Thunderstrike (Eric Masterson)

Thunderstrike
Thunderstrike #1, art by Ron Frenz
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Thor vol.1 #391 (May, 1988)
Created by	Tom DeFalco (writer) Ron Frenz (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Eric Kevin Masterson
Team affiliations	Asgard Avengers Secret Defenders "Thor Corps"
Notable aliases	Thor
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, endurance via Thunderstrike: Flight Dimensional travel Force blasts

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

Thunderstrike was given his own self-titled series in 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.^[1] This has been shown to be extremely unlikely.^[2]

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: B.L.U.E..

Eric Kevin Masterson was working an architect when he met Thor. Masterson was injured by falling girders, and was taken to the hospital by Thor. Now on crutches, Masterson was attacked by Quicksand, but saved by Thor.^[3] Masterson was then abducted by Mongoose. Masterson accompanied Thor to the Black Galaxy, where he first met 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, to save Eric's life.^[4] Masterson gave up custody of his son Kevin to his ex-wife Marcy.^[5] Masterson was then separated from Thor by the Red Celestial.^[6] Shortly thereafter, Masterson saved Thor's life, and was merged with him again.^[7] Masterson's son Kevin was captured by Ulik for Loki. Thor freed Kevin and seemingly slew Loki in battle. Heimdall separated Thor from Masterson, then banished Thor, and transformed Masterson into a new Thor.^[8] He then met the Enchantress as Leena Moran, and battled Ulik.^[9]

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.^{[volume & issue needed]} Masterson revealed his double identity to Captain America. He then first visited Asgard, where he fought the Warriors Three, Balder, Heimdall, and Sif, while trying to discover the whereabouts of the real Thor. Masterson then helped rescuse the sleeping Odin from Annihilus.^[10] He teamed with Beta Ray Bill and Dargo Ktor as the "Thor Corps" against Zarrko and Loki.^[11] During his time with the Avengers as Thor, he aids them in such battles as the Kree/Shi'ar war^{[volume & issue needed]} and the Infinity Gauntlet crisis,^{[volume & issue needed]} 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).^{[volume & issue needed]}

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.^{[volume & issue needed]} Odin then creates a new mace for Eric called Thunderstrike.^[12]

Eric first uses the Thunderstrike mace against the villains 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.^[13] Eventually Eric defeats Bloodaxe, only to discover that Bloodaxe was actually Jackie Lukus, his current love interest.^{[volume & issue needed]}

After a confrontation with 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.^{[volume & issue needed]} After his supposed slaying of Seth, Eric is confronted by the 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.^{[volume & issue needed]} Eric is eventually forced to fight the Bloodaxe subconsciously, which manifests in Eric's mind in the form of Skurge.^{[volume & issue needed]} 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.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Eric is temporarily resurrected by the 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.^{[volume & issue needed]}

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. 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. 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.

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When the second Thunderstrike and the new generation of Avengers, A-Next, travel through a portal to an 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.

• Thunderstrike makes a cameo appearance as a non playable character with the rest of the Avengers at the end of Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage.

• Thunderstrike appears as a playable character in the one-on-one beat 'em up arcade game Avengers in Galactic Storm.

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