Austin, TX—Friday, April 22, 2011– Become Thor, God of Thunder, as he battles to save his home of Asgard! Austin Books & Comics presents Thor™: God of Thunder Wii video game launch party on Saturday, April 30, 2 pm to 5 pm, featuring original comic book characters Thor and Sif in the flesh, with the Thor character being portrayed by Austin’s own Jarrett Crippen, aka “The Defuser” from Syfy.

SEGA®and Austin game developer Red Fly Studio are teaming up with Austin Books & Comics to launch their new Wii game, Thor: God of Thunder.  Guests can attend this free video game launch party and try out an in-store demo of the Thor: God of Thunder game. Players will wield the iconic Mjolnir, Thor’s legendary hammer, to fight across multiple Norse worlds, controlling elemental storm powers to overcome hordes of deadly foes with devastating lightning bolts, earthshaking thunder and mighty blasts of wind that sweep away throngs of enemies.

Austin Books & Comics is also hosting a Red Fly Studio ‘meet the developers’ table, featuring key members of the game development team that created Thor: God of Thunder for the Wii.  Red Fly Studio is well-known for their previously released titles Mushroom Men: The Spore Ware, Ghostbusters: The Video Game and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II.

Chad Barron, producer on Thor: God of Thunderfor Red Fly Studio, offers, “Red Fly Studio is already a big believer in supporting the local Austin community.  By having the opportunity to launch our brand-new Wii game at Austin Books & Comics, we look forward to meeting more of our Austin fans, and providing enthusiastic support for the Thorfranchise.”

Guests can participate in our Thor costume contest, plus receive hourly giveaways of signed posters and special Thor premiums, including the new Wii game.  Meet our guest costume characters in person, Thor and his Norse girlfriend Sif, who will be on site in full costume for the duration of the event.  There will be no charge to event guests for photos with our costume characters.

The Thor character actor is Jarrett Crippen, an Austin Police Department detective and founder of SCARE for a CURE, a non-profit charity.  In 2007, Jarrett—a self proclaimed comic book geek—was selected as a cast member in Stan Lee’s Syfy reality show, “Who Wants to be a Superhero.” He won the competition and was proclaimed the world’s next great superhero! He routinely travels to cities around the country to appear as “The Defuser,” but his favorite stops are Austin area elementary schools, Boy/Girl Scout events and church groups.

RSVP to the Thor: God of Thunder Wii game launch party at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=208472779171451.  You will automatically be signed up for the chance to win your own copy of Thor: God of Thunderbefore it releases in stores on May 3, and the Paramount Pictures film opens on May 6.  Austin Books & Comics is located at 5002 N. Lamar Blvd.