(prepare for a long winded discussion)

I have to say there are clear arguements that go both
ways; though points like consulting with Fugishima by
Studio Proteus are as much a matter of business as
wanting to make sure the author/copyright holder is
appleased.  After all, there has been many times when
members of this list have disputed SP's translations
so it is ironic IMHO that now SP are being quoted as
virtual canon....

As for the issue of where the truth lies in such
matters, I personally feel that Norse myths have been
taken as some source material (like Star Wars took
from Tolken's Lord of the Rings) from the Norse myths
but any study of the Norse myths (something I would
strongly suggest to all members of the ML) would show
serious differences.

The Norse myths were created by a people who lived in
a very fierce, unkind world.  It was unforgiving and
cruel world of fighting, survival and exploration (the
norse were among the most traveled in human history!).
 This was their RELIGION and it contains a range of
tales from Loki's constant backstabbing (the debacle
with the spear of Holly..) to Thor's drunken excesses
(he was one of the best warriors around but he wasn't
the catholic school as portrayed in Marvel
comics....).  

That said, the whole structure of the Norse "heaven"
was very different from the Celestial Techno-cracy
that is portrayed in AMG.  Odin was top dog of the
gods but a far cry from the Judeo-Christian
All-powerful Creator that is the implied head honcho
of AMG.  Some of you might remember the tale of Odin 
plucking out an eye and being lashed to a tree for 8
days (I think) and from that ordeal he received great
wisdom and vision of the future.  He was known to be
feckless, ruthless and sometimes a bit hotheaded. 
Many of the gods ignored him.  Hardly the Kami-sama
pictured in AMG.

While AMG uses a lot of Norse myths, it is VERY loose.
 Keeping the structure and some of the characters is
not the same as keeping the whole and more importantly
the INTENTION of it intact.  Also note that huge
amounts of technology are used.  Very un-norse like
considering their reliance on tradition (again read
some source material on Norse people and religion if
you want).  The Norse gods were very independent, self
reliant beings whereas AMG divine beings carry a
we-are-all-connected mentality that is clearly asian
in nature.   

My point is that Fugishima my even believe he is
really using the norse myths properly, but AMG would
look unrecognizable (expect for the names) to someone
versed in Norse lore and lifestyle.  This not to say
it's bad or wrong.  Just that it is VERY different
from the original source material.  

My honest opinion..is "so what?"  There are no Norse
people left to sue for defamation of character nor is
strict adherence needed or required just for the sake
of a comic whose main purpose (in my opinion) is to
always end the storyline leaving a warm, fuzzy feeling
at the bottom of the reader's heart.  The comic is
being written/drawn by a man whose background is
buddhist/shinto and takes place in Japan so most of
elements and situations are essentially Japenese in
both culture and many situations.    

This is only my opinion, not a statement of
my-way-or-the-highway.  

That said, ultimately, it is up to the AMG creator to
say one way or the other...but would that make things
better or worse?  The two camps on this ML are fairly
adament of being totally in the right (anyone seen the
movie Gettysburg?...great movie...the caption under
the caption was "Two Sides. One God.")  If he ever
came down with a statement of fact, one side would be
elated while the other seemingly vanquished.  He could
potentionally lose fans and in the case of this ML,
the I-told-you-so's would no doubt cause further bad
blood. 

AMG is just a comic.  No matter how much you debate
otherwise, it's just a comic along with a ton of
others from equally imaginative creators like Clamp
(too many to list), Shirow (Ghost in the shell,
Dominion), and Fred Gallagher (of the webcomic
Megatokyo).  

Make no mistake.  I love AMG.  I was inspired by the
movie to do an Urd cosplay at Otakon last year.  While
it's cool and I look forward to the next DH issue, it
is no substitute for a life.  As such, while debate is
good and healthy, we should NOT be fighting and name
calling and such.  Of late, the debating has moved
into more extreme personal attacks and that is just
plain WRONG.  

So let us all try to stick to the facts (what facts?
It's a comic, not the Encyclopedia Britannica!) and
not get in each other's faces saying "you're a moron
if you disagree."

I am sure some will think my thoughts scattered,
indefensible and perhaps just plain retarded.  

Fine.  This is just a debate over a comic, not a
matter of life-and-death.
 
^_^
B Smith

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