Emails #53: ODIN IS A GOD

RICK: I like it and also dislike [Cap's costume for the film as seen on AICN]. Could they at least paint the FTD florist wings on the side of his head? Except for the boots, he doesn't look like he has on any materials which existed during the time period. The harness he is wearing looks good but is totally impractical. This is a good first effort. Unfortunately, it probably won't be revisited. Note the shoulder gear that makes his chest seem bigger and width wider. Get rid of the distracting patches on the leggings. Yuck. Also, GUN!!!! This is a fight to the death.

BEN: Ack! I forgot it was supposed to be WWII era. You're totally right. I didn't mind it so much, but in that context it makes no sense at all. An interesting design, but like you said, not much thought went into it. My first reaction was "What are the buckles for? So he can be grabbed and tossed around?" because they serve no function at all. Brown instead of red gloves/boots I wasn't really a fan of. They keep putting the stars on his shoulders and a Bat-Utility belt. Not sure what that's about. I don't think the belt and glove buckles existed yet. Looks like a football player. I seriously doubt he's going to have the flexibility to raise his arms like that in the top image. It's also interesting that the stars (all) are small and lines try to make him broad, but then his utility belt has pouches big enough to store a Big Mac and large fry each. Pouches as big as his face and fist make him look as tiny as he really is. These are of course concepts, but if they don't modify, he'll look like a child in a costume.

Mmmmmmmmmmm... Big Mac and fries. Maybe Cap can have the golden arches design instead...

The straps on Cap's chest are supposed to be the RED in his red white and blue costume. Maybe a parachute harness? Or perhaps he needs the straps to hold his powerful torso down so it can be glued to the rest of his body... Cap is already sporting the familiar round shield (don't they ever listen?) What was wrong with the original Kirby Cap design? If it is an icon, why change it? Hey, lets make the Coke logo unrecognizable because, you know, modern audiences won't get it until we tinker so much that you can't see the original design...

Heh, totally. Yes, I realized the straps were taking the place of the red, but I also noticed they connect to tiny [rivets] so, they don't go all the way back to be a secure harness-- making them just decoration... and like wearing a necktie in a fist fight.

Thor suffers from same MODERN looking malady as Cap. Looks nice but has TOO slick a design, too styled...

What do you mean? They totally have rubber and plastic in Asgard. They're GODS! Heh. The pencil design isn't bad considering the knot work, but when I saw the photo (this is the first time I've seen the full) I just thought "Ugh, rubber." If they had done a similar design, just in leather, it may have worked. This just looks like He-Man which, may very well be what they're going for. I mean, they're description for the film calls Odin a "king" which doesn't exactly make sense since kings are appointed by God... They should have hired WETA (Lord of the Rings etc) and they would have had blockbuster design on this.

"King?" Who do they think they are FKing with? Odin is a God. A GOD. This is long established Norse mythology. Sure Marvel jumped it for spare parts but Odin was always a God and a bad ass one at that. A king? We don't want to offend anyone. This is a work of fiction hombres. Do you think Iron Man is real? Batman?

Is Thor really going into battle wearing this? Really? Battle? Maybe it is his presentation uniform. Although I don't think so...

Don't worry, he'll also be dodging bullets and knows Kung Fu.

...and then will burst out into a sensitive sonnet.

So he's like Neo and Morpheus put together? (Okay, I'll stop.)

Thor dodges from around another pillar and yells, "HAVE AT THEE!!!" A flash of lightning immediately reduces the German to ashes. Cap is dumbfounded.

"I wanted some answers Thor..." Dust runs through his gloved hand.

That Thor. So impulsive ;)

Hot dog cart flies through air at great speed. Hulk bellows and pounds a green fist into a column, shaking it.

"No Hulk, no..."

Cap retrieves an object from his oversize utility belt which allows him to magically produce any item he needs (like Felix the Cat). Cap fakes left and jumps right. In a flash it is over. Cap has secured Hulk's collar. Cap fastens a chain leash.

"Come along Hulk. Good boy. No marking the famous buildings..." Hulk, panting, follows Cap and Thor down the street. Overhead Iron Man flies in and lands, joining the other three heroes as they pull a Wizard of Oz moment in the nation's capitol.

Okay. The Avenger's movie is a comedy. No one saw that coming...

HAHA!

I greet the sword's honed edge that bites into my flesh, knowing that this courage was given me by my father.
-Gisli, Gisli Sursson's Saga

Thor/Mjolnir ...would be able to strike as firmly as he wanted, whatever his aim, and the hammer would never fail, and if he threw it at something, it would never miss and never fly so far from his hand that it would not find its way back, and when he wanted, it would be so small that it could be carried inside his tunic.
-from Prose Edda