| Eric Masterson Thunderstrike | |
|---|---|
 Thunderstrike #1 (August 1993). Art byRon Frenz. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Thor #391 (May 1988) |
| Created by | Tom DeFalco (writer) Ron Frenz (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations | Asgard Avengers Secret Defenders Thor Corps Legion of the Unliving |
| Notable aliases | Thor |
| Abilities | Formidable hand-to-hand combatant Highly skilled architect Superhuman strength, speed, agility, durability, reflexes and endurance As Thunderstrike: Flight Dimensional travel Energy blasts |
Thunderstrike is the name of two fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.
Eric Masterson has appeared asThor and laterThunderstrike. The character was introduced as a supporting character in theThor title, but continued in several other comic books, including the self-titled seriesThunderstrike in 1993.
Later interpretations of Thunderstrike would appear in both theMarvel Comics 2 andHeroic Age Marvel Comics storylines, featuring the character's sonKevin Masterson as the hero.[1]
Eric Masterson first appeared inThor #391 (May 1988), as a supporting character.[2]Thor #408 featured the merging of the character Eric Masterson with Thor, Masterson being utilized as the God of Thunder's alter ego until issue #432.[3]Thor #432 featured the character assuming the role of Thor, and appearing as the title character untilThor #459.[4] FollowingThor #459, Masterson was introduced as "Thunderstrike" in the eponymous series starting in June 1993.[5] The series lasted approximately two years.Thunderstrike ran for 24 issues, the series canceled in September 1995. CreatorTom DeFalco has often claimed that the book outsoldThor andThe Avengers combined at the time of its cancellation;[6] although this has been shown to be extremely unlikely.[7] Masterson also appeared in the mini-seriesThor Corps as Thunderstrike, and appeared as a guest star in theThor series. The character was featured in theAvengers from issue #343 until issue #374,[8] and crossover seriesOperation: Galactic Storm. Masterson also appeared in the mini-seriesInfinity Gauntlet andInfinity War. Outside the many appearances inThor andAvengers,Thunderstrike was used to launch anongoing seriesBlackwulf, and alimited seriesCode: B.L.U.E.
It was announced that the Thunderstrike character would be returning in a new miniseries by co-creators Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz in November 2010.[9] Promotionals leading into the event began in August depicting the mace stating "One will rise..." and "The World Still Needs Heroes."[10] Ultimately, the new Thunderstrike miniseries featured Eric Masterson's sonKevin Masterson in the role once inhabited by his father.
Eric Kevin Masterson was working as anarchitect when he metThor. Masterson was injured by falling girders, and was taken to the hospital by Thor. Now on crutches, Masterson was attacked byQuicksand, but saved by Thor.[11] Masterson was then abducted byMongoose. Masterson accompanied Thor to the Black Galaxy, where he first metHercules. Masterson, mortally wounded by Mongoose, was given Thor's form and powers after the original was sealed in Eric's mind, byOdin, to save Eric's life.[12] Recognizing that his new life as Thor was too dangerous for a child, Masterson gave up custody of his son Kevin to his ex-wife Marcy, reasoning that Kevin would be safer with her, even if she was relatively ambivalent about her role as a mother.[13] Masterson was then separated from Thor by theRed Celestial.[14] Shortly thereafter, Masterson saved Thor's life, and was merged with him again.[15] Masterson's son Kevin was captured byUlik forLoki. Thor freed Kevin and seemingly slew Loki in battle.Heimdall separated Thor from Masterson, then banished Thor, and transformed Masterson into a new Thor.[16] He then met theEnchantress as Leena Moran, and battled Ulik.[17]
Eric continued in the role of Thor, after having been given Mjolnir by Thor, who then told Eric to carry on as Earth's protector. Eric then returned to Earth and joined the Avengers in Thor's place.[17] Masterson revealed his double identity toCaptain America. He then first visitedAsgard, where he fought theWarriors Three,Balder the Brave, Heimdall, andSif, while trying to discover the whereabouts of the real Thor. Masterson then helped rescue the sleeping Odin fromAnnihilus.[18] He teamed withBeta Ray Bill andDargo Ktor as the "Thor Corps" againstZarrko and Loki.[19] During his time with the Avengers as Thor, Masterson aided them in such battles asthe Kree/Shi'ar war[20] and theInfinity Gauntlet crisis, being one of only three heroes at the conclusion of that battle to remember the entire confrontation (the other two beingDoctor Strange and theSilver Surfer) as he had briefly witnessed Warlock's soul during the fight.[21]
Eric's role as Thor was relatively brief, as the Enchantress manipulated Eric into attacking Thor for Sif's affection. During a confrontation with Thor, Eric struck Sif. This provoked Thor, leading him to defeat Eric and reclaim Mjolnir while Odin revealed the Enchantress's manipulations.[22] Odin then ordered the creation of a new mace for Eric, calledThunderstrike.[23]
Eric first used the Thunderstrike mace against the villainsBloodaxe and Carjack, but he was promptly defeated. Afterwards, Eric created his own costume to distinguish himself from Thor, while keeping Thor's reputation intact. Eric renamed himself Thunderstrike, after the mace itself, operating as an adventurer and crimefighter.[24] Eventually Eric defeated Bloodaxe, only to discover that Bloodaxe was actually Jackie Lukus, his love interest at the time.[25]
After a confrontation withSeth the Egyptian god of death, Eric realized that the only way to defeat him was to succumb to the curse contained with the Bloodaxe and increase his strength.[26] After his supposed slaying of Seth, Eric was confronted by theAvengers, who attempted to arrest him for murder. Instead, Masterson defeated the Avengers, and Thor confronted him. Eric pleaded with Thor to kill him to prevent the curse of the Bloodaxe from taking him over completely. But Eric was eventually forced to fight the Bloodaxe subconsciously, which manifested in Eric's mind in the form ofSkurge. Eric eventually defeated the Skurge duplicate, causing a psychic backlash that killed him and destroyed the two weapons, the Bloodaxe and Thunderstrike. Claiming thatValhalla was not where he belonged, Eric was sent into the afterlife by Odin.[27]
Eric was temporarily resurrected by theGrim Reaper several years later, along with several other deceased Avengers. After overcoming the Grim Reaper's control, he and the other undead Avengers were returned to the afterlife by theScarlet Witch. Before he returned to the afterlife, Eric asked Thor to check in on his son Kevin for him.[28]
Kevin Masterson (Eric Masterson's son) first appeared inThor #392 (June 1988).
An embittered adolescent, Kevin is featured in the 2011Thunderstrike limited series. The character previously featured as an idealistic child is shown to have anger, behavioral problems, and disillusioned outlook on "spandex-covered glory hounds." He is given his father's enchanted mace byCommander Steve Rogers but, to their mutual disappointment, it doesn't trigger a transformation into Thunderstrike. On his way home, however, Kevin tries to save a mother and child from a rampagingRhino and is transformed. Kevin briefly battles the Rhino as Thunderstrike, but, shortly after he is defeated, he realizes that he is actually in his father's body.Mangog, a foe of Thor, resurfaces and threatensNew York City. The young hero teams with Thor, to battle the monster. Kevin accepts his new identity as Thunderstrike, along with a new image, and continues his adventures under the mentorship of theValkyrie Gruenhilda.[29]
During theFear Itself storyline, Thunderstrike ends up teleported onto a station in the middle of the Pacific Ocean withAmadeus Cho,X-23,Spider-Girl, andPower Man. They end up fighting a bunch of samurai Shark Men.[30] Kevin briefly appeared as part of the new class of students when theAvengers Academy moves to the former headquarters of theWest Coast Avengers.[31] He later joins theAsgardians of the Galaxy.[32]
In theMarvel Comics 2 alternative universe, Kevin Masterson is a founding member ofA-Next after absorbing the powers of the Thuderstrike mace. WhenGalactus destroysAsgard, Thunderstrike seemingly loses his powers inLast Planet Standing. He is kidnapped by Ulik and Sylene, daughter of Loki, as part of a plan to restore Asgard;[33] but Kevin Masterson struggles against his captors. Ultimately he is responsible for turning the tables on the villains.Thena, daughter of Thor, who had also taken part in the battle against her cousin, is able to restore Kevin's power, allowing him to become Thunderstrike once again.[34]
Eric's abilities are derived from the enchanted maceThunderstrike, made of mystic uru metal, which is nearly indestructible, crafted by the Asgardian dwarves Brokk and Eitri, and given the following enchantments by Odin:
As Thunderstrike, Masterson's appearance is identical to that of Thor, hence his superhuman form possesses Asgardian physiology. While his superhuman abilities were significantly above those of most Asgardians, his strength, stamina and durability were only a fraction of Thor's. He is a formidable hand-to-hand combatant, and has received some combat training from Captain America and Hercules. As Masterson, he is a highly skilled architect, with a master's degree in architecture. He is near-sighted, and wears eyeglasses.
Kevin Masterson manifests the same powers as his father when using his mace, but learned to make his appearance as Thunderstrike a modified form of his own visage. In theMC2 universe, he has the same powers, but he is not reliant upon the mace.
In his comic series, Thunderstrike has fought an array of enemies:
Eric Masterson / Thunderstrike makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in theAvengers Assemble episode "Into the Future" as part of a resistance againstKang the Conqueror in a possible alternate future.[48] Additionally, the Thunderstrike moniker is taken on byJane Foster in the present day after helping the Avengers destroyBattleworld and obtaining an enchanted mace.
| Title | Character | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thor: Thunderstrike | Eric Masterson | Thor #431-433 and #457-459, material from #408, andThunderstrike #1. | June 2011 | 978-0785156383 |
| Thunderstrike: Youth in Revolt | Kevin Masterson | Thunderstrike (vol. 2) #1-5 and material fromThor Spotlight | June 2011 | 978-0785152712 |
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