I think this kind of proud, race-oriented mentality is stupid and just asking for trouble, whatever the context. Black or white, red or purple, if you get horribly offended if a member of your "color" isn't being portrayed as such, it represents nothing but a primitive racial gang mentality on your part. Aren't we above this, people?
That being said, I have studied the Norse myths and do agree that, of all the gods for them to change, Heimdall was probably the worst choice in terms of accuracy to the myths. Well, besides for Baldr, he's considered the "bright god" and actually has a white flower named after him. But still, Heimdall's often described in epithets of the Poetic Edda as the hvítastr ása, whitest of the gods. Marvel has been pretty hit-or-miss with this kind of thing, to be honest. For instance, in one translation of Snorri Sturlusson's Prose Edda, Loki is described as having "eyes as green and sharp as broken sea glass," and Odin is always bearded and one-eyed. But Thor is supposed to have a massive beard and red hair. Obviously, liberties are being taken, and if the protesters have a problem with some of them they should have a problem with all, no?
I think another problem that people are running into is one of perceived insensitivity. Even though Thor is obviously, undoubtedly and irrefutably about a Marvel comic book character, the Ásatrú religion and Odinic Rite are still around today and many people consider it to be a major part of their culture. This situation bends the line between religious figure and historical inaccuracy. Granted, there are so many other things they could be complaining about, like Thor being a blondie and the Warriors Three existing at all. Perhaps it's a good thing they're boycotting the movie, since they obviously weren't the intended target audience. :P
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