Fear Itself (Comic Book): Difference between revisions

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The 2011 [[Crisis Crossover]] for [[Marvel Comics]].

At some point during the Second World War, the [[Red Skull]] [[Ghostapo|enacted an arcane ritual under the orders of Adolf Hitler]], causing a mysterious artifact to fall from the heavens and crash land in Antarctica. Upon locating the artifact--a large hammer, supposedly tied to the Norse goddess Skadi--and learning that he is incapable of lifting it, the Skull has the Thule Society seal it away in a fortress and guard it with their lives. Fast forward to the present day, where [[Daddy's Little Villain|Sin]], believing the hammer to be her inheritance, comes to collect; and after killing the guards and getting her hands on the hammer, she proves capable of lifting it. Of course, as with any mystical weapon there is a catch to wielding it, and this hammer is no exception; for, as the runic inscription on its shaft states,

 

 

As such, much like Donald Blake before her, Sin is transformed into the powerful Asgardian, Skadi. With the awesome power conferred by the hammer, Skadi sets out at the head of a large Nazi force to lead a blitzkrieg on the United States...but not before stopping off by the prison of a mysterious deity known only as the [[Sealed Evil in a Can|Serpent]] and busting him out, first. Setting the stage for a series of other hammers to fall all over the world with each its [[The Chosen Many|"Worthy"]] gaining awesome power and the order to spread fear around the globe.

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** Fully justified in that Matt Fraction's original proposal was for a self-contained crossover between Thor and Captain America. Only afterwards was it decided that Fear Itself would be a [[Crisis Crossover]].

** an Issue of Journey into Mystery was an all Mephisto Issue. Also counts as an [[Villain Episode]].

* [[Adult Fear]]: Ultimately, everything Odin did was a crazed, futile attempt {{spoiler|to save his son from dying.}}

** Also invoked whtn Skirn and Greithoth invade the Infinite Mansion to strike at the Avengers Academy alumni: since Absorbing Man's hatred for Hank Pym was too big for Greithoth to override, Skirn suggested they attacked the students for whom Pym voiced concern earlier.

** {{spoiler|That deal with Surtur? Loki agreed to work to bring into Asgard to feed on it's core to escape his imprisonment. He got out of it by bringing him into the Serpent's Dark Asgard, but due to everything now Surtur is still free.}}

* [[Artifact of Doom]], [[Evil Weapon]]: The Hammer of Skadi, natch, along with all the other Hammers of the Worthy.

* [[Big Bad]]: The Serpent.

* [[Breakout Character]]: '''Kid Loki'''. Critics and fans are praising ''Journey into Mystery'' as Marvel's best book in a long time and Kid Loki as a fresh take on the character that is still true to who he is. A good thing too, since the current JIM writer said Loki's main arc is planned at 30-40 issues and with the publicity it probably won't be cut.

* [[Cleanup Crew]]: After all this is over, Damage Control is going to be very busy

* [[Cutting the Knot]]: Thor finds himself unable to best [[The Hulk|Nul]] in a straight up fight. He proceeds to teleport Nul into orbit.

* [[Curb Stomp Battle]]: The first issue of Hulk Vs Dracula is Hulk/Nul beating the crap out of vampires.

** Really, all three issues of Hulk Vs Dracula is a [[Curb Stomp Battle]].

* [[Denouement Episode]]: Fear Itself 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3.

* [[Did Not Do the Research]]: One Marvel writer (Doug Zawisza) claims that The Serpent ""following Norse mythology, would be Jörmungand" apparently forgetting that Jormungand has already appeared in the comics for years as the Midgard Serpent who is not a god, but a force of Ragnarok. This is especially confusing since The Serpent was revealed to be {{spoiler|Odin's brother}} and therefore most are assuming that it is just a case of [[Lying Creator]] ir at least not-paying-attention creator.

** A more minor thing is Thor's overt hostility towards [[The Hulk]]. While the two have a storied rivalry, they've been on friendly terms for the last couple years. If nothing else it seems odd that Thor would attempt a [["I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight]] with Thing and not even try with Hulk.

* [[Downer Ending]]: Looks like it's shaping up for one. Marvel's theme in November is "Shattered Heroes" where everyone is "reeling" from the events of the crossover. Also, they've all but comfirmed that {{spoiler|Thor}} is dead/will die, and already have a successor lined up.

* [[The Dragon]]: Sin/Skadi.

* [[The Dreaded]]: The Serpent once again; while much about this elusive deity remains uncertain, the fact remains that he has Odin scared ''shitless'' of him, to the point where the Allfather is willing to ''raze the entire planet Earth'' just to destroy the Serpent.

** In fact, the only person in the MU not seemingly in on the mass panic attack is Loki, who is a kid at the moment (and actually has a plan...whatever it is).

* [[Dual Boss]]: Thor is confronted with Nul and Angir, the two strongest of the Worthy, at the same time.

* [[Evil Makeover]]: Those who become The Worthy.

** Red She-Hulk's also vaguely trying this on Hulk, while mainly trying to get people out of his way.

*** She tries it again in Hulks vs Dracula #3, {{spoiler|This time it works and Hulk breaks free from the hammers control and destroys it.}}

* [[Jumping on a Grenade]]: Geiger does in in ''Youth in Revolt'' #2.

* [[Late Arrival Spoiler]]: More like Spoiler-given-mid-event. In their promos for November's "Shattered Heroes" Marvel unveiled the replacement for {{spoiler|Thor}} as well as a cover that seems to show the original dead. The bets on how long that'll last are short and ''really'' short.

* [[Mind Rape]]: Inverted: Veil tries to neutralize Skirn by possessing her like her [[Future Me Scares Me|future self]] had done to Korvac before, but it's ''Veil'' who gets mindraped with the horrors within Skirn's mind.

* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]: The seven other members of the Worthy, both for their actual names and for their titles. See [[The Red Baron]] for more information.

** {{spoiler|It is later [[Double Subverted]] when it turns out that although he didn't realize it, he actually was telling them the truth; [[Bucky]] really was in critical condition at the time and was on the verge of being revived with [[Nick Fury]]'s Infinity Formula. Unbeknownst to him, Bucky's [[Faking the Dead|death was faked]] through [[Actually a Doombot|the use of an LMD]] planted by [[Black Widow (comics)|Black Widow]].}}

* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]] When Hulk broke free from his hammers control, he destroyed his hammer....Which released Nul, who now doesn't need a host.

* [[Pragmatic Villainy]]: MODOK and Zero/One, who has been hunting the Red Hulk, decides that it's far more important to fight the Nazis that are causing havoc

* [[Precision F-Strike|Precision A Strike]]: Thor gets one during his fight with Nul and Angrir, after {{spoiler|having Mjolnir run through Angrir}}.

* [[Prophecies Are Always Right]]: {{spoiler|Thor meets his fated end fighting against the Serpent. Even Loki's machinations and attempts to rewrite fate only give Thor the chance to take the Serpent with him.}}

* [[The Red Baron]]: Every single member of the Worthy, Skadi excluded, is called the "Breaker" of something. To wit, we have:

** Greithoth, Breaker of Wills (Absorbing Man);

** and Angir, Breaker of Souls ([[Fantastic Four|Thing]]).

* {{spoiler|[[Sequel Hook]]: }} {{spoiler|One shows up at the end when it is revealed that Nul somehow separated from Hulk and Bruce Banner, and is poised to be at the heart of the first story arc of Matt Fraction's new run on [[The Defenders]].}}

* [[Spanner in the Works]]: Loki's resurrection is, depending on the source, either the reason The Serpent is back, the key to the only way to defeat The Serpent, or both. Either way, by bringing him back, Thor very possibly caused this crossover.

** {{spoiler|Turns out to be the key. Loki's deals, machinations and secret infiltration into the Serpent's strong hold, allowed him to gain access to a type 3 [[Reality Writing Book]]. And give the Serpent just enough of a weakness that Thor could "win". }}

** Now [[Iron Man]] has a plan too, and we're not quite sure what. Odin's plan is stated-destroy Earth entirely and the Serpent with it.

* [[Villains Out Shopping]]: Grey Gargoyle's prologue tie-in has him walking around Paris, drinking coffee from a local cafe, and lamenting on his [[Villain Decay]], wondering where his life will go from there before he stumbles onto one of the hammers...

* [[Would Hurt a Child]]: Obviously given the grand scale carnage they bring about all the Worthy. Special mention does go to Greithoth (Absorbing Man) and Skirn (Titania) for deciding to head after Pym's Avengers Academy students after their battle in Dubai.

** Everyone Kid!Loki faces is perfectly willing to kill him (most don't becuase he makes it so they would owe him, or becuase they know Thor will ''mess them up'' for hurting his little brother)

[[Category:Marvel Universe]]

[[Category:Fear Itself]]