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Arts & Entertainment

Brighton Comic Book Author Awaits "Thor" and "Captain America"

Brighton's own Bill Messner-Loebs has written many titles for Marvel Comics, including the 500th issue of "Thor."

Like many comic book fans, Bill Messner-Loebs is excited to see Thor and Captain America – two of Marvel Comics’ popular characters – come to life on the big screen this spring and summer.

What gives Messner-Loebs, 62, of Brighton, a leg up on most fans is that he had the chance to write both characters for a living.

“I hope they’re both big hits,” said Messner-Loebs. “I can’t wait to see them.”

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Marvelous Movies

Thor, based on the thunder god of Norse mythology, will headline an eponymous movie that opens Friday, May 6. It stars Chris Hemsworth (2009’s Star Trek reboot) as Thor; Oscar winner Natalie Portman (Black Swan) as Jane Foster, Thor’s love interest; Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) as Odin, the king of the gods and Thor’s father; and Tom Hiddleston (TV’s “Wallander”) as Loki, Thor’s arch-nemesis.

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The movie is directed by Oscar nominee Kenneth Branagh (Henry V). Stan Lee, who created Thor for Marvel with the late Jack Kirby in 1962, makes a cameo.

“I was disappointed that I didn’t play Odin. But y’know, this guy named Anthony Hopkins walked by and – somehow or another – they gave him the nod. It must’ve been a toss-up, but he won the toss,” said Lee, laughing. “I think Hopkins is the greatest actor and he’ll be terrific.”

Captain America: The First Avenger debuts July 22 with Chris Evans in the title role. Both movies are connected and were hinted strongly at in last year’s Iron Man 2, where Captain America’s famous shield makes a cameo (as it did in 2008’s Iron Man). At the end of Iron Man 2, past the closing credits, Mjolnir (pronounced “MEWL-nir”) – Thor’s magic hammer – is discovered in a crater in New Mexico.

These movies are inter-connected and will spin off into next year’s The Avengers, which is based on Marvel’s team of super-heroes of the same name, where Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America are considered its “Big 3” members. The Avengers, helmed by “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator/auteur Joss Whedon, is slated for a May 4, 2012 release.

A Career in Comics

Messner-Loebs, a veteran writer and artist in the comic book medium, had the chance to write the monthly “Thor” comic for a brief yet memorable run from 1995-96, working with artist Mike Deodato, Jr., with whom he collaborated on DC Comics’ “Wonder Woman.” Several milestones occurred on his run, including a team-up between Thor and Captain America in “Thor” No. 496.

“That was a high. Those characters were friends and (writer) Mark Waid, who was doing brilliant stuff on (the “Captain America” comic) was an old friend of mine. We spent the day laughing on the phone – the story wrote itself,” recalled Messner-Loebs.

During Messner-Loebs’ run, Thor – whose strength rivaled Superman’s – was banished by Odin from Asgard, the home of the gods that was subsequently destroyed. Odin also stripped Thor of his immortality and godly might, essentially transforming him into a normal mortal. After Asgard’s destruction, an amnesiac Odin ended up on Earth.

“Because Asgard was thought to be destroyed, Odin was a drunken old sot, living in Thor’s back room and occasionally wandering off to get into fights. I had 30 years of anger and frustration towards Odin for his sanctimonious and racist treatment of Thor and Loki. I wasn’t going to hold back,” Messner-Loebs said, laughing.

Messner-Loebs also got Thor together with the Enchantress, his one-time enemy and fellow god, who became his ally and lover.

“I thought a really bad girl really in love with a really good guy had endless possibilities for conflict, humor, and character development. And it was fun to write,” he said. “Endless fun.”

However, Messner-Loebs’ run on “Thor” was cut short due to Marvel’s much-publicized “Heroes Reborn” storyline, which cancelled five titles – “Thor,” “Captain America,” “Iron Man,” “Avengers,” and “Fantastic Four” – and relaunched them two months later at No. 1 with different creative teams. In Thor’s case, he was absorbed into the “Avengers” title and didn’t have his own monthly series again until 1998.

As it was, Messner-Loebs wrote the 500th issue – Marvel’s first No. 500 – and No. 502, the final issue of the original “Thor” series.

“Stan Lee wrote the first ‘Thor’ story; I got to write the last one. Every syllable I typed echoed with history. And every hour, Mark Waid called up to say: ‘You do know you’re the luckiest S.O.B. of our generation, don’t you?’” recalled Messner-Loebs. “I knew.”

Becoming Super Human

Asked what gives Thor his staying power after 50 years, Messner-Loebs referenced 1962’s “Journey into Mystery” No. 83, where Thor debuted. In it, Odin banished Thor to Earth for his arrogance. To teach Thor humility, he transformed him into the crippled physician Donald Blake. Blake eventually found Mjolnir and his godhood and memories were restored as he became Thor once again.

“Every one sees himself (or herself) as a cripple, a human working thanklessly and alone. If only I could find a magic hammer forgotten in a cave and have my inner godhead released,” explained Messner-Loebs. “And sometimes we do. It’s the enchanted hammer of our own talents, released by finding the right combination of avocation, of religion, of friendship, of love. Jack Kirby saw himself transformed by comics into his best self ... and we all followed him.”

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