New Thor Pic Online – With Odin And Loki

We got our first look at Marvel's mighty Norse God of Thunder, Thor (as played by Chris Hemsworth) just over a month ago. And today, with just over a week to go until Comic-Con, those lovely chaps over at Marvel have further whet our appetite by releasing the first pic of Odin and Loki - otherwise known as Thor's dad and evil half-brother.

And it's certainly intriguing. First of all, there's a real **Flash Gordon **vibe going on here with the costumes, with Anthony Hopkins' All-Father, Odin, particularly resplendent in the sort of breastplate you could imagine adorning Brian Blessed's ample moobs. And that golden eyepatch is an accessory so gloriously blinged-up, it can't be long before every rapper or musician worth their salt is sporting one.

And then, skulking in the background - as is his wont - is Tom Hiddlestone's Loki, Thor's sinister half-brother (or brother: before you write in, indignant, there's a chance that the two may actually be brothers in Kenneth Branagh's film), whose desire to make his golden boy brother Thor look like a pillock drives the film's plot. Interestingly, Loki's flamboyant horns are missing from this particular get-up, although his trademark green is represented by his cape.

Oh, and we get another look at Hemsworth's Thor, too, wielding his massive hammer, Mjolnir. And before you ask, it's clear that the trio are standing in a chamber on Asgard, which seems to have been decorated by the same interior designers who worked on Krypton in Richard Donner's Superman.

The Los Angeles Times also reported today that both Thor and Captain America will be released in 3D, which is some of the less surprising news ever. Branagh told the paper, "We came to feel that in our case 3-D could be the very good friend of story and character for a different kind of experience...We travel very long distances in the movie and the opportunity to export and exploit the journey of the hero is really offered up as a great potential enhancement here." We're also promised that the effects work is already being conceived and executed in 3D, so that while the shoot will be a 2D-conversion, the hope is that it won't be a bad one. For more from Branagh, and Captain America director Joe Johnston, head over to the LA Times link above.

So... are we convinced yet? One should never judge a superhero film by a still photograph or directorial promises, of course. The real proof in this particular pudding will come at next week's Comic-Con, when we get to see Thor, Odin and Loki unload all their familial issues at 24fps, like an episode of EastEnders where everyone has super powers.

Thor is released on May 6, 2011.