13 Superheroes Who Have Lifted Thor's Hammer
It’s no secret that the powerful Thor from Marvel Comics is based on Scandinavian mythology. In the Nordic myths, Thor also wields his famous Mjolnir, a unique hammer that always hits its target and returns to its owner. Thor can also control lightning and thunder by using the hammer’s handle. But most importantly, this weapon is so heavy that no living creature can lift it, except if Odin believes the person is worthy.
If you’ve seen the last Avengers movie, you’ll remember the epic final battle where Thanos is finally defeated by the team of superheroes. One of the most exciting moments happens when the supervillain knocks Thor out of action, and it seems like he’s on the verge of death. Suddenly, Captain America steps in and saves him, wielding Mjolnir to prove his worthiness.
Interestingly, this also happens in the comics. In Age of Ultron, Steve Rogers tries to lift the divine weapon during a party scene, where everyone else, including Tony Stark, fails to budge it. Captain America manages to move the hammer just a little, giving us a hint of what was to come.
2. Vision
Vision, one of the most powerful Avengers, also proved himself worthy of lifting Thor’s hammer in Age of Ultron. The Avengers were left speechless when Vision casually lifted Mjolnir, though some fans argue that it didn’t necessarily mean he was worthy, as he didn’t tap into the magical powers of the weapon.
3. Jane Foster
According to Marvel Comics, Jane Foster, who is initially Thor’s love interest and an assistant to Dr. Donald Blake (Thor’s mortal host), later becomes Thor herself. However, Jane’s story is bittersweet. As she fights cancer, the magical powers of Mjolnir nullify her chemotherapy, meaning that every time she wields the hammer, it’s slowly killing her. Despite the risk, Jane chooses to fight for good until the end and later becomes a Valkyrie.
4. Loki
Loki, Thor’s half-brother, has tried repeatedly to lift Mjolnir but failed. However, in the comic series Axis, Loki becomes a good guy while Thor takes on the role of the villain, thanks to the trickery of Red Skull. With the reversal of their roles, Loki becomes worthy of lifting the hammer, even though he was never able to do so in the original story.
5. Beta Ray Bill
Only the most devoted Marvel fans are familiar with Beta Ray Bill. He appears in comics and animated series but has yet to feature prominently in films, aside from a cameo reference in Avengers: Infinity War. In the comics, Beta Ray Bill lifts Mjolnir during a battle with Thor, and Odin rewards him by forging a new hammer, Stormbreaker, just for him.
6. Deadpool
Deadpool, Marvel’s most irreverent character, makes it onto this list thanks to some trickery. In one story, Loki gives Deadpool a fake Mjolnir, which allows him to wield the hammer and even fly like Thor. While it wasn’t the real thing, it’s still a memorable moment.
7. Magneto
Magneto, the iconic X-Men villain, also wields Mjolnir in the Ultimate X-Men series. Using his ability to control magnetic fields, Magneto takes over Thor’s hammer and causes havoc. However, the story ends with Valkyrie and Nick Fury stopping Magneto, returning Mjolnir to its rightful owner.
8. Superman
Yes, even Superman, a DC character, has lifted Thor’s hammer. In the 1996 crossover comic between Marvel and DC, Superman is deemed worthy by Odin to wield Mjolnir in a battle against a common enemy. It’s a rare moment where the two comic universes collide, and Superman briefly possesses the power of Thor.
9. Red Hulk
Red Hulk, also known as General Thaddeus Ross, touches Mjolnir during a battle with Thor. In an unusual turn of events, the two characters fly into space, and the hammer begins to lose its power. Red Hulk then uses this opportunity to overpower Thor with his own weapon.
10. Silver Surfer
In a 2016 comic series, Silver Surfer lifts Mjolnir during a fight with Thanos. After years of fighting to become worthy, he finally succeeds, though he ultimately loses the battle. It’s one of the more tragic yet heroic moments in Marvel’s comics.
11. Ragnarök
During the Avengers’ Civil War, Thor was presumed missing. Tony Stark creates a clone of Thor using his DNA, naming him Ragnarök. This clone, while powerful, is far more insidious than the original. Ragnarök wields his own version of Mjolnir, though unlike Thor’s hammer, others can lift it.
12. Squirrel Girl
Yes, even Squirrel Girl managed to lift Mjolnir! In a battle against her evil counterpart, the quirky Marvel character proves her worth and uses Thor’s hammer to defeat her enemy.
13. Throg
Even a frog has lifted Mjolnir! In this unique storyline, Simon, a man turned into a frog by a witch, encounters Thor (also turned into a frog by Loki). After picking up a piece of the hammer, Simon transforms into Throg, a frog version of Thor.
