Thor: Tales of Asgard uses a vivid animation style to translate the Norse god’s mythic milieu and explain how the superhero became such a badass.

“It’s not anime,” says Craig Kyle, Thor: Tales of Asgard’s supervising producer, in this exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus clip that offers a taste of the animation.

“I think it’s a little richer than some of the more angular styles that have been used in the past…. The shapes are very round and full and powerful, and it’s so important because scale is a huge issue when you’ve got frost giants, trolls and all the other creatures that are surrounding our heroes.”

The toon feature, out Tuesday on Blu-ray, DVD, download and demand, might not match the $350 million (and counting) in international box office receipts racked up by director Kenneth Branagh’s accessible live-action popcorn flick Thor.

But it will aid in the current pop-culture resurrection of the Norse god, first rebooted for comics’ Silver Age by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Larry Lieber in 1962.

Can the one-two-three punch of the recently released Thor, Thor: Tales of Asgard and Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers captivate a new generation? Or will hammer fatigue set in?

Screen the clip and let us know in the comments section below if Thor has the right stuff to outshine top-shelf comics crossovers like Batman, Superman and Iron Man, or if he can at least hammer his summer 2011 competitors, Captain America and Green Lantern.

Most convincing entry scores a grand prize pack that includes a Thor: Tales of Asgard Blu-ray combo pack, a Thor Marvel Comics plushie and a Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Comic Pack (both from Entertainment Earth) and DVDs of Ultimate Avengers: The Movie, Ultimate Avengers 2, The Invincible Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Next Avengers, Hulk Vs. and Planet Hulk. Four runners-up will receive a Thor: Tales of Asgard Blu-ray combo pack. Entries must be received by 12:01 a.m. Pacific on May 31, 2011. Winners must live in the United States.

Note: If you do not have an e-mail address or Twitter handle associated with your Disqus login, you must include contact information in your comment to be eligible. Any winner who does not respond to Wired.com’s notification within 72 hours will forfeit the prize.

The Thor: Tales of Asgard grand prize include many Marvel animated adventures.
Photo and giveaway courtesy Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Marvel Animation and Entertainment Earth