Random Happenstance

Thor Writing Challenge: Sif!
Although it's probably not the biggest (or best!) supporting cast in comics, Thor often had a memorable ensemble of supporting characters, including Beta Ray Bill, Hercules, the Enchantress, and the Warriors Three. I know J. Michael Straczynski probably has the first year of Thor all plotted out and everything, the settings, the characters, and so forth; and I'm not even sure he plans on using her, but here's a challenge for him: Make Sif interesting. If possible.

That could be a tall order. Even Walt Simonson seemed to have a rough time of it, as Hildy, Volstagg's daughter, has more memorable moments in his run. Sif has been Thor's girlfriend/fiance/platonic-comrade-in-arms at various times in the book's run, and often falls victim to the 'show, don't tell' rule. I don't know how many times I've seen her referred to as Thor's 'beloved' or 'betrothed' or 'beknighted' or whatever. But they don't seem to act like a couple. Like, ever. Although, I suppose if a couple had been together since before the dark ages, they very well might not be super demonstrative.

She's also often referred to as one of Asgard's mightiest warriors...for a girl. Sif fights like all hell to be the equal of those she stands with, and...wait, strike that: Sif fights like all hell to be considered the equal of those she stands with. She doesn't seem to have the special status or powers like Thor or Balder, and is often, again, referred to as the cream of the Asgardian crop. But in actual practice, and especially in the older issues; her role in battle is, be ignored until someone underestimates her as 'the girl,' then Sif clobbers him.

Ideally, Sif helps the narrative by creating a dramatic choice for Thor: should he stay in Asgard with his beloved (and his dad, who can't run the place for five minutes without going into the 'Odinsleep') or return to earth, which he loves and which needs him and where most of his comics start? The problem is, Thor always chooses earth, leaving Sif waiting, which she does, until the next run of Thor stories in Asgard. (There have been brief stretches where Sif leaves Asgard with Thor, and flops around like a fish out of water on earth.) There's never any drama to it, since we know full well Thor will be back on earth and kicking ass with the Avengers before too long (unless someone jacks that up, but that's another post), and Sif will be waiting in Asgard with bated breath. Which makes her a bit of a doormat.

Simonson tried to pull an end run around that, by having Sif interested in Beta Ray Bill, a hero as noble and worthy as Thor; except he looked like a horse. Or an orange guy with no ears. But, she was kind of drifting back towards Thor towards the end of his run anyway. Then came Defalco's run, not my favorite, although looking back the replacement Thor wasn't so bad until they saddled him with 'Thunderstrike' and a dangley lightning bolt earring. Meh, maybe not. But Sif was kind-of, sort-of, then not-at-all interested in Eric, and he's getting the brushoff in one of the panels here. (This was also one of those times where Thor and Sif are engaged, but nothing seems to come of it, as far as I know.)

All right, enough grousing about Sif's role (or lack of same) in the past: going forward, how would you make Sif a character worth reading about, instead of a cardboard cutout labelled 'love interest'? I would start by dropping the 'fish' business: Sif has been to earth a bunch of times, she's used to it by now. She doesn't have the same love of earth or it's primitive, stupid inhabitants that Thor does; but she knows how it works. Sif would also not have a secret identity. She knows who she is, and doesn't need or care to cover for anyone else.

Maybe that's why Thor was never able to sell her on staying on earth, because Thor has to be Dr. Blake or whoever, and couldn't have Sif, mighty warrior goddess seen with him. So, she'd have to dress up and pretend to be a nurse, or a mere girl. Kind of demeaning, put like that, and it doesn't sound like as much fun as putting her up at Avengers Mansion, and sending her out on missions. Sif doesn't have, or need, or want, the kind of emotional connection to humanity that would require her to 'Clark Kent' her light under a bushel. But kicking the snot out of Ultron? Try to hold her back. Sif might even be a better Avenger than Thor, since she's full-time, not off 'playing doctor' or whatever Thor does in his off-time.

Short-term, it would also be fun to see Thor react to a newly available Sif. Hercules would hit on her just because he's Hercules and it's his job, and I previously thought it might be a good idea to avoid "Thor's greatest hits," so we would have to see where that went without the traditional Thor-Herc brawl. Actually, I don't think Thor would be uncool to anyone who treated Sif with the proper respect. They would be like an old couple, two people who knew just about everything there was to know about each other, but that aren't together now. Then their relationship could move from there, maybe back together, maybe not.



One last thing? She needs a new costume. Or her Simonson number back. I'm not 100% sure these were the worst costumes she ever had...