good Eats?  If so, this the podcast for you.  Alton Brown doesn't limit his topics to food, though.  He's talked about guitars, fashion, and other things that are of interest to him.

Fantastic Fourcast - Starting at Fantastic Four #1 and going issue by issue may seem like a herculean task, but Dave Elliot takes it on with a wry sense of humor.  These episodes are short, so you can catch up pretty quick.

From Crisis to Crisis: A Superman Podcast - Going from Man of Steel (the comic mini-series, not the movie) to Infinite Crisis, Michael Bailey and Jeffery Taylor are tackling my favorite Superman month by month.  I would recommend this to anyone interested in late '80's to '90's comics, whether or not they are a fan of Superman.

Radio Free Asgard - Tom Harris tackles my favorite super hero (you did see the name of this blog, right?) with his witty reenactments of the issues.  He also will occasionally take a bit of Norse Lore and act that out for the audience, which lends a nice background to the comic stories.

Fat Man on Batman - Kevin Smith interviews the people behind the Bat, including such greats as Paul Dini, Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy, and Adam West.  Definately on the saltier side, language-wise, but worth it for the background on these people.

Taking Flight - A Robin and Nightwing Podcast?  How could I resist?  Tom Panarese has an interesting take on Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake.  If you have any interest at all on Robin or Nightwing, I would give it a listen.

The Fire & Water Podcast - Yeah, I've written about these guys before, but I'm going to do it again.  Why?  Well, it's probably because Rob and Shag have a great chemistry and do some great shows.  Not only about Firestorm and Aquaman, but also about Who's Who in the DC Universe,  the Super Powers toys, DC Superheroes Role Playing Game, and Power Records, among other things.  Give it a listen.  You'll be glad you did.

The Ninjaverse - I have only listened to one show so far, but I like the chemistry of all the guys involved.  Whether you're into movies, TV shows, video games, or other kinds of geekery, I'm sure you'll find something you'd like here.

The Unique Geek - I haven't had a chance to listen to any of these episodes yet, but since Shag (of #fwpodcast fame) is involved, it should be good.

Views from the Longbox - Michael Bailey's flag ship podcast has a little bit of everything, comics, TV, personal history, Movies, comics, Con reports, comics.  You get the idea.  Very entertaining and usually informative.  Whether Michael is going solo or has one of his frequent guest hosts, it's well worth your time.

Mission Log: A Roddenbery Star Trek Podcast - John Champion and Ken Ray are going through ALL of the Star Trek episodes and movies one by one, starting with The Cage.  Highly entertaining and very informative.  While I don't always agree with some of their conclusions about certain episodes, they will definitely give you something to think about.  I would recommend it more for people that are current Trek fans, as there is a lot of detail being thrown around that might have new fans a little confused.

Star Trek Monthly Monday - This is on my list to start listening to, I just haven't gotten a chance yet.

Star Wars Monthly Monday - Part of the Two True Freaks network, Scott Gardner and Chris Honeywell cover all things Star Wars, but my favorite part is the Marvel Comics coverage.  Highly recommended for any Star Wars fans out there.

Bailey's Batman Podcast - Michael Bailey covers various parts of the Batman universe on this show, which comes out when it comes out.  It was originally an issue by issue show, but has turned into whatever topic Michael wants to cover.  Since he does so many other podcasts, I'm pretty sure his time is at a premium and this one will be back when life let's him do it again.

Green Lantern's Light - This one is on indefinite hiatus, but Michael Bradley, Jeffrey Taylor and J. David Weter were doing a great job of examining Green Lantern from the late Bronze Age on.  I would love to see it come back, and I would recommend any Lantern fans out there give it a listen.

Tales of the Justice Society of America - Michael Bailey and Scott Gardner tackle the Justice Society.  The last episode was posted in February 2012, so I think this one is done for the foreseeable future, but it's still well worth the listen.  If anyone has an interest in Earth 2 or World War II era superheroes, I would recommend going through these episodes.

Thor’s Day – Thor #343

Today we’ll be looking back at a classic comic from my collection.

  Series:                                 Thor (Volume 1)

Issue:                                  343

Title:                                    “If I Should Die Before I Wake…”

Art & Story:                        Walter Simonson

Colors:                                 Christie Scheele

Lettering:                            John Workman, Jr.

Editing:                                Mark Gruenwald

Editor In Chief:                   Jim Shooter

Cover:                                 Walter Simonson

In the South Bronx Fafnir the dragon is wreaking havoc, demanding that Thor come and face him.  The Eyewitness News chopper, carrying reporter Greg Glenn, follows Fafnir and broadcasts his rampage to the city.  Glenn gives voice to the question on everyone’s mind, “Where is the Mighty Thor?”  Among those wondering is Lorelei, who is lounging in her Central Park Penthouse watching the televised reports.

Thor is in Antarctic, where we left him last time, with Eilif the Lost.  Thor tells Eilif that only Odin and the Valkyries can grant access to Valhalla, but he will take Eilif’s fate into his hands.  Thor tells him to put his armor back on and follow him.  They climb one of the peaks surrounding the valley and wait for a sign.  After half an hour Thor’s Chariot and Cloudrider, the winged horse of the hero Valkyrie, whose real name is Brunnhilde, appear so that they can ride into battle together.

In Nornheim, Karnilla broods over Balder and how he sees only death around him.  She (rightly) blames this on Loki and swears to make him pay.  Haag, her servant/counselor, chides Karnilla for mooning over “a ruined warrior” and teases her about inviting Odin to dinner.  Karnilla throws her out and thinks how she wanted Balder when he was pure and unspoiled, and whether it would be worth the effort to try and bring him back to that state.

Back in Antarctica, Thor and Eilif prepare to ride, but Eilif complains that his old age has made him worthless in a fight.  Thor doesn’t like this and asks if he seeks “A cheap seat in the halls of Valhalla”.  Eilif is shamed into rising to the challenge and Thor blesses him with renewed vigor.  The mount and are prepared to leave when they see a stranger watching them.  Eilif does all the talking (as we and Thor know that this is Odin in his guise as The Wanderer) and gets his spear blessed.

Elsewhere, the smith is reaching the end of the sword’s forging and he is ready to name it.  “… and the name is – Twilight!”

In the South Bronx, Fafnir is tearing through the city, and the National Guard, when Thor and Eilif show up, giving the dragon a hammer to the head.  Using Cloudrider and the chariot, Thor and Eilif evade or block Fafnir’s blows.

We switch back to Asgard, where Heimdall stands on Bifrost and sees a darkness coming closer.  Out of the darkness comes Muninn, returned to his normal size, injured and carrying a feather in his beak.  Heimdall turns back the chasing darkness and dreads that this means some evil is awake.  And Odin is not in Asgard to help.

Back at the battle, we have the first appearance of Chuck Cherkle, giving us a play by play for On The Spot News.  Thor and Eilif are holding their own, but not making any headway, even when Thor hits Fafnir with a blow whose force is “…felt as far away as Pennsylvania!”  Eilif diflects the dragon fire, but is knocked off of Cloudrider by Fafnir’s tail. He falls to the ground with a tremendous “CRASSHH!”  Distracted, Thor is knocked out of his chariot and knocked away by the self-same tail.  Eilif emerges from the rubble, looking pretty bad off, but driven b y his duty to Thor.  He climbs, slowly, up above the dragon, spear in hand.  He dives off, using his weight to drive the spear into Fafnir’s hide, hurting him and getting swatted away for his trouble.  Thor seizes the opportunity and uses Mjolnir to drive the spear into Fafnir’s heart, killing him instantly. 

Eilif, however, is also dead and Thor is greatly upset by it.  Thor builds a pyre out of the rubble from the battle and lays Eilif on top of it, with Fafnir at his feet, like the dogs buried/burned with Vikings of old.  He then calls the storm and uses lightning to start the fire “and the pyre erupts in glory!”  The All-Father is then glimpsed with Eilif on Cloudrider being guided to Valhalla by the Valkyries.

Thor returns to him apartment as Sigurd Jarlson and has a visitor.  Lorelei, disguised as Melodi, has stopped by to thank Sigurd for saving her life by giving him a back rub.

Where it comes from: This is pretty much a straight up fight issue, with a few sub-plots advanced.  What I’m going to focus on here, though, is the worldview of the Norse when it comes to death.  There are basically three places that the dead go.  The most well-known is Valhalla, where the heroes of battle, such as Eilif, are taken to fight all day and feast all night.  This is a place of warriors and it is meant to gather an army to fight on the side of the Aesir during Ragnarok.  Another destination is Niffleheim, the primordial realm of ice.  This is where the dishonored dead; the murderers, oath-breakers and outlaws; go to have Nidhogg, who we’ve seen before, devour them.  The last place would be Hel, or Helheim, which is where everyone else goes.  I discussed Valhalla and Hel last time, so I won’t get into it again.

I would like to define some terms, though, for the non-Heathens out there.  In the Norse world-view, a “murderer” is someone who kills another human and does not take credit for it.  If you refuse this responsibility, there is no way retribution, be it wergild or some other punishment, could be rightfully leveled by the family of the deceased.  An oath-breaker is obviously someone who has gone back on their word, but when that is what holds the fabric of society together, it is a tremendous crime.  Lastly, when I refer to an “outlaw”, I don’t mean a Robin Hood type.  I mean Utgard, or outsider.  Someone who, for whatever reason, has been cast out or the tribe and is no longer considered a person.  What I mean by that is they can be killed without any retribution being taken on the killer or killer’s family.  They are called, and treated like, a wolf.

Next time we find out whatever happened to Balder the Brave.