Thunderstrike #1

History

The five-issue miniseries was announced for a November 2010 launch and reunited the original Thunderstrike co-creators Tom DeFalco (writer) and Ron Frenz (penciler), the same duo who had introduced Eric Masterson in Thor #391 back in 1988 and shepherded the character through his entire 24-issue solo run. Marvel's pre-launch promotional campaign, which began months before the on-sale date, teased the mace with the inscribed phrase 'The World Still Needs Heroes,' directly foreshadowing the legacy theme at the series' core. The revival coincided broadly with the theatrical release of the Thor film and Marvel's post-Siege 'Heroic Age' publishing initiative, giving the book a more optimistic, all-ages tone than much of the surrounding line.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance of Kevin Masterson as the Earth-616 Thunderstrike — his superhero debut in the mainstream Marvel Universe, distinct from his earlier alternate-universe role in the MC2/A-Next series.
• Written by Tom DeFalco with pencils by Ron Frenz, the original co-creator team behind both Eric Masterson and Kevin Masterson dating back to Thor #391 (1988).
• Kevin, characterized as a disillusioned teenager bitter toward the Avengers for his father's death, is handed the enchanted uru mace by Commander Steve Rogers; the mace fails to transform him in the Avengers' presence but activates when he instinctively tries to save a mother and infant from a rampaging Rhino.
• The issue introduces Gruenhilda, an Asgardian Valkyrie trainee sent by the goddesses Sif and Hecara to train Kevin in the proper use of the mace — her first appearance in Marvel continuity.
• Supporting cast drawn from Eric Masterson's original world includes Marcy Steele (Kevin's mother), Bobby Steele (his stepfather), and Sharon Carter, alongside guest appearances by Steve Rogers.
• The five-issue miniseries was published under Marvel's 'Heroic Age' banner (cover-dated January–May 2011) and later collected in the trade paperback Thunderstrike: Youth in Revolt.
• Kevin's first comics appearance at all was as a child in Thor #392 (1988); this 2011 issue is his first appearance as a costumed hero, specifically in his father's physical form before he later develops his own Thunderstrike appearance.
• The issue's central villain thread connects to Mangog, a Thor-universe monster who becomes the miniseries' climactic threat, tying the new legacy hero directly into classic Thor mythology.

Cast · 11 characters

Full credits