#ComicBytes: 5 Marvel characters who lifted Thor's hammer
"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor." The message is clear. Only the worthy can lift Mjolnir, Thor's Asgardian hammer. However, we have already seen Vision lifting the hammer in Marvel's cinematic universe. Thor's hammer, though notoriously difficult, has been picked up on various occasions, by different characters. We bring you five Marvel characters who lifted Mjolnir.
Thor's hammer—per the inscription—can only be wielded by a worthy "he" or a man. However, several women have lifted Thor's hammer, including Black Widow, Jane Foster, X-Men's Storm, and DC's Wonder Woman. Our list of hammer lifters is based on its strangeness and excludes Vision.
Beta Ray Bill deserves special mention as the first character to lift Thor's hammer, outside Marvel's Norse mythology. Bill was the chosen protector of Korbinites, an alien race. He tangled with Thor over a misunderstanding and managed to wield Mjolnir's power. When Odin made Thor and Bill fight for the hammer, Bill won. As a result, Odin gave him Stormbreaker, a similar hammer.
Despite the hammer's inscription, "unworthy" characters, or villains have been able to lift Thor's hammer. Magneto lifted the hammer once by cheating in Marvel's Ultimate Universe. He changed the electromagnetic field around the hammer to wield it. Notably, when Magneto tried the same in Marvel's regular universe, he failed, as the hammer made of alien Uru metal, is resistant to Magneto's manipulation.
The Avengers joke about whether Hulk is stronger or Thor. Whatever the answer, Hulk has never been able to lift Thor's hammer in films. However, in the comics, Red Hulk was a different beast. He completely thrashed Thor in single combat. During a battle in space, Red Hulk used the lack of gravity and his own strength to smash Thor with Mjolnir.
No one could be further from lifting the hammer than Thor's adopted brother and god of mischief, Loki. However, in comics, an inversion spell was cast to counter the Red Skull. It turned the heroes into villains and vice versa. Loki found himself to be worthy of Mjolnir after years of jealousy and hatred towards Thor. He wielded the hammer for a short time.
If anyone is worthy to wield Mjolnir apart from Thor, it is Captain America. In the comic run, Captain had lifted Thor's hammer in 1988 when ambushed by Grog and demons of death. In the 'Fear Itself' run, Steve Rogers managed to have his shield shattered. However, he lifted Thor's hammer and rallied the rest of the team to fight Serpent and his minions.
