Top 10 Characters Who Have Lifted Thor's Hammer
For this mighty list, we're looking at characters besides the Odinson who have proven themselves worthy to lift Mjolnir. We're specifically looking at wielders of Thor's most iconic hammer, so those who have lifted hammers like Stormbreaker need not apply.
As it turns out, a lot of people are worthy! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Characters Who Have Lifted Thor's Hammer.
For this mighty list, we’re looking at characters besides the Odinson who have proven themselves worthy to lift Mjolnir. We’re specifically looking at wielders of Thor’s most iconic hammer, so those who have lifted hammers like Stormbreaker need not apply.
#10: The Silver Surfer
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You never know quite what the future will bring. In the far-flung future or one of many possible futures that the Marvel Universe has presented, the Mad Titan Thanos has returned to his old ways of trying to win the love of Mistress Death. In this future, Thanos has killed all the heroes of the Marvel Universe but one: the former herald of Galactus, who now also wields the hammer of Thor. Now dubbed “The Fallen One” and sporting a jet-black new look, the former surfer of the spaceways even gave Thanos such a hard time that the Titan summoned his younger self to aid in the battle, killing the Surfer by driving his head through Mjolnir’s handle. Rough.
#9: Black Widow
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In the alternate universe of Earth-23223, Thor was killed while fighting the World Serpent. This caused Ragnarok to begin ahead of schedule, which culminated in the God of Thunder’s hammer being eventually picked up by this red-headed super spy, who used her newfound powers to turn the tide of battle. This version of the character later teamed up with the denizens of other alternate worlds to battle Ultron, who had begun invading other realities. Various characters have similarly picked up Mjolnir in the pages of “What If” storylines, like the time that Thor bequeathed his trusty hammer to none other than Conan the Barbarian. What would Crom think??
#8: Thunderstrike
For a few years in the late 80s and early 90s, the mantle of the God of Thunder was held not by the Odinson, but this humble mortal, otherwise known as Eric Masterson. After briefly lifting Mjolnir, he was merged with Thor in order to save his life after being attacked by the villain Mongoose (yeah, we know). For some time, Thor and Masterson shared a body, but Thor was later banished for killing Loki. With no one else to defend Earth, Masterson was given sole control of Thor’s powers and identity. He later gives the mantle back when Thor inevitably returned, continuing his heroic career under a new name.
#7: Storm
Given her weather-controlling powers, this longtime X-Man is actually a pretty good fit to take over Thor’s duties as the lord of thunder. Unfortunately, she’s not that interested in taking the job. After being granted a hammer called Stormcaster by Loki, a new Goddess of Thunder was briefly born. But being smart enough to not accept gifts from the God of Mischief, she soon gave up her hammer and returned to normal. Years later she briefly took it up again, only to pick up Mjolnir and use it to smash her old hammer to bits.
#6: Awesome Android
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The logistics of artificially animated beings lifting Mjolnir, and if they really qualify as “worthy”, has been brought up a few times. Before The Vision was casually hefting Thor’s hammer, this block-headed android picked up the hammer himself. Created by the villain known as The Mad Thinker, the android was able to absorb the traits and powers of those it touched. When it happened to pick up Mjolnir, it absorbed some of Thor’s innate sense of goodness and heroism, causing it to rebel against its master. He then became an employee of Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg and Holliway, the law firm that helped clear the Android’s name. Comics are weird.
#5: Loki
The God of Mischief is about as upstanding and trustworthy as his title implies, but on a few occasions, he’s found himself fighting on the side of good. Once, thanks to a magic spell known as The Inversion, the notorious villain and his hated brother Thor even had their personalities inverted. Because of this, the newly virtuous trickster god became the god of truth instead and became worthy to lift his brother’s enchanted hammer. Thor, meanwhile, became a spiteful jerk and battled his now-heroic brother. Of course, it didn’t last, and the two eventually returned to their usual roles, with Mjolnir returning to its former owner.
#4: Jane Foster
After Thor lost his worthiness, and the ability to lift his hammer, the need arose for a new God of Thunder. Instead, we got a goddess! While her identity wasn’t revealed at first, a new, female Thor took the stage and began fighting the good fight. Readers eventually learned that the new Thor was, in fact, the longtime love interest of her predecessor, a former nurse who first appeared alongside Thor way back when the character debuted in 1962. The fact that Dr. Foster was dealing with cancer at the same time added a tragic layer to the story. With all the bravado and incredible power of her counterpart, this iteration of the character more than proved herself worthy of the mantle.
#3: Beta Ray Bill
A member of a race known as the Korbinites, this alien hero has proved himself to be one of Thor’s staunchest, and strangest, allies. After his people were attacked by the fire demon Surtur, this proud warrior was transformed into a mighty warrior in order to act as the guardian of his race. In a chance meeting with Thor, the alien warrior even proved himself worthy enough to lift Mjolnir! After becoming an ally to Asgard, he was granted his very own hammer by Odin, along with a set of Thor-esque armor. So yeah, one of Thor’s best buddies is a horse-faced alien who wears his clothes. Again, comics are weird.
#2: Superman
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While the Justice League of America and The Avengers have met a few times now, no crossover between the comics icons is more epic than this one. With their respective worlds about to collide, the heroes of two publishers teamed up in a once-in-a-lifetime event to battle the evil Krona and save all of reality. In a comic full of moments designed to make fanboys and girls squeal with joy, none can compare to the event’s defining moment: the Last Son of Krypton wielding both Captain America’s shield and Mjolnir, but only for a brief time.
#1: Captain America
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After years of fighting side-by-side as key members of The Avengers, Thor and the Star-Spangled Avenger have built up a deep respect for one another, and that’s only deepened with the revelation that Steve Rogers is one of the few beings worthy to lift Thor’s hammer. There have been a few instances of this, but the most epic is by far is from the culmination of the “Fear Itself” storyline. The forces of good beset upon by the daughter of the Red Skull, Cap turned the tide of battle by lifting Mjolnir and uttering the iconic Avengers rallying cry with a bolt of lightning for extra drama.
