(PCM) The female Thor that took over for …uh Thor in 2014 after the Original Sin storyline is non-other than Jane Foster. Yes. Jane Foster is Thor. And no, this isn’t a call back to the 1978 What if.. (Vol. 1 #10) where Jane Foster is Thor. Jane Foster is the new Lady Thor.
Some thought it would be S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Roz Solomon. In issue #4 we found out the new Thor is not Thor’s mother as when Thor asked if she was his mother, the new Thor’s response was to kiss him. Many are now vindicated and called Jane Foster as Thor for months. But shouldn’t Thor have recognized Jane’s kiss in issue #4? Read up about this big reveal today In Thor #8.
What? All this is confusing to you? Well the way it apparently works is not only if you can pick up Thor’s hammer Mjolnir are you as worthy as Thor, you also take his name. Where at one time Marvel designated Thor as Odinson’s sir name, but now Thor is mere title.
In 2014 Thor was deemed unworthy of wielding his weapon. Seem lame? That is comic books. It’s more than escapism at its best, it is often a game of playing with characters and re-appropriating them. Who is Jane Foster? See the photo below of Natalie Portman as the good doctor Jane Foster from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) if you are having trouble placing the character.
With the identity of the female Thor established, the big question of will she live is in play. Remember this is the original print universe of Marvel, not the movies. In print, Jane had been diagnosed with cancer. Is Jane’s cancer in remission while being Thor? Will the act of being Thor have cured her?
As Thor Odinson… No wait now just Odinson (He can’t be called Thor if he’s not worthy) has loved Jane, how will he operate now that he knows the woman he’s loved is Thor. One big question is how did he not know all these months?
Marvel is going to work this for all it is worth. Be sure!
Generally these things last at least a year. Think Death of Superman, Batman’s broken back. Spider-Man clone saga, Death of Captain America, Wolverine! The list goes on. Odinson will be back as Thor one day. For now Jane is flying high with the All New, All Different Affirmative Action Avengers!
That reveal is clear with the free issue of the New Avengers given out on Free Comic Book Day 2015. So while the Secret Wars continues on, we know Jane will survive to continue on as Thor.
Is there truth in taking Thor’s name if you can lift the enchanted Mjolnir? No, not really. Here are few that have lifted Mjolnir and not taken the name of Thor: Beta Ray Bill. Hulk and Red Hulk, Bor, Magneto, Conan, Hercules, Jake Olsen, Eric Masterson and Red Norvell. Seems this thing is easy for just about any superhero to wield. Even cross over super heroes from DC have got in on the action. both Superman and Wonder Woman have picked up Mjolnir.
The list of Marvel characters goes on. Wonder Man, Thunderstrike, Throg (Thor as a frog), Rogue, Storm, Awesome Andy, Air Walker and even Captain America. Yes that is why in Age of Ultron (2016) Steve Rogers made Mjolnir shimmy on the table. From the future, Thor’s son Magni.
This list can go on. Got one?