Thor’s trusty hammer Mjolnir is among the most powerful weapons in all of comics. Not just the Marvel universe. As it goes, the Asgardian weapon can only be held by those deemed worthy. “Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” But it’s not just Thor Odinson who has wielded the might of Mjolnir. Far from it. Here are five other Marvel heroes who have held Thor’s hammer over the years.
Odin
Indeed, before Thor picked up Mjolnir, his father, Odin, wielded its mighty power. Odin was the one who had the Dwarves of Nidavellir forge a chunk of Uru with the powers of the God Tempest, resulting in Mjolnir as we know it. Odin used the weapon for thousands of years before passing it down to his son. Also of importance; Odin was the one who personally put the enchantment on the hammer, deeming only those who are worthy of utilizing its power.
Beta Ray Bill
Beta Ray Bill was introduced by the legendary Walter Simonson in the pages of Thor #377 back in 1983. He has been a fan favorite ever since. In that issue, the character gained the powers of Thor through pure happenstance. He was then summoned to fight for Asgard, and fought with bravery. As a result, Odin awarded Beta Ray Bill a hammer, Stormbreaker. But his heroic beginnings started with the power of Mjolnir.
Captain America
Perhaps the most famous example of another hero holding Thor’s hammer is Captain America. It has happened multiple times over the years but Steve Rogers first managed to contain the power of Mjolnir in Thor #390, which was published in 1988. At the time, Steve and Thor were fighting some enemies. Cap, as it happens, didn’t even want to use the hammer as a weapon. He was merely trying to return it to Thor. But he proved to be worthy. The rest, as they say, is history. This eventually made its way to the big screen, with Chris Evans’ Captain America picking up the hammer to fight Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.
Jane Foster
Jane Foster, for many years, was known as a love interest for Thor and an important character in the pages of Marvel Comics. But things changed in 2014 when writer Jason Aaron turned her into The Mighty Thor. At the time, Jane had been battling cancer. She was granted the opportunity to wield Mjolnir, making her into a new version of the longtime hero. Jane’s Thor fought alongside The Aveners and shook things up in a big way. Nataline Portman is set to portray this version of the character in the MCU in the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder.
Black Panther
A more recent, and shocking addition, Black Panther also managed to hold the hammer. But this wasn’t T’Challa, mind you. This took place in the distant past, thousands and thousands of years ago. The original Black Panther, as revealed in the pages of Avengers #36 by Jason Aaron, was worthy of controlling the hammer’s power. While battling Khonshu, that worthiness was on full display. As this was a relatively recent reveal in the world of Marvel Comics, its consequences on the larger universe have yet to fully be revealed.
So what do you think? Which of these characters is most worthy of Mjolnir? What other heroes do you think should take the hammer for a test drive? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
