Fascinating Facts About the Thunder God Thor (Marvel)

Based on the dialogues in the film, one might think that Thor, Loki, and Odin are gods. While they possess certain divine qualities such as strength and longevity, not only is Thor not a god, but no Asgardian is.

In fact, Thor is not even immortal—a characteristic often associated with the title 'God of Thunder.' Asgardians sustain their enduring life and superhero strength by consuming the Golden Apples of Idunn. When Thor or any Asgardian feels their power/energy waning, they simply take a bite of a Golden Apple, effortlessly restoring themselves to superhero status.

Chris Hemsworth wasn't the originator of the Thor tale. Legendary comic book creator Stan Lee introduced the character of God of Thunder in 1962. Lee unveiled Thor for the first time in the comic collection titled Journey into Mystery #83. Initially, this collection debuted as a horror-fantasy illustration for both Marvel Comics and Atlas Comics. However, Journey into Mystery later focused primarily on Thor's story. The second edition of Journey into Mystery was launched in 1972 with a total of 19 print releases. The new Thor comic continued the legacy of its predecessor in the Journey into Mystery series.

If you happen to have an old comic book collection tucked away in your attic, check to see if it includes those distinctive early Thor editions. While comic book prices fluctuate, Journey into Mystery #83 is currently being sold for $2,500 to $4,500 on eBay.

Forged by Dwarven blacksmiths as a gift to the gods, Mjolnir is

Thor's weapon of choice. It possesses powerful mystical energies, including the ability to summon light, wind, and rain by striking its handle on the ground, manipulate weather, alter matter, and transform its wielder into a different guise. One side of Mjolnir bears an inscription that reads: 'Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.'

However, Mjolnir is not the only weapon in Thor's arsenal. The God of Thunder also wields a belt containing mysterious strength, doubling his power when worn. And Thor's magic iron gloves enable him to lift and wield Mjolnir. These tools play a crucial role in Thor's combat capabilities, allowing him to take on a multitude of foes at once.

There's an undeniable similarity between Thor (and other Asgardians) and Norse Mythology. In 2002, Stan Lee confirmed that Thor is largely based on Norse Mythology. Lee envisioned a superhero mightier than any living being on Earth. To accomplish this task, he drew parallels between Thor and Norse deities.

“How do you create someone stronger than the strongest person? The ultimate answer finally came to me: Don't create a human—turn him into a god. Readers are probably familiar with Greek and Roman gods. It seemed intriguing to delve into the ancient Norse myths... Additionally, I depicted the Norse gods resembling ancient Vikings, with long beards, horned helmets, and war staffs,” – Lee said.

Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, possesses a magical enchantment preventing just any Joe from lifting it – and that could be the perfect deterrent against those seeking to wield its immense power without the worthy spirit. Only those deemed worthy of its power can lift Mjolnir, including Thor, as well as a few individuals with supernatural strength. Captain America successfully lifted Mjolnir (much to Thor's displeasure).

Beta Ray Bill, an extraterrestrial being, also lifted Thor's hammer for a brief period. Even Throg, a frog, has managed to lift Mjolnir. Sadly, we haven't seen Hulk harness the hammer's powers, but it's definitely a cool story waiting to unfold!

Thor is one of the founding members of the Marvel superhero team, the Avengers. Lee and Kirby introduced God of Thunder in The Avengers #1 (1963), marking the debut of this superhero ensemble. Since then, Thor has remained a part of the Avengers series, appearing in both comics and films.

Comic writer Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman brought forth the 4th installment of Thor, hitting shelves worldwide in October 2014. What sets this version apart (aside from a new storyline) is that the character wielding Thor's powers is female. Aaron and Dauterman emphasize that this isn't a Thor remake but an addition to the existing Thor comics. In this extended tale, Thor is no longer able to lift and wield Mjolnir, at which point, a mysterious woman steps in to fill the role of Thor.

Explaining his decision in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Jason Aaron said, “This was all my idea. It’s not like Marvel came to me and said, 'We want you to change the character to a woman. Any woman will do.' It’s just me having a story that I wanted to tell. Not just about her lifting the hammer. Also not just about the mystery of who she is. Even when you find out who she is, that’s not the end of the story, that’s really just the beginning. So, there’s a whole story in my head for her,”

Thor bears the responsibility for the demise of countless foes each year, including his own brother and father. In the 1990s comics, Thor killed Loki in a fierce battle between the two. Heimdall, temporarily ruling Asgard in Odin's absence, banished Thor for his actions. Thor was only allowed back into Asgard to slay Loki when Odin woke up from his slumber—oh, and Loki was resurrected, just for the drama?

In the Secret Invasion storyline, Thor inadvertently killed his own father, Bor. Thor believed he was battling Skrull invaders, defending Earth and its divine inhabitants, but it was all a ruse orchestrated by Loki. After Thor killed Bor, the God of Thunder was once again banished from Asgard. And it led to a major problem—Thor's enchanted hammer, Mjolnir, was damaged during this period.

Whether you're a loyal reader of Thor comics or just a movie enthusiast, you can easily discern Thor's slight fondness for Earth and its inhabitants. But why does the God of Thunder express such sentiments towards Earth? No other Asgardian seems to do the same for this planet.

Well, the reason behind Thor's connection to Earth stems from the influence of his mother. Thor is the son of Odin and a woman from Earth, leading to the Marvel Universe's Earth Mother, Queen Gaea. Initially, Thor believed Frigga to be his mother, but the truth eventually unfolded that Gaea was Thor's true mother. Surely, it was quite a shock for the God of Thunder, who had denied this information until Odin confirmed it to be true.