COMIC DETAILS
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Comic Description:
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Thor 364 Signature
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Grade:
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9.8
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Page Quality:
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WHITE
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Certification #:
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1412215010
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Owner:
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Thorseface
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SET DETAILS
Owner's Description
Thor no. 364: “Thor Croaks”
Publication date: February 10, 1986
Signed by Walt Simonson on 6/18/16, signed by Jim Shooter on 7/9/16.
Census: As of 6/20/23, 226 copies in 9.8 (up by 26), of which 15 are signed (up by 5). There are 2 copies in 9.9 (no change) and 2 Canadian 9.8s, both of which are signed (no change).
Writer, penciler, inker: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: Paul Becton
Favorite line and some thoughts:
"Brother, you sure cut him up. You must eat the right flies for breakfast."
-Puddlegulp
As the dedication to Carl Barks and Catapult indicates, Walt's idea for the arc was inspired by his respect for Barks' work. Barks is of course famous for his Disney ducks, but "Old Froggie Catapult" was also his invention, appearing in a 1958 issue of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories he pencilled. Walt has said that he wanted to do a Barks homage but didn't think "Thor duck" would work, in part because Howard the Duck was making waves at the time. So he went with a frog, and history was made. Walt usually invokes Stan and Jack when discussing these issues, crediting them for his conviction that one can pull off anything in comics if done with a straight face. Well, that's what he did with frog Thor. Not only did we believe it, we loved it. Walt often says that he is amazed at the staying power of this arc (Thor 364-366), which after the introduction of Beta Ray Bill is surely the most famous segment of his run.
Speaking of runs (or leaps), Frog Thor's navigation of a busy NYC street might be a reference to Atari's "Frogger." My favorite aspect of this issue, however, is the topographical specificity. The action is largely set in the Central Park Reservoir, and the bullfrogs congregate beneath the South Gatehouse, which is recognizable by its distinctive turrets.
There is another excellent deep pull in this issue. When Heimdall confronts Loki at the beginning of the Althing, he says "When the voice of Loki is still, look to thy weapons--for surely there is menace in the air." This is a direct quote from Journey into Mystery no. 120, which issue Walt previously (visually) referenced in the forging of Stormbreaker (see my entry for Thor 339). There, the words are spoken by Loki himself.
In recent years, Puddlegulp has himself taken up the mantle of Thor as "Throg." Walt had already revealed (in this issue) that he was once a human. Turns out his name was "Simon Walterson." We see what you did there.
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