Marvel Recycles Thor into a Female Character

Because they can’t just create a new character, Thor is suddenly no longer worthy of Mjolnir, and now a woman will be wielding the power of the god of thunder.

For some weird reason Marvel decided to announce that the next Thor will be a woman on The View. Sounds like they are trying to capitalize on the whole “she’s a strong, independent woman who don’t need no man” view, otherwise I don’t see how the The View is suddenly relevant in the comic book world.

.@Marvel announces that Thor is no longer worthy of Mjolnir, and now a woman will be wielding the mighty Uru Hammer! #TheView

— The View (@theviewtv) July 15, 2014

Anyway, here’s some preliminary designs.

It’s interesting to note the helmet covers the top portion of her face, while the chest plate has breasts, and the belly and shoulders are exposed, making them perfect for stabbing.

Anyway, this seems like something poorly concocted, not because it is now going to be a female character, but because the previous Thor is not dead, but just unworthy of wielding Meowmeow, I mean, Mjolnir. Thor kind of goes through a phase of unworthiness at least once a year.

Here’s the official press release:

Marvel is excited to announce an all-new era for the God of Thunder in brand new series, THOR, written by Jason Aaron (Thor: God of Thunder, Original Sin) complimented with art from Russell Dauterman (Cyclops).

This October, Marvel Comics evolves once again in one of the most shocking and exciting changes ever to shake one of Marvel’s “big three” – Captain America, Iron Man and Thor – Marvel Comics will be introducing an all-new THOR, GOD OF THUNDER. No longer is the classic male hero able to hold the mighty hammer, Mjölnir, a brand new female hero will emerge who will be worthy of the name THOR. Who is she? Where did she come from and what is her connection to Asgard and the Marvel Universe?

“The inscription on Thor’s hammer reads ‘Whosoever holds this hammer, if HE be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.’ Well it’s time to update that inscription,” says Marvel editor Wil Moss. “The new Thor continues Marvel’s proud tradition of strong female characters like Captain Marvel, Storm, Black Widow and more. And this new Thor isn’t a temporary female substitute – she’s now the one and only Thor, and she is worthy!”

Series writer Jason Aaron emphasizes, “This is not She-Thor. This is not Lady Thor. This is not Thorita. This is THOR. This is the THOR of the Marvel Universe. But it’s unlike any Thor we’ve ever seen before.”

THOR is the latest in the ever-growing and long list of female-centric titles that continues to invite new readers into the Marvel Universe. This female THOR is the 8th title to feature a lead female protagonist and aims to speak directly to an audience that long was not the target for Super Hero comic books in America: women and girls.

So, the problem now lies in the fact that Thor at some point will be worthy of wielding his hammer again, so then what? And more importantly, how can there be two Thors at once? They’re gonna have to either make the previous Thor disappear, or come up with a BS name that nobody knew he had.

Personally, I don’t really have a problem with a female Thor, but the fact that Marvel has to recycle one of their most iconic characters like this makes it sound like they’re really running out of ideas.

The press release part about the “if HE be worthy” inscription on the hammer makes me laugh, mostly because there have been different versions of Thor during the years, and at least two of them have been women; X-Men’s Storm, and DC Comics Wonder Woman.

First, Ororo Munroe, aka Storm, held the hammer in of the Marvel’s “What If” series: What If Volume 2 #12.

Then, there’s Wonder Woman in on of Marvel vs DC Comics crossovers.

Even if they are not continuity, they were able to lift Mjolnir, so the thing about “updating” the inscription on the hammer is unnecessary. By the way, I noticed every time Wonder Woman transforms due to some kind of cosmic power, her suit transforms into a really skimpy bikini 😉

In any case I wish them luck. I’m also kind of wondering how this will affect sales. Considering the fact Marvel loves forcing the cinematic universe’s continuity on the regular comic continuity, would transforming Thor into a female character while the cinematic version is male (and without using a mortal human host) have consequences on sales? We’ll see in about a year, if this comic series gets cancelled by then we’ll know why.