For decades Thor’s hammer has been unliftable by those “unworthy”. But, in the comics, several very unworthy people have lifted and used Mjolnir.
There are lots of “rules” set in comic books that get broken by creative writers. Nothing can break Captain America’s shield. Batman can’t beat Superman. No one unworthy can lift Thor’s hammer.
In Avengers: Endgame Captain America lifts the hammer of Thor. Thor says “I knew it!” But who else can lift his special hammer? Here’s a list of supervillains, and some who used to be supervillains, that have lifted Thor’s hammer for various reasons.
1. Magneto (The Ultimates 3 #5)
Magneto’s powers over magnetism allow him to control any metal. That includes the hammer made of Uru metal Mjolnir. Sort of.
In Journey Into Mystery #109 (1965) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby he’s doesn’t lift the hammer but is able to stop it in flight using his control of magnetism. In Ultimates 3 #5 gets control of it in a more direct way. He uses his power over magnetism to control the electromagnetic field around the hammer and use it.
Bear in mind this is the Ultimate universe and the rules over the hammer may not be the same. Or Magneto’s powers may work differently in that universe. Either way, Thor’s hammer in Magneto’s hands almost wiped out the planet.
2. Loki (Avengers & X-Men: Axis #9)
Thor’s evil brother Loki has been jealous of him since the beginning. In the movie, he tried to lift it and failed. But in the comics, he gets a chance to use it in an altered reality. In the 2014 AXIS storyline, Red Skull and Onslaught infect the world with hate. Scarlet Witch and Doctor Doom accidentally invert the world. They turn heroes into villains and villains into heroes.
When being chased by evil Thor, Loki desperately decides to try and lift the hammer. It works and he discovers that his inverted state means he’s now worthy.
3. Black Widow (What if… Age of Ultron #3)
In the movie Age of Ultron, some of the Avengers try to lift the hammer but Black Widow begs off trying. But maybe she could have lifted it after all.
Black Widow is best known as a hero with a checkered past in the movies. But in the comics, she has a long history as a master assassin and a villain. She actually uses the hammer on two occasions.
Back in 1994, there was an alternate reality comic book series called “What If”. In issue #66 (Simon Furman, John Royle) Rogue is a member of the “Brotherhood of Evil Mutants” and uses her power-stealing ability to take all of his power.
He becomes a vegetable. She gets the hammer. Rogue later has a vision of Thor who encourages her to become the new Thor and she becomes the goddess of Thunder.
In the 2014 comic What if… Age of Ultron #3 by Joe Keatinge, Mico Suayan, and Raffaele Ienco the world is under assault by The Midgard Serpent. The creature kills Thor and the world is plunged into darkness. But while Natasha is visiting the site of his death she discovers she can now wield Thor’s hammer. She’s proven herself worthy and becomes the new Thor.
4. Ragnarok (Dark Avengers #189)
During the “Civil War” event, Tony Stark made a clone of Thor to fight with the other side. Unfortunately, the process made an unstable murderer that would later be known as Ragnarok. In this universe, he was a villain but in another universe he found redemption.
In an alternate universe, Thor is dead. Ragnarok is under the control of an evil Tony Stark and Doctor Strange but he realizes he’s on the wrong side. Ragnarok goes to where Mjolnir rests and decides to try and lift it saying he might be worthy or his bloodline may allow it. He does and Mjolnir gives him a new costume and he becomes a hero.
5. Rogue (What if…Rogue Possessed the Power of Thor? #66)
For decades Marvel published a comic book series that allowed the creators to tell stories outside the Marvel Universe based on intriguing questions. In 1994, the comic showed an alternate reality where the X-Men hero Rogue is a member of the evil Brotherhood of Mutants. During a fight with the Avengers, she uses her power-stealing ability to take the power of Thor. It leaves him in a vegetative state.
Despite the hammer’s “enchantment” she’s able to lift it and use it to defeat the Avengers. Eventually, Thor comes from the astral plane and convinces her the hammer found her worthy and to become the new Thor.
6. Red Hulk (Hulk #5)
Hulk’s long-time nemesis General “Thunderbolt” Ross is given the ability to transform into Red Hulk AKA Rulk, by the organizations A.I.M. and the Intelligencia. Red Hulk is as strong and big as the Hulk, but a better thinker.
In Hulk #5 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, he gets the chance at the hammer. Rulk’s fighting Thor when he grabs the hammer and leaps into space. Since Thor’s holding Mjolnir he’s technically lifting the hammer into space. Since there’s no gravity he uses the hammer to beat the snot out of Thor.
7. Air-Walker (Thor #305)
Nova Corps Captain Gabriel Lyn AKA Air-Walker is a herald of Galactus. In the 1966 comic Thor #305, he wakes up to find Galactus had been defeated and Silver Surfer has gone.
While he was whipping up a cosmic storm to draw out the Surfer he ran into Thor. When the god of thunder tried to throw Mjolnir at him Air-Walker catches it. Thor is shocked till he remembers the hammer can only be lifted by a living being found worthy. Since Air-Walker isn’t a human but an android he’s able to lift the hammer.
Not only can he lift the hammer but he KOs the God of Thunder. Only the pleading of a little boy he befriended stops him from killing Thor.
8. Silver Surfer (Thanos #16)
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| Thanos #16 (2016) |
Silver Surfer has a long history as a hero. But he started out as a villain helping Galactus to destroy the Earth. He was feared throughout the universe for helping kill countless billions. But the Fantastic Four help him turn to the right side of justice.
In Thanos #16 the mad Titan succeeds in killing every sentient being in the universe. He makes himself King of the Universe at the end of time. Thanos sets up the battle royale against the “Fallen One” which turns out to be Norrin Radd the Silver Surfer.
What has Galactus’ herald been working on all this time? He simply says “becoming worthy” and calls Mjolnir. He fights a glorious battle but I won’t spoil how it ends.
9. The Destroyer (Thor #7)
The Destroyer is a suit of armor forged by Odin to fight against dark forces. While it’s not evil in itself it’s been used by villains like Loki and Galactus. In the first Thor movie, he had to fight Destroyer from demolishing a small town.
In 2015s Thor #7 (Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman) brought the Destroyer armor back. When Thor Odinson was found unworthy for a time Jane Foster took over as Thor. Odin isn’t happy about it and sends his armor known as Destroyer to get Mjolnir back. Destroyer is controlled by his brother Cul Borson aka The Serpent.
Foster throws her hammer to destroy the armor and is shocked to discover it picked Mjolnir up. Turns out since the armor isn’t alive it can use it.
10. Bor (Thor #600)
Bor is the former ruler of Asgard and the paternal grandfather of Thor and Loki. He was presumed dead for thousands of years, but he’s revived in New York City by Loki.
In the 2009 comic Thor #600 (J. Michael Straczynski, Olivier Coipel, and Marko Djurdjevic) he’s driven mad by his confusion and Loki’s trickery. He decides to fight a war for Midgard. Thor fights him and is shocked when his grandfather catches his hammer and throws it aside.
The comic never does explain why but presumably the hammer only effects those born after it’s creation. That or his status as the grandfather of Thor Odinson granted him the power.
Who do you think is the most unworthy person to wield Thor’s hammer? Let us know in the comments below!
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