Thor: Tales of Asgard
Netflix | Google Play | SEN | YouTube
DVD | Blu-ray
Directed by Sam Liu
Starring Matthew Wolf, Rick Gomez, Tara Strong, Cathy Weseluck, Ashleigh Ball
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Originally Released: May 17, 2011

While Marvel’s Thor is better known for coming from Asgard to his excursions on Earth in contemporary media, Tales of Asgard acts as more like a prequel. Set in other realms aside from Earth, the animated movie focuses on Thor as a teen, approaching adulthood, and beginning to learn the hard lessons necessitated as the son of Odin.

Coddled and shielded by Odin from the realms beyond Asgard, young Thor is hungry for adventure – having a high opinion of his own skills than they actually are. Requesting the assistance of his brother Loki, the pair creep onto the ship of the Warriors Three – in quest of the Lost Flaming Sword of Surtur, believed hidden in the realm of the Frost Giants of Jotunheim.

But the perils of the expedition are immense, and while the Frost Giants are caused to seek war against Asgard because of Thor’s actions, another sinister menace threatens the realm of Odin – and it comes from within their own borders”¦

Thor: Tales of Asgard
Blu-ray/DVD Combo | DVD | On Demand
Directed by Sam Liu
Starring Chris Britton, Clancy Brown, Grey DeLisle
Lionsgate
Release Date: May 17, 2011

With the big action of the Thor feature film now in theaters of course it makes sense for Marvel to try and put Thor everywhere. They teamed with Lionsgate to bring us the direct-to-DVD and Blu-ray Thor: Tales of Asgard. The animated film tells the story of a teenaged Thor before the Hammer and before he became a hero, at least in the sense that we know him from modern comics or even from the live-action film. In the story, Thor is protected by his father Odin to the point that he is allowed to win exhibition fights with Asgard’s most powerful warriors. When he is called out on his fake wins by Sif, a young woman who is already an amazing warrior, Thor feels the need to prove himself. He decides to hide on a sailing ship with the warriors three to seek out a mystical sword and show Sif and the other inhabitants of Asgard that he truly is a great warrior.

In the world of superheroes DC Comics owns the animated film space with such successes as Superman/Batman Public Enemies and the recent All-Star Superman animated feature. Marvel’s previous attempts at animated feature films, such as the Avengers movies and the Iron Man film, have not been so successful. Marvel has however owned the more lucrative live-action feature film space, so who’s laughing?

Well Marvel isn’t ready to give up yet! They’ve teamed with Lionsgate Home Entertainment to release a new animated feature: Thor: Tales of Asgard on Blu-Ray Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download, On Demand, and via Carrier Pigeon (well ok nix the bird idea) on May 17, 2011.

Planet Hulk, the latest animated feature from Marvel Studios and Lionsgate Home Entertainment, hit shelves this week and one of the special features on the DVD and Blu-ray was a first look at Thor: Tales Of Asgard, Marvel‘s next animated feature.

Take a look at the sneak peek here below and let us know what you think.

The thought of a teenage Thor doesn’t quite stir my loins like previous Marvel films have but I’ll give it a shot next year.

Thor: Tales Of Asgard arrives on shelves in 2011 — just in time to piggy back onto Kenneth Branagh’s live-action Thor when it hits theaters.