The Hammer Kid

    (Alias, 2006)
™ and ©2006 Astounding Studios

The Hammer Kid is a new take on the Thor, Loki, Tales of Asgard saga that has been the subject of Marvel’s The Mighty Thor for decades. It is the saga told from a child’s point of view, in this case that of Kevin Erikson who is transported through time and space through a rainbow portal from his homeland in Minnesota to Jotunheim, the Land of the Giants.

Kevin is at first shunned for being a mortal, but is later accepted and called “Erik’s Son”, and takes his turn battling the evil Loki and others. Very exciting for fans of the norse gods.

— Mark Arnold

From the Comics Buyer’s Guide:

A mortal wielding the power of Thor! What won’t they think of next? (Please read that with the appropriate sarcasm.)

All in all, the diversity of offerings from Alias has been impressive, but you wouldn’t know it from The Hammer Kid. While every company from DC to Image has done the public-domain Norse god of thunder, the concept here is too close to Marvel’s take for it to come off as original. All right, Kevin Erikson, the aforementioned mortal, is a kid; that’s kind of different. But everyone from DC’s Wonder Woman to Beta-Ray Bill, a horse-faced alien, has channeled Marvel’s Thor—so a regular pre-teen off the streets pales in the novelty department.

The best line comes when Kevin in challenged to “mortal combat,” which he enthusiastically accepts, mistaking it for the videogame “Mortal Kombat.” Even that conjures memories of Bill and Ted misunderstanding the “iron maiden” in medieval England for the heavy metal band.

It’s well written and nicely drawn. It’s just not terribly original.

— Jack Abramowitz
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February, 2006
Cover Price: $3.50
3 copies available from $2.98 		Kevin GreviouxJack Lawrence