Thunderstrike (Eric Masterson): Difference between revisions

{{Superherobox| <!--Part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->

image=[[Image:Thunderstrike.jpg|250px|]]

|caption=Thunderstrike #1, art by [[Ron Frenz]]

|character_name=Thunderstrike

|alter_ego=Eric Kevin Masterson

|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]

|debut= ''Thor'' vol.1 #391 (May, [[1988 in comics|1988]])

|creators=[[Tom DeFalco]] (writer)<br>[[Ron Frenz]] (artist)

|alliances=[[Asgard (comics)|Asgard]]<br>[[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]<br>[[Secret Defenders]]<br>"Thor Corps"

|aliases=[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]

|powers=Superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, endurance<br>

via Thunderstrike:<br>Flight<br>Dimensional travel<br>Force blasts|}}

'''Eric Masterson''' is a [[fictional character]] in the [[Marvel Comics]] Universe acting as a [[superhero]] under the aliases of '''[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]''' and later '''Thunderstrike'''. His son, [[Thunderstrike (Kevin Masterson)|Kevin Masterson]], takes the alias of Thunderstrike in the [[MC2]] Universe.

==Publication history==

Thunderstrike was given his own self-titled series in [[1993 in comics|1993]], after being introduced in ''Thor'' by writer [[Tom DeFalco]]. The series lasted approximately two years. DeFalco has often claimed that the book outsold ''Thor'' and ''The Avengers'' combined at the time of its cancellation.<ref>http://www.newcomicreviews.com/GHM/specials/LifeOfReilly/11.html</ref> This has been shown to be extremely unlikely.<ref>[http://goodcomics.blogspot.com/2005/08/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-10.html Comics Should Be Good: Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #10!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Thunderstrike made many appearances outside of his own title, notably in various Avengers titles. The title was used to launch an ongoing [[Blackwulf]] (cancelled after ten issues), and a limited series for [[Code: Blue|Code: B.L.U.E.]].

==Fictional character biography==

Eric Kevin Masterson was working an architect when he met [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]. Masterson was injured by falling girders, and was taken to the hospital by Thor. Now on crutches, Masterson was attacked by [[Quicksand (comics)|Quicksand]], but saved by Thor.<ref>''Thor'' #391-392</ref> Masterson was then abducted by [[Mongoose (comics)|Mongoose]]. Masterson accompanied Thor to the Black Galaxy, where he first met [[Hercules (Marvel Comics)|Hercules]]. Masterson was mortally wounded by Mongoose, and is given Thor's form and powers after the original is sealed in Eric's mind, by [[Odin (comics)|Odin]], to save Eric's life.<ref>''Thor'' #405-408</ref> Masterson gave up custody of his son Kevin to his ex-wife Marcy.<ref>''Thor'' #421</ref> Masterson was then separated from Thor by the [[Celestial (comics)|Red Celestial]].<ref>''Thor'' #423</ref> Shortly thereafter, Masterson saved Thor's life, and was merged with him again.<ref>''Thor'' #425</ref> Masterson's son Kevin was captured by [[Ulik]] for [[Loki (comics)|Loki]]. Thor freed Kevin and seemingly slew Loki in battle. [[Heimdall (Marvel Comics)|Heimdall]] separated Thor from Masterson, then banished Thor, and transformed Masterson into a new Thor.<ref>''Thor'' #431-432</ref> He then met the [[Enchantress (Marvel Comics)|Enchantress]] as Leena Moran, and battled Ulik.<ref>''Thor'' #433</ref>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Thor-433.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Eric Masterson as the new Thor on the cover of ''Thor'' #433. Art by Ron Frenz.]] -->

Eric continues in the role of Thor, after having been given Mjolnir by Thor, who tells Eric to carry on as Earth's protector. Eric then returns to Earth and joins the Avengers in Thor's place.{{Issue|date=May 2009}} Masterson revealed his double identity to [[Captain America]]. He then first visited [[Asgard (comics)|Asgard]], where he fought the [[Warriors Three]], [[Balder (Marvel Comics)|Balder]], Heimdall, and [[Sif (Marvel Comics)|Sif]], while trying to discover the whereabouts of the real Thor. Masterson then helped rescuse the sleeping Odin from [[Annihilus]].<ref>''Thor'' #434-435</ref> He teamed with [[Beta Ray Bill]] and [[Alternate versions of Thor#Dargo Ktor|Dargo Ktor]] as the "Thor Corps" against [[Zarrko]] and Loki.<ref>''Thor'' #439-441</ref> During his time with the Avengers as Thor, he aids them in such battles as [[Operation: Galactic Storm|the Kree/Shi'ar war]]{{Issue|date=May 2009}} and the [[Infinity Gauntlet]] crisis,{{Issue|date=May 2009}} being one of only three heroes at the conclusion of that battle to remember the entire confrontation (the other two being [[Doctor Strange]] and the [[Silver Surfer]]).{{Issue|date=May 2009}}

Eric's role as Thor is relatively brief, as the Enchantress manipulates Eric into attacking Thor for Sif's affection. During a confrontation with Thor, Eric hits Sif, which provokes Thor, leading him to defeat Eric and reclaim Mjolnir while Odin reveals the Enchantress's manipulations.{{Issue|date=May 2009}} Odin then creates a new mace for Eric called Thunderstrike.<ref>''Thor'' #459</ref>

Eric first uses the Thunderstrike mace against the villains [[Bloodaxe (comics)|Bloodaxe]] and Carjack and is promptly defeated. Afterwards, Eric creates his own costume to distinguish himself from Thor, while keeping Thor's reputation intact. Eric renames himself Thunderstrike, after the mace itself, operating as an adventurer and crimefighter.<ref>''Thunderstrike'' #1</ref> Eventually Eric defeats Bloodaxe, only to discover that Bloodaxe was actually Jackie Lukus, his current love interest.{{Issue|date=May 2009}}

After a confrontation with [[Seth (Marvel Comics)|Seth]] the Egyptian god of death, Eric realizes the only way to defeat him is to succumb to the curse contained with the Bloodaxe and increase his strength.{{Issue|date=May 2009}} After his supposed slaying of Seth, Eric is confronted by the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]], who attempt to arrest him for murder. Eric defeats the Avengers and is confronted by Thor. Eric pleads with Thor to kill him to prevent the curse of the Bloodaxe from taking him over completely.{{Issue|date=May 2009}} Eric is eventually forced to fight the Bloodaxe subconsciously, which manifests in Eric's mind in the form of [[Executioner (comics)|Skurge]].{{Issue|date=May 2009}} Eric eventually defeats the Skurge duplicate, causing a psychic backlash that kills him and destroys the two weapons. Claiming that [[Valhalla]] is not where he belongs, Eric is sent into the afterlife by Odin.{{Issue|date=May 2009}}

Eric is temporarily resurrected by the [[Grim Reaper (comics)|Grim Reaper]] several years later, along with several other deceased Avengers. After overcoming the Grim Reaper's control, he and the other undead Avengers are returned to the afterlife by the [[Scarlet Witch]]. Before returning to the afterlife, Eric asked Thor to check in on his son for him.{{Issue|date=May 2009}}

==Powers and abilities==

Eric's abilities are derived from the enchanted mace Thunderstrike, made of mystic uru metal, which is nearly indestructible, crafted by the Asgardian dwarves Brokk and Eitri, and given the following enchantments by [[Odin (Marvel Comics)|Odin]]. Stamping the mace reverts Thunderstrike back to Eric's mortal human form, dressed in whichever clothes he last wore in that form, with any physical damage fully healed with the exception of certain mystical spells such as Seth's Mark of Death, while the mace Thunderstrike transforms into a wooden cane. By stamping his walking stick on the ground Eric Masterson transformed back into his superhuman form, bearded and dressed in the garb of Thunderstrike, while the cane again becomes the mace.

The mace itself can be thrown over great distances and return to the point it is thrown from. By throwing the mace and gripping it strap, Thunderstrike can fly (although the comic emphasizes that this is much rockier and less steady than Thor's flight). He can use the mace to fire powerful concussive blasts of mystical energy. The mace magically enables him to survive the adverse conditions of outer space, including its lack of oxygen. The mace can also be used for tracking various energy sources and has the ability to create mystical vortexes to travel from one place to another.

Thunderstrike's physical abilities are enhanced to superhuman levels, including his strength, speed, durability, agility, reflexes, and endurance. As Thunderstrike, he was one of the strongest heroes in the Marvel Universe, though his strength didn't approach the level of [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]. He can survive in space without the need for oxygen. He is a formidable hand-to-hand combatant, and has received some combat training from [[Captain America]].

As Masterson, he is a highly skilled architect, with a masters degree in architecture. He is near-sighted and wears glasses.

==Other versions==

===MC2===

{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2009}}

When the [[Thunderstrike (Kevin Masterson)|second Thunderstrike]] and the new generation of Avengers, [[A-Next]], travel through a [[Portal (fiction)|portal]] to an [[Parallel universe (fiction)|alternate dimension]], they’re confronted by the Thunder Guard, that world's version of the Avengers. One of their members is Stormtrooper, who is an alternate version of Eric Masterson. Stormtrooper confronts the Avengers before they depart to safety. When Thunderstrike and Stormtrooper meet again, the two bond because the other person's counterpart is dead in their respective reality. After the Avengers defeat the alternate dimension's ruler, Kevin stays behind to be with the alternate version of his father.

==In other media==

===Video games===

[[Image:Galactic Storm.png|right|thumb|150px|Thunderstrike in [[Avengers in Galactic Storm]].]]

* Thunderstrike makes a cameo appearance as a non playable character with the rest of the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] at the end of ''[[Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage]]''.

* Thunderstrike appears as a playable character in the [[Versus fighting game|one-on-one]] [[beat 'em up]] [[arcade game]] ''[[Avengers in Galactic Storm]]''.

==Notes==

{{Reflist}}

==References==

{{refbegin}}

*{{comicbookdb|type=character|id=10062|title=Eric Masterson}}

{{refend}}

==External links==

*http://marvel.com/universe/Thunderstrike

{{Avengers}}

{{Thor}}

[[Category:1993 comic debuts]]

[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]]

[[Category:Marvel Comics mutates]]

[[Category:Marvel Comics superheroes]]

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