These "New Gods" were seen again in Thor I#200, but it was basically just the Norns (Fates) reviewing the events depicted in Thor I#127/2 - 128/2.
"NEW GODS"
Classification: Semi-humanoid extraterrestrial race (Reality-10118, see comments)
Location/Base of Operations: Post-Ragnarok Asgard (see comments)
Known Members: Unrevealed
Affiliations: Unrevealed
Enemies: Unrevealed
First Appearance: Thor I#128/2 (May, 1966) (see comments)
Traits: The "New Gods" appeared to be less warlike then their predecessors (see comments).
Type: Bilaterally symmetric humanoid bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; variations likely comparable to humanity)
Fingers: Four (plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Five
Skin color: Pink/Caucasian
Average height: Approximately 6'3"?
History:
(Thor I#127/2 - BTS) - To learn the meaning of warnings of Ragnarok, Odin and an
assemblage of Asgardians (including
Thor, Balder, and Loki) consulted with Volla,
and the prophetess foresaw horrifying visions of the Twilight of the
Gods.
In Volla's prophesy, the forces of evil -- led by Loki -- would invade Asgard, and a great battle would ensue; but in this cataclysmic struggle, there would be no victory, no survivors. As the golden realm of Asgard trembled under the greatest upheaval ever known, the Midgard Serpent would arise...
(Thor I#128/2 (ff) - BTS) - (Volla's prediction continued) - Thor would meet his end in the coils of the Serpent, and Asgard itself would be torn asunder by a monumental explosion which would shake the very foundations of infinity. Finally, nothing would remain but grim silence and utter, endless desolation -- the remnants of an age of glory that would be forever gone.
Then the merciless fire demon Surtur would arise from the depths -- unable to live since all have perished, he would sear everything about him in a final act of blind fury. Nothing would remain of Asgard but a charred, smoking cinder that would smolder and glow while the long years passed...
(Thor I#128/2 (ff)) - But in the aftermath of Ragnarok, as the centuries turned to ages, and the ages to eons, the world would cool, the seas would slowly return, and vast continents would take form. In time, vegetation and reawakened life would burst forth on the land, including a young, new race of gods, who would take dominion over all it beheld.
And in time, these "New Gods" were destined to spawn a new civilization, and a glorious new golden age...
Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
The "New Gods" were only seen in Volla's prediction of the future, so they don't "exist" yet -- but in speaking of Volla, Odin stated that "...the prophetess cannot utter a falsehood," so perhaps she was viewing some potential alternate-future timeline where they do exist.
I speculated that the "New Gods" were (would be?) less warlike because unlike the Asgardians, who commonly carried weaponry with them, the "New Gods" don't appear to be similarly armed.
I remember reading somewhere that when Kirby originally did this story, he planned to have Ragnarok actually occur, and he wanted to introduce the replacements for Thor and his fellow gods; but Stan Lee put a stop to this idea -- Stan's reasoning was that Thor was a successfully selling character, and he didn't want Kirby to kill him off just so he (Kirby) could introduce a bunch of new characters that they didn't know if the readers would buy. So Kirby just kept this idea at the back of his mind, figuring maybe he might get a chance to use it some day...
Then in 1970, Kirby left Marvel and went to work at DC -- since DC wasn't publishing any books featuring Thor, they had no objection to Ragnarok occurring, so Kirby was free to use his concept and create his "Fourth World" epic, which included his New Gods series.
Although Kirby never directly stated that his DC characters were the successors of the Norse gods, he did imply they were, such as in Forever People I#5/3 (October-November, 1971) -- when the New God Lonar was exploring the ruins of the final battle of the Old Gods, he found a relic that sort of resembled Thor's winged helmet.
|
|
These "New Gods" were seen again in Thor I#200, but it was basically just the Norns (Fates) reviewing the events depicted in Thor I#127/2 - 128/2. |
|
Profile by Ron Fredricks.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The "New Gods" have no known connection to:
images: (without ads)
Thor I#128/2, p4, pan2 (following Ragnarok, first two "New Gods" appear)
Thor I#128/2, p4, pan3 (civilization of the "New Gods")
Forever People I#5/3, p2, pan2 (Lonar holding winged helmet (circled in white))
Thor I#200, p18, pan5 (following Ragnarok, first two "New Gods" appear)
Thor I#200, p19, pan1 (civilization of the "New Gods")
Appearances:
Thor I#128/2 (May, 1966) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Sam Rosen (letters)
Thor I#200 (June, 1972) - Gerry Conway (writer), John Buscema (pencils), John Verpoorten (inks), Artie Simek (letters), Stan Lee (editor)
First Posted: 11/10/2021
Last updated: 11/10/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099
Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to http://www.g-mart.com/ for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!