The Marvel universe traces the adventure of various heroes, often fighting evil coming from other planets or dimensions. In the Marvel MCU, one of the main characters is one of our favorites: Thor.
Of course, as fans of Norse mythology and Marvel, this Norse god can only please us. In Marvel, there are 2 types of films:
- Films dedicated to each hero, each fighting a threat separately. In this category, Thor has 4 films to his name.
- The Avengers, where all the superheroes unite their forces to fight a threat too strong for any one of them alone. In this category, Thor is featured in all 4 films.
THE STORY OF THOR IN MARVEL
We prefer to warn you, beware of spoilers. If you haven’t seen the Thor films yet, go watch them and come back to this article afterwards.
Chapter 1: Thor’s Disinheritance
To know Thor’s story, we have to go back to 965. At that time, Odin, Thor’s father, was already king of Asgard. One of their greatest threats were the frost giants who threatened to plunge the earth into an apocalypse. To do this, they possessed the chest of ancient winters: a source of energy so powerful it could destroy a planet.
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Odin arrived with his army and pushed the giants off Earth and took the opportunity to recover the coveted chest to lock it away safely. This threat disappeared from the radar until the moment Thor was to become king.
Indeed, Thor was to inherit his father’s throne and become king of Asgard, but during the ceremony, three Jotuns tried to steal the chest, failing against the Asgardian army. Thor was determined to take revenge for this act he deemed unforgivable, but his father refused, judging the risk not worth it. Thirsty for blood, he disobeyed his father and took 4 friends with him: Sif, Volstagg, Fandrall, and Hogun.
The 5 warriors arrived in Jotunheim, defeating every enemy in their path. The difference in numbers was too great, and they found themselves trapped, backed against a cliff, where a fall would mean certain death. It was at this moment that Odin arrived, saving them and bringing them safely back to Asgard.
Upon his return, Odin was so disappointed in Thor and his friends that he decided not only to forbid him from the throne but also to strip him of all his powers and exile him to Earth. His hammer Mjolnir was also sent to Earth, but after Odin’s disenchantment, it became unusable.
Chapter 2: Arrival on Earth
Thor landed in New Mexico, near Puente Antigo. His arrival created a tornado and such impressive disturbances that all the local scientists were alerted, especially three: Jane Foster, Darcy Lewis, and Erik Selvig. In the rush, the three scientists knocked over the former god and decided to take him in. However, a new alert spread throughout the village: a metallic object had appeared in the middle of the desert, creating a huge crater. According to rumors, this object seemed to be a hammer.
Thor immediately made the connection and rushed to the site, knowing he was the only one capable of lifting it. However, no longer being worthy, the hammer did not move an inch.
Hardly had he turned to leave when a government agency called SHIELD arrived on the scene and secured the area, forbidding public access. Thor, disheartened, understood that he was destined to spend his life on Earth as a mortal.
Chapter 3: The Beginning of the Problems
Meanwhile, in Asgard, Loki discovers that he is not actually Odin’s son but the son of Laufey, the frost giant, and was adopted by Odin during a battle. Devastated by the news, he swore allegiance to his biological family and gave Laufey the opportunity to kill Odin. Thor’s friends, realizing Loki’s actions, went to find him on Earth while Loki was named king in his brother’s absence.
Loki understood the plan of Thor’s friends well and decided to sabotage them by sending the Destroyer: a giant robot whose purpose was to kill Thor. The Asgardians managed to defeat the robot after a long battle, restoring Thor’s dignity and recovering Mjolnir.
Devastated, Loki then decided to unleash his hatred on his new family by trying to kill Laufey. A new battle broke out between the two brothers, which Odin had to separate. Loki was so disappointed that he decided to commit suicide by jumping into the vortex. Thor admitted to his father that he recognized his mistakes and was not ready to be king.
Chapter 4: His Life as the New God
Thor spent the rest of his life alternating between Earth and Asgard, watching over his family as well as his new friend, for whom he seems to have feelings: Jane Foster. Later (in an Avengers film), Loki reappears and is sentenced to life imprisonment in Asgard.
Chapter 5: Thor Against the Dark Elves
While Thor continued living his quiet godly life, Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifrost, warned Odin’s son that he no longer saw Jane (indeed, the guardian could watch over all 9 worlds with his magical eye).
During her studies, Jane had accidentally come across a portal leading to another world and found herself trapped there. Thor eventually found her and brought her back to Asgard to heal her. It was discovered that she was actually possessed by the Aether, a source of energy once possessed by the dark elves.
The source of the Aether caught the attention of Malekith, the king of the dark elves, who could sense it was in Asgard. He decided to send one of his men, disguised as Kurse, to destroy Asgard’s defenses to allow the full army to invade Odin’s city. He succeeded, sparking a battle. The Asgardians, unprepared to fight, had to flee, and Frigga, Thor’s mother, lost her life defending Jane.
Thor then went to fight Malekith. The battle was so long it took place across several worlds, until Thor finally managed to send the elf to the dark world and close the portal on him. At the end of the battle, he was congratulated and offered the throne of Asgard, which he once again refused.
CONCLUSION
Marvel has retraced the story of the Norse god, adding its own elements. For purists of Norse culture, these films should not be taken literally but rather as a way to introduce this culture to the general public.
