The Odd Couple (Part 2)
Thus ends this exciting tale of cross-dressing, near gay marriage, and murder. There’s a lot of that in Norse myths. The murder, not the gay marriage.
There should be more gay marriage.
So where did we leave off last time? Thor and Loki dressed like women at Heimdall’s suggestion and left for Thrym’s Hall in their quest to recover the mighty hammer, Mjollnir. Upon arriving, Loki announces Freyja’s arrival and in enters…you guessed it, Thor! In the tale, he has a bridal veil covering his face (excluded in the comic for comedic affect) that somehow manages to hide all of his features as well as his GIGANTIC BEARD that TUCKS INTO HIS BELT. How this is possible is beyond me. Over the course of a meal in which Thor devours plates and plates of food, Thrym begins to become suspicious but his fears are laid to rest by Loki’s smooth talking. Eventually, the giant calls for Mjollnir to be used in hallowing the bride, a ritual in which a hammer is laid across the bride’s knees before the marriage is sanctified. As he places the hammer on Thor’s lap, the god, leaps up, smashes the giant in the face, and proceeds to crush every other living soul present in Thrym’s castle. Quite the reception, right? Only Thor and Loki are left in the end, and they make their way, hammer in tow, to the Hall of the Gods.
All is finally set to rights.
This myth highlights some interesting bits about Norse myth in general. There is an emphasis on dramatic action and over the top violence. Gods triumph over the giants, a theme common to many Norse stories, and they do so through wit. While it can be said that Thor’s rampage successfully ends the adventure with violence, none of what occurred would have been possible without Heimdall’s rather unconventional idea to dress Thor up like a woman or without Loki’s quick thinking at the marital feast. While many people remember violence and action as primary traits of Norse myth, there IS a significant emphasis placed on wisdom and intelligence being used to trick and deceive enemies. Myths involving Odin place a heavy emphasis on this particular idea.
Anyway, hoped you enjoyed the strips and the myth. Feel free to let me know how you felt about the extra strips. Did you like having more to cover a myth? Was it funny? Less rushed?
I’m curious!
Also a couple of notes: William and I will be at Anime Boston again this year in the Artist’s Alley. I’m hoping to have prints of strips as well as a mini comic or two (probably black and white) for cheap. I might even do some fan art! If you’d like to come see us, make sure you get your passes early so you get a discount! I believe the whole shindig is happening in late April.
Discussion (20) ¬
I loved these little set of comics. But, I think I’d prefer it this way: Rather than cram three cool comics at once, just release them one at a time! If you had, that would have been the whole week and into next filled with a comic a day. Though, I could understand not wanting to do that because it sets a trend of doing a comic a day. But Either WAY! The comics are still great and funny and the mythology is fun. Keep em coming no matter how you do it!
Good show, old bean! I rather enjoy your collection of comics in one release. Then again, I enjoy the old manner also. Just look deep inside your soul and you’ll find the answer. Wink.
Why is Loki also in a drag if it’s Thor who’s dressing as Freyja? I’m confused by Loki’s logic. Then again, who DOES understand Loki?
Emotional support? I dont think Loki really needs an excuse to dress in drag. Its a nice change of pace for him from shape-shifting into mares to father 8 legged horses.
Erm, mother rather…
These comics are of equal quality as your regular strips, so did it take you a lot longer to finish these? I think it’s something you can do every once in awhile, like how Hark a Vagrant has a bunch of comics telling jokes about one book or how Gunshow just did 2 short series back to back for the past few weeks.
It’s your webcomic, do what you want.
Oh, I personally loved this strips and the fact of having a lot of them. As I said before, this is one of my favorite myths. And I’m in love with your version of Loki. Any excuse to dress like a woman is valid, oh yes.
I loved it! Going into more of a story is totally rad and you should do it all the time. I have a weakness for trickster tales so it tickled me something fierce. If you prefer the shorter ones, I can see some that the flow would work better for a shorter playout, but I think it might depend upon the story. Mix it up!
ps. am putting in request for story of Amaterasu drawn out of the cave by a strip tease.
Good quality work. I love Norse Mythology and hope you continue! (Greek mythology has too much sad endings and incest. Not my cup of tea.)
I thoroughly enjoyed this, as a pagan with strong asatru leanings I already knew the myth, and I would of liked to have seen more of it! I like how you portrayed Thor&Loki, but more of Thrym and Loki’s interaction cod of been funnier. Like Thor’s eyes glowing red and Loki proclaiming that it was because, in heady anticipation ‘Freja’ hadn’t slept for 8 nights previous to the wedding. Its funny in its own rights, and with your skill it might of become sublime!
But thank you very much 😀
It was goood. A bit confusing, but good. (I don”t know many things about north mythology, so it was a bit tricky to understand for me ^^; )
Having them all at once means that I don’t have to wait but it also means I spend less time on each comic.
I would suggest this method for bigger comics but the regular method for everything else.
I enjoyed these last few Norse comics. They were delightfully fun.
I enjoyed these Thor/Loki ones a lot.
Loki a cross dresser? More likely then you think.
Did you know who Sleipnir’s mother is? 😛
Hoho, that crazy trickster
Ugh, I can actually see the tissue crumples beneath the clothing where the “breasts” are.
Your unique twist(s) to folklore are very much appreciated. When you find something that works, keep going with it.
I love how none of them notice the beards of Loki and Thor. Maybe there’s a lot of hairy women there?
I like either method, so whatever works for you. I think I would prefer if you spaced out the comics if you did a bunch at once, like one a day for a week.
WOOHOOO! I tell you man, Loki comes great for comics, you should do one from when he turns into a mare lol. The three strips in a row is awesome for stories like that, so you can do them like in stages and not take the bother to detail the whole story too much, but not letting it fall incomplete either.
Really great site. So many cool comics and so much fun reading the mythology behind them.
Awesome comics. Please continue drawing them!