Thor (Marvel Comics)

Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Journey into Mystery #83 (Aug. 1962) and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby.

Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character is based on the Thor of Norse mythology. Thor has starred in several ongoing series; limited series and has been a perennial member of the superhero team the Avengers, appearing in each of the four volumes. The character has also appeared in associated Marvel merchandise including animated television series; clothing; toys; trading cards and video games.

A self-titled film based on the character and comic is scheduled to be released in May 2011, with Kenneth Branagh as director and Chris Hemsworth starring as Thor. Hemsworth is also contracted to reappear as Thor in the film The Avengers, set to be released in 2012.

Publication history

Writer-editor Stan Lee described Thor's genesis, following after the creation of the Hulk:

"[H]ow do you make someone stronger than the strongest person? It finally came to me: Don't make him human — make him a god. I decided readers were already pretty familiar with the Greek and Roman gods. It might be fun to delve into the old Norse legends... Besides, I pictured Norse gods looking like Vikings of old, with the flowing beards, horned helmets, and battle clubs.  ...Journey into Mystery needed a shot in the arm, so I picked Thor ... to headline the book. After writing an outline depicting the story and the characters I had in mind, I asked my brother, Larry, to write the script because I didn't have time. ...and it was only natural for me to assign the penciling to Jack Kirby..."

Following Thor's debut in the science fiction/fantasy anthology title Journey into Mystery, the 13-page feature "The Mighty Thor" continued to be plotted by Lee but scripted by Lee's brother Larry Lieber or Robert Bernstein (working under the pseudonym "R. Berns"). Penciling was by various artists, including Jack Kirby; Joe Sinnott; Don Heck and Al Hartley. With Journey into Mystery #101 (Feb. 1964), the series began a long and definitive run by Lee and Kirby that lasted until the by-then-retitled Thor a.k.a. The Mighty Thor #179 (Aug. 1970).

The five-page featurette "Tales of Asgard" was added in Journey into Mystery #97 (Oct. 1963) followed by "The Mighty Thor" becoming the dominant cover logo with issue #104 (May 1964). The feature itself expanded to 18 pages in #105, which eliminated the remaining anthological story from each issue; it was reduced to 16 pages five issues later.

Journey into Mystery was retitled Thor (per the indicia), a.k.a. The Mighty Thor (per most covers) with issue #126 (March 1966). "Tales of Asgard" was replaced by a five-page featurette starring "The Inhumans", from #146–152 (Nov. 1967 – May 1968), after which featurettes were dropped and the Thor stories reverted to Marvel's then-standard 20-page length.

After Kirby left the title, Neal Adams penciled issues #180-181 (Sept.-Oct. 1970) before John Buscema then became the regular artist the following issue. Buscema continued to draw the book almost without interruption until #278 (Dec. 1978). Lee stopped scripting soon after Kirby left, and during Buscema's long stint on the book, the stories were mostly written by Gerry Conway, Len Wein, or Roy Thomas. Thomas continued to write the book after Buscema's departure, working much of the time with the artist Keith Pollard; during this period Thomas integrated many elements of traditional Norse mythology into the title, with specific stories translated into comics form. Following Thomas's tenure, for several years Thor had a changing creative team.

Walt Simonson took over both writing and art as of #337 (Nov. 1983). Simonson's run as writer-artist lasted until #367 (May 1986), although he continued to write – and occasionally draw – the book until issue #382 (Aug. 1987). Simonson was responsible for introducing the character Beta Ray Bill, in what was regarded as a popular and critically acclaimed run.

After Simonson's departure, Marvel's editor-in-chief at the time, Tom DeFalco, became the writer. Working primarily with artist Ron Frenz, DeFalco stayed on the book until #459 (Feb. 1993).

As a consequence of the "Heroes Reborn" crossover event of the 1990s, Thor was removed from mainstream Marvel continuity and with other Marvel characters re-imagined in an alternate universe for one year. The Thor title reverted to Journey into Mystery with issue #503 (Nov. 1996), and ran four different, sequential features ("The Lost Gods"; "Master of Kung Fu"; "Black Widow" and "Hannibal King") before ceasing publication with #521 (June 1998).

When the character was returned to the mainstream Marvel Universe, Thor was relaunched in a second volume, and debuted as Thor vol. 2, #1 (July 1998). As of issue #36, the title used dual numbering in a tribute to the original Thor series, and the caption box for said issue became #36 / #538 (June 2001). The title ran until issue #85/#587, dated December 2004. Dan Jurgens wrote the first 79 issues, with Daniel Berman and Michael Avon Oeming completing the series.

The third volume dedicated to Thor's adventures debuted as Thor #1 (Sept. 2007), initially written by J. Michael Straczynski and penciled by Olivier Coipel. In January 2009, beginning with what would have been issue vol. 3, #13 the third volume reverted to issue #600, reflecting the total number of published issues from all three volumes. Kieron Gillen took over from JMS in Thor #604 with artists Billy Tan, Richard Elson and Dougie Braithwaite with his final storyline finishing in issue #614. Afterwards, Matt Fraction took over Thor in issue #615, after having been announced as starting in Thor #610 and #611.

To coincide with the Thor film, Marvel launched a number of limited series in mid-2010. These include Thor: The Mighty Avenger by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee, Thor: First Thunder by Bryan J. L. Glass and Tan Eng Huat, and Thor: For Asgard by Robert Rodi and Simone Bianchi, An Iron Man/Thor limited series by writing Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning was announced at the San Diego Comic Con, to begin publication at the end of 2010.

Fictional character biography

1960s

Journey into Mystery #83 (Aug. 1962): the debut of Thor. Cover art by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.

Thor's father Odin decides his son needs to be taught humility and consequently places Thor (without memories of godhood) into the body and memories of an existing, partially disabled human medical student, Donald Blake. After becoming a doctor and on holiday in Norway, Blake witnesses the arrival of an alien scouting party. Blake flees into a cave after they hear him and begin pursuing him, and after discovering Thor's disguised hammer Mjolnir, and striking it against a rock, transforms into the thunder god.

Defeating the aliens, Thor shares a double life with his alter ego: treating the ill in a private practice with nurse - and eventual love - Jane Foster and defending humanity from evil. Thor's presence on Earth almost immediately attracts the attention of his stepbrother and arch-foe Loki; who returns repeatedly to Earth in a bid to destroy Thor. Loki is also responsible for the emergence of three of Thor's principal foes: the Absorbing Man; the Wrecker, and the Destroyer. On one occasion, Loki's tactics are accidentally beneficial - although successful in using an illusion of the Hulk to draw Thor into battle, it results in the formation of the superhero team the Avengers, of which Thor is a founding and longstanding member.

Thor's other early foes included the Red Army; Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man; the Radioactive Man; the Lava Man; the Cobra; Mister Hyde; the Enchantress and the Executioner and the Grey Gargoyle.

Falling in love with Jane Foster, Thor disobeys his father and refuses to return to Asgard, an act for which he is punished on several occasions. Thor's natural affinity for Earth is also eventually revealed to be due to the fact that he is the son of the Elder Goddess Gaea. Although Thor initially regarded himself as a "superhero" like his teammates in the Avengers, Loki's machinations draw Thor into increasingly epic adventures, such as teaming with father Odin and Asgardian ally Balder against fire demon Surtur and Skagg the Storm Giant, and defeating an increasingly powerful Absorbing Man and proving his innocence in the "Trial of the Gods". This necessitates an extended leave of absence from the Avengers.

Thor also encounters Greek God Hercules, who becomes a loyal friend when Thor also saves him from fellow Olympian Pluto; stops the advance of Ego the Living Planet; rescues Jane Foster from the High Evolutionary and defeats his flawed creation, the Man-Beast. Odin finally relents and allows Thor to love Jane Foster, on the proviso she pass a trial. Foster, however, panics and Thor intervenes. Although Foster fails the test, Odin returns her to Earth where she is given another chance at love, while a heartbroken Thor is introduced to Asgardian warrior Sif. Thor battles the Asgardian troll Ulik for the first time when he attempts to steal Mjolnir; defeats Avengers foe Kang the Conqueror and the alien Super-Skrull and with Odin and his Asgardian allies engages in a battle to the death with the Enchanters Three.

Despite repeated attempts by Loki to destroy Thor with a series of past and new foes, Thor is victorious, and even avoids being claimed by Asgardian death goddess Hela. The thunder god returns to Asgard to prevent Mangog from drawing the Odinsword and ending the universe; learns the origin of the cosmic entity Galactus (and encounters Ego once again); and stops the child-like Him (who would eventually become Adam Warlock) from kidnapping Sif.

1970s

Thor battles Surtur once again when the fire demon attempts to storm Asgard (with Loki temporarily seizing power courtesy of the Odin Ring); encounters the entity the Stranger and his pawn the Abomination and overpowers an outmatched Doctor Doom. Thor only returns to Earth sporadically, forced to deal with a constant wave of Asgardian (e.g. Mangog; Ulik); godly (e.g. Pluto;) and cosmic threats (e.g. Infinity; Xorr).

Courtesy of the manipulation of the Elder of the Universe the Collector, Thor is present to aid the Avengers against their greatest foes (Graviton; Ultron; Count Nefaria and ultimately Korvac). Thor prevents another attempt by Mangog - disguised as Odin - to draw the Odinsword; is saved by the intervention of ally Volstagg when the "Odin Force" becomes a semi-sentient destructive force and is rescued from death when Odin engineers a false Ragnarök (the "Twilight of the Gods") and has reporter Red Norvell die in his place battling the Midgard Serpent.

1980s

Thor eventually confronts the threat of the Celestial Fourth Host, and after an extended series of encounters learns of the apparent true origin of Asgard and Odin's plans to defend Earth from the alien judges. Despite the attempt by Odin by to stop the Celestials by occupying the Destroyer armour (now 2,000 feet tall as holding the life essence of every Asgardian) and wielding the Odinsword (and aided by the Uni-Mind, an entity composed of the Eternals) and Thor himself, the aliens depart when presented with an offering by Gaea on behalf of the "Skymothers" (e.g. Frigga and Hera) of twelve perfect humans. Thor also learns Gaea is his birth mother.

After restoring the Asgardian gods (courtesy of a gathering of energies donated by Skyfathers from other pantheons Thor has a series of adventures on Earth, including encountering two Heralds of Galactus in swift succession; stopping Mephisto from taking human souls; clearing his name when framed by Asgardian god Tyr; aiding Drax the Destroyer; with ally Iron Man defeating the Bi-Beast and Man-Beast; engaging the former king of Nastrond Fafnir (transformed by Odin into a dragon) in combat when freed by Loki and battling Dracula. Thor also learns of the existence of the "God Eater", a creature summoned when the death gods of several pantheons temporarily merge their realms. Thor thwarts the creature - revealed to be in humanoid guise Atum, the son of Gaea, and therefore Thor's half-brother - and ensures the cosmic balance is restored.

Whilst exploring an approaching space vessel at the request of Nick Fury, Thor encounters Beta Ray Bill, who after a brief battle proves himself worthy of lifting Thor's hammer Mjolnir. After initial misunderstandings, Bill forms an alliance with the Asgardian gods, and is empowered by Odin to aid Thor and his allies in a war with an approaching army of demons which is revealed to be led by fire demon Surtur, now wielding "Twilight", the gigantic "Sword of Doom". After a series of extended battles - including a battle to the death with Fafnir and thwarting the Dark Elf Malekith - the gods are finally triumphant, although during combat Odin and Surtur disappear through a rift and are presumed dead.

Thor remains in Asgard to deal with the vacuum left by Odin's apparent death, and drives off Hela; meets Tiwaz, his great-grandfather; forces Loki to cure him from the effects of a love potion; with allies enters Hela's realm and rescues lost mortal souls. Returning to Earth, Thor and Beta Ray Bill defeat the transformed Dark Elf Kurse, although Loki also uses the power of Surtur's discarded sword to change Thor into a frog. After an adventure in Central Park, Thor manages to partially restore himself and then forces Loki to reverse the spell. While rescuing X-Factor member Angel from torture by the mercenary team the Marauders, Thor is cursed by Hela, who makes his bones as brittle as glass and unable to heal if damaged; and renders him truly immortal and unable to die no matter how severe his injuries. Thor is injured again during a battle with the Absorbing Man (engineered by Loki), and is ultimately saved by Loki during a battle with the Dark Elves.

Eventually forced to wear armour to protect his broken body, Thor and Loki defeat a group of Ice Giants, who seek revenge by trying to locate the Midgard Serpent, hoping it will kill the thunder god. The Giants instead find the dragon Fin Fang Foom, who is revealed to be the Midgard Serpent in disguise. Foom finds Thor, and after an initial deception is revealed to be the Midgard Serpent. Time slows as the pair - mortal enemies due to prophecy that states they will kill each other during Ragnarök - battle to the death. Thor kills the Serpent, although his body is completely pulverized. Loki restores the Destroyer, and after killing the Ice Giants finds Thor's now liquid form. The Destroyer attempts to disintegrate the thunder god but cannot do so due to Hela's curse. Thor then assumes mental control of the Destroyer, and forces Hela on pain of death to restore his true form. The thunder god then breaks Loki's arm as punishment for his actions.

1990s

After another encounter with the Celestials on an alien world; Thor finds Odin - a captive of Seth - and uses the Odinpower to fend off a returning Surtur; defeats Annihilus while Asgard in the Negative Zone and on Earth battles X-Men foe the Juggernaut and many other opponents. When Thor kills Loki in single combat, he is banished by the Asgardian Heimdall (acting as temporary ruler of Asgard while Odin enters the Odinsleep) and replaced by the mortal Eric Masterson, who becomes the hero Thunderstrike. When Odin awakens, Thor is forgiven and returns. During a battle Thor is driven into a "warrior's madness" by a Valkyrie. After overpowering everyone who attempts to stop his rampage, Thor is brought by the Eternal Thanos before Odin, who cures his son of the madness.

Thor, together with Avengers; Fantastic Four and other heroes, becomes trapped in alternate universe after defeating against the villain Onslaught. The heroes live alternate lives for a year in what is revealed to be an artificial creation until returning to their own universe. Thor rejoins the Avengers; and with several members of the team battles the Destroyer. Thor is saved by an enigmatic being called "Marnot", who binds the life force of a mortal called Jake Olson to the thunder god. Thor enters into a war with the Dark Gods (with Marnot revealed to be Hescamer, one of Odin's ravens); battles the returning Enchanters Three and enters into a prolonged struggle against Thanos when he seeks to remake the universe.

2000s

File:Cover of Thor 3-1.jpg

Thor on the cover of the first issue of volume three showing his redesigned look by Oliver Coipel.

When Odin dies in battle against Surtur, Thor becomes ruler of Asgard. The thunder god extends his rule to Earth, with major repercussions. Thor and the Asgardians slay or imprison those who oppose them, including a young religious mutant called Davis; Zarrko the Tomorrow Man; Perrikus of the Dark Gods; the U.S. Government, and even his fellow Avengers. Thor marries Amora (the Enchantress), and has a son, Magni, who on reaching adulthood doubts his father's judgment. Wracked with guilt, Thor is drawn into battle with his former ally Tarene and the Destroyer (occupied by former foe Desak), and undoes the timeline via time travel.

When the timeline is reset, Loki revives Surtur, who forges new uru hammers for Loki's Storm Giant followers and begins Ragnarök. Thor learns that Ragnarok is the result of the self-styled "gods to the gods" known as Those Who Sit Above in Shadow, who feed on the cycle. Thor confronts the Norns (Fates), and severs the tapestry of Asgard's existence. After breaking the Ragnarok cycle and being advised by the Odinforce that this was his father's plan, Thor enters into hibernation. With his fate unknown to the Avengers, he is believed to be missing in action.

Thor's hammer Mjolnir is eventually found on Earth and put under U.S. Army protection. When the supervillain Doctor Doom escapes from Hell, Mjolnir falls through the dimensional plane, and Doom tries unsuccessfully to lift the hammer. Mjolnir then comes into the possession of a man carrying a bag with the initials "D.B". Donald Blake, upon touching the hammer Mjolnir, is transported to the void of non-existence in which Thor now resides. Blake explains that when Odin originally removed the Blake persona from Thor, Blake was consigned to the void that Thor now inhabits. When Thor entered that void, Blake was suddenly restored to being in New York City. Blake convinces Thor to wield Mjolnir once more, return to Earth, and renew the dual identity with Blake. Blake also reveals that Thor's fellow Asgardians are actually not dead but hidden on Earth.

Thor rebuilds Asgard in the state of Oklahoma, learns of the events of the Civil War and is angered that Tony Stark and others used his DNA to create a Thor clone in a battle between pro and anti-registration heroes. He battles Stark, managing to beat him. Thor accepts an offer by Stark for Asgard to be considered a foreign embassy, with diplomatic immunity granted to its inhabitants. Thor searches for his fellow Asgardians, and restores each with the exception of Sif, who is trapped in an old woman's body and escapes Thor's notice (Loki, being of Frost Giant blood and not an Æsir, is restored as a woman). The thunder god eventually searches for his father, and locates Odin in Valhalla, waging constant battle with the fire demon Surtur. Odin advises his son that Thor must lead the Asgardians.

During the events of the Secret Invasion, Thor rescues and heals ally Beta Ray Bill, who after being temporarily given Mjolnir, aids Thor in a battle against an invading force of alien Skrulls. Thor also participates in the final battle against the Skrull forces, and is forced to sacrifice Avenger ally the Wasp. Due to a deception by Loki, Thor battles and kills his grandfather Bor, and is banished from Asgard. With Thor's hammer Mjolnir damaged in that battle, Thor seeks out Doctor Strange, who is only able to repair the hammer by transferring the Odinforce from Thor to Mjolnir, binding the two in a symbiotic relationship. With the repaired hammer, Thor is able to draw out the imprisoned Sif.

2010s

During the events of the Siege storyline, Thor rushes to the defense of Asgard against Norman Osborn and his invading Dark Avengers. Although the invading forces are ultimately defeated, Asgard itself is toppled and Loki killed by the Sentry who in turn is killed by Thor. As result of the victory the Superhuman Registration Act is dissolved and Thor joins the rebranded Avengers, who came to his aid during the battle. The next day Balder lifts Thor's exile and appoints Thor as his adviser.

During the events of the Chaos War, Thor joins Hercules' God Squad to battle the Chaos King, who is set on destroying all of existence.

Powers and abilities

Like all Asgardians, Thor is not truly immortal but relies upon periodic consumption of the Golden Apples of Idunn to sustain his lifespan, which to date has lasted many millennia. Being the son of Odin and the elder goddess Gaea, Thor is physically the strongest of the Norse gods, and has performed such feats as almost lifting the entire World Serpent (stated to encircle the Earth multiple times) knocking out the Abomination with a single blow, crumbling uru to dust, breaking the Silver Surfer's force field with a single blow, and hurling the Odinsword, an enormous mystical blade of incalculable weight, through a Celestial. If pressed in battle, Thor is also capable of entering into a state known as the "Warrior's Madness" ("berserksgangr" in Norse), which will temporarily increase his strength tenfold, although in this state he attacks friend and foe alike. In the Warriors Madness he struck Beta Ray Bill with enough force to destroy the planet they were on. In early comics he showed the power to telepathically communicate with Odin while Don Blake.

Thor also possesses a very high resistance to physical injury that approaches invulnerability; (e.g. rocket fire; intense cold and heat; falls from orbital heights and the gravity of a neutron star) superhuman senses ("super-breath"); or break the dimensional barrier to prevent him from being sent to another dimension; ventriloquism; tracking objects traveling faster than light; hearing cries from the other side of the planet); his stamina allowed him to battle the entire Frost Giant army for Nine Months without any sustenance or rest; he can regenerate missing limbs or organs, with the aid of magical forces like Mjolnir, or the Odin Force; speed; agility and reflexes enabling him to deflect bullets with his hammer and make trenches before even Quicksilver could react. Thor has also shown the ability to regenerate when wounded. Like all Asgardians he has immunity to all Earthly diseases and some resistance to magic. However, exceptionally powerful magic , like Dormammu's, can overwhelm the enchantment that transforms him between immortal and mortal forms.

As the Norse god of Thunder, Thor can summon the elements of the storm (lightning; rain; wind; snow) and uses Mjolnir as a tool to focus this ability, although the hammer cannot command artificial weather. He can cause these weather effects all over the world and destroy entire buildings; by whirling his hammer he can also lift entire buildings with the wind. As the son of the Earth goddess Gaea, Thor has shown some control over the Earth.

Thor is a superb hand-to-hand combatant, and also skilled in armed combat, excelling in the use of the war hammer, sword and mace. Thor possesses two items which assist him in combat: the enchanted Belt of Strength, and his mystical hammer Mjolnir. The first item doubles Thor's strength and endurance while the second is used to control his weather abilities; flight; energy projection and absorption; dimensional travel; matter manipulation and the most powerful of his offensives, the God Blast (which taps into Thor's life force and has driven back a weakened Galactus), the Thermo-blast (which has challenged Ego the Living Planet), and the Anti-Force (which counteracts another force). Using Mjolnir, Thor can also travel at supersonic speeds in Earth's atmosphere and travel faster than light in space. Thor also uses a chariot drawn by two huge mystical goats called Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder. He can throw an object out of Earth's atmosphere using his strength, and throw his hammer to Asgard from where it will return.

After Odin's death, Thor inherited his father's power, the Odinforce. Thor becomes capable of feats such as reconstructing the Earth's Moon, willing the Asgardian monster Mangog into nothingness, and, by focusing his entire power into a hammer throw, decapitating a Desak-occupied Destroyer. Thor also acquires mastery of the Runes, and a level of enlightenment that allows him to free Asgard from the eternal cycle of Ragnarok.

Donald Blake is a highly trained and licensed physician and surgeon.

When Mjolnir was damaged, the Odinforce was transferred by Doctor Strange from Thor to the hammer, as Strange claims the power is required to restore it. However, doing so has also bound Thor's own life force into Mjolnir, meaning that if the hammer were to be broken again, Thor may also die.

Supporting characters

Main article: List of Thor supporting characters

Other versions

Main article: Alternate versions of Thor

There are several alternate universe versions of Thor.

In the limited series Earth X, Thor and the other Asgardians are members of a shapeshifting alien race, with forms and identities determined by the imagination of "Odin", a human Norse storyteller. Due to Loki's trickery, Thor is female in this universe.

In the MC2 title A-Next Thor is the King of Asgard, while Eric Masterson's son Kevin is a member of A-Next, a next-generation version of the Avengers.

The limited series Marvel 1602 is set in the 17th century, and a version of Thor appears with an alter ego of an elderly Christian monk named Donal — an allusion to Thor's original secret identity Donald Blake. Donal fears and despises his alter-ego, believing that summoning a non-Christian deity will damn him.

The Marvel 2099 title Spider-Man 2099 reveals the role of Thor is taken by Cecil MacAdam, who belongs to a class of priests known as "Thorites" and worship the original version of Thor.

As a result of the temporary "Age of Apocalypse", the title X-Universe #1 (May 1995) features a version of Donald Blake that never discovers he is the reincarnation of Thor, and is instead an agent of the Human High Council and a doctor, traveling with Gwen Stacy to provide aid in human refugee camps.

The limited series Thor Corps reveals that Dargo Ktor is the host of a 26th-century version of Thor while in the Marvel Mangaverse title Marvel Mangaverse: Avengers Assemble! Thor is virtually all-powerful and aids the heroes against an other-world version of the villain Dormammu.

In the limited series Marvel Zombies, set in Earth-2149, Thor appears as a cannibalistic zombie wielding a makeshift version of a hammer composed of a concrete block and pipe as he is no longer worthy to wield Mjolnir (how Dr. Blake retains Thor's powers is unknown);.

In the title Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham, Thor appears as a dog called Thrr, Dog of Thunder.

In the crossover series JLA/Avengers, Thor is one of the leading Avengers. At the beginning of the story he is forced to battle the Avengers after being possessed by The Star Conqueror and is the Avenger who first strikes, attacking Superman in Metropolis after the Avengers are told to stand down by Superman. He joins the Avengers in their quest to gain the artifacts, and in the Savage Land. After the two universes are merged after a battle between Krona, The Grandmaster, and Galactus, he remains a member of the Avengers, but is oblivious to the changes in the universe. He joins the combined forces of the Avengers and the Justice League against Krona. Near the end, he is overwhelmed by villains and gives his hammer to Superman, who uses it to break the final wall to Krona. Later Superman is unable to lift the hammer, and Thor says sometimes Odin allows others to lift it.

The Ultimate Marvel imprint title the Ultimates features a version of Thor who is generally not believed to be a god. Regarded as a delusional former mental patient, Thor proves his godhood when summoning an army of Asgardian warriors to fend off an attack by demonic forces commanded by Loki.

In the Next Avengers, he has taken is place as ruler after his father Odin had died. Torunn, his and Sif's daughter, is left on Earth in the care of Tony Stark along with the other Avenger children. At the end of the movie, he welcomes Torunn into the kingdom, but she turns the offer down as she wish to stay with her friends on earth.

In other media

Main article: Thor (Marvel Comics) in other media

External links

• Official website

Thor at the Marvel Universe wiki

• Larry Lieber interview, Alter Ego vol. 3, #2 (Fall 1999)
• Alan Kistler's History of Thor