Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, is special because he had to prove himself worthy to wield it. It’s surprising, then, that at least 17 other characters in Marvel comics have also been able to lift it. Mjolnir represents Thor’s status as a powerful Asgardian god, but it’s also a formidable weapon. Over the years, many heroes have used it to fight their battles. It harnesses the power of thunder and lightning, and is incredibly dangerous to anyone—god, alien, or human—who stands in its way.
Not everyone who managed to lift Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, was truly worthy, but they all had a purpose for trying and ultimately used it to achieve something. Interestingly, some of those who lifted it were surprisingly powerful, making even the lower ranks of this list quite remarkable.
18) Gwenpool
Gwenpool managed to lift the hammer Mjolnir by exploiting a loophole. What makes Gwenpool unique is her extensive knowledge of Earth-616’s superheroes – in her world, they were simply characters in comic books she used to read. She put this knowledge to use in *Gwenpool Strikes Back* #4 to achieve this feat.
Gwenpool found Thor’s detached arm and surprisingly slipped it onto her own, using it like a glove. This allowed her to wield Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, with his hand. It doesn’t really make sense – Thor was worthy of the hammer, not a dismembered arm – but as a funny, self-aware character, Gwenpool gets away with it. She used the arm to battle the Hulk.
17) Squirrel Girl
Squirrel Girl, a funny character in Marvel comics, also managed to lift Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer. While it seems just as strange as Gwenpool doing it, there’s actually a reason. In the comic *The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats up the Marvel Universe*, she fought a copy of herself and, seeing Mjolnir, simply picked it up, becoming the new Goddess of Thunder.
It might seem strange, but there’s a reason Squirrel Girl is so unique. She’s one of the nicest heroes in Marvel, and that kindness has actually let her defeat powerful villains – she even befriended Galactus! If anyone deserves to wield Thor’s hammer, it’s likely the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.
16) What If? Black Widow
Black Widow briefly lifted Mjolnir in the What If? Age of Ultron #3 comic book. However, as a What If…? story, it’s not considered part of the main Marvel universe. This event happened on an alternate Earth (Earth-14622) due to time travel by Wolverine, which created a disruption in the timeline. On this alternate Earth, Hank Pym created Ultron sooner, following the death of the Wasp, which sparked a massive war between Ultron and Earth’s heroes.
On one version of Earth, Thor perished before he could stop Ragnarok, leading to Asgard’s foes conquering the planet. As a result, Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, was selected to become the new Thor when she bravely sacrificed herself for the greater good. In the comics, she joined the Avengers Infinity team, though nearly everyone else on that Earth had already died.
15) Moon Knight
Moon Knight can wield Mjolnir, not because he’s deemed worthy, but because of what the hammer is made of. It was crafted by King Eitri and the dwarves of Nidavellir using Uru, a metal mined from the very first moon. This Uru is incredibly ancient, existing since the beginning of the universe, and while the hammer is enchanted to respond to those considered worthy, the Uru itself is the key to Moon Knight’s ability to lift it.
Moon Knight is the earthly form of Khonshu, the Egyptian moon god. In the storyline *Age of Khonshu*, Moon Knight actually fought the Avengers, attempting to take their powers to prevent Mephisto from taking over the world. During the battle, Moon Knight even stopped Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, in the air. He explained that Mjolnir was made of moon rock, giving him control over it, even without being worthy to wield it. While he couldn’t physically lift the hammer, he could still command it to do what he wanted.
14) Awesome Andy
As a huge comic book fan, I always found the story of Awesome Andy fascinating. He started as this incredibly powerful android created by the Mad Thinker, basically using blueprints stolen from Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four. For a while, he was a real menace, but what’s cool is he wasn’t inherently evil. He was being controlled! Eventually, he actually *learned* from watching Thor – he admired Thor’s sense of honor and decided to go straight. He became a genuinely good citizen, which is a pretty unique arc for a robot villain. I remember first reading about their clash in *She-Hulk* #14 – that issue really showcased the turning point for Andy.
The battle took an unexpected turn when it was revealed the Mad Thinker had given Awesome Andy the ability to copy the powers of anyone he fought, and he immediately used this ability on Thor. This meant Andy could even copy Thor’s worthiness and actually lift Mjolnir. But after reading the inscription on the hammer and realizing he didn’t truly deserve it, Andy began to fall. Thor caught him, spoke about the importance of honor, and the two then worked together to defeat the Mad Thinker.
13) Roger “Red” Norvell
In *Thor* #276, the God of Thunder faced off against Roger “Red” Norvell, a member of a film crew Loki transported to Asgard. While in Asgard, Thor gifted Red with his Belt of Strength, and Red then bathed in the Fires of Geirrodur and donned Thor’s Iron Gloves. These items gave him the power to lift Mjolnir.
Red fought Thor and briefly wielded Mjolnir by using special gloves, despite not being strong enough on his own. However, he began to lose control due to his selfish desires and obsession with Sif. Ultimately, Red assisted Thor in defending Asgard from Hela, giving his life in the process. Impressed by this sacrifice, Odin deemed him worthy and brought him back to life, granting him powers similar to Thor’s and a new hammer called Crusher.
12) Red Hulk
Red Hulk’s interaction with Mjolnir was unique. He didn’t actually *lift* the hammer, but rather gripped it tightly with immense strength. As revealed in *Hulk Vol. 2* #5, Red Hulk discovered that Mjolnir’s power relies on gravity – you can’t lift it without being worthy *if* gravity is present. However, without gravity, anyone can hold it, regardless of worthiness.
During his battle with Thor, Red Hulk unexpectedly grabs Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, while Thor is still holding it, and launches himself into the air. Because Thor doesn’t let go, the hammer comes with Red Hulk as he blasts off into space. Without gravity to hold them back, Red Hulk overpowers Thor in a fight, ultimately throwing both Thor and Mjolnir onto the surface of the moon.
11) Black Panther 1MM
It’s cool to remember that Black Panther once lifted Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, because they fought together as Avengers. This moment only appears in one comic panel, showing him holding it up. While that version of Black Panther seemed worthy, there’s never been any indication that the current T’Challa possesses that same ability.
10) Throg
Simon Walterson, a human who was magically transformed into a frog and renamed Puddlegulp, found himself caught in a conflict between frogs and rats in New York City. Surprisingly, he proved worthy of wielding Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer! As a result, he received a fragment of it, allowing him to create a superhero persona named Throg.
Simon’s life changed when he encountered Thor, who was also a frog at the time. They teamed up and fought side-by-side, and as a reward, Thor gave Simon a piece of silver that transformed him into Throg, the Frog Prince, as seen in *Mighty Thor* #700. Since then, Throg has demonstrated his abilities and become a member of the Thor Corps.
9) Steve Rogers
In *Avengers: Endgame*, Captain America surprisingly lifted Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, delighting fans and even Thor himself. But this wasn’t a complete surprise within the Marvel universe – Steve Rogers had actually lifted it before in the comics, even twice! The first time occurred when Thor was unconscious, and Captain America briefly wielded it as a weapon.
Captain America has lifted Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, on at least two occasions. The first time was in a comic book issue, and he returned it to Thor after using it to help win a fight. He also grabbed it when his shield was broken, needing a weapon. Given Steve Rogers’ selfless and heroic nature, it’s not surprising he’s been found worthy to wield it.
8) Storm
It’s not surprising Storm was able to lift Mjolnir. As a goddess with mutant powers, she completely controls the weather – including thunder and lightning. She temporarily lost her abilities around the same time Loki was scheming against Asgard. Loki took advantage of this by creating a new hammer, Stormcaster, and letting her wield it.
Although Storm initially gained abilities like Thor’s through the Stormcaster, she later abandoned that power source. Eventually, she ascended to become the Goddess of Thunder and clashed with Thor himself. Instead of harming him, she disarmed him, taking Mjolnir and using its power to destroy the Stormcaster. She skillfully wielded the hammer, causing significant damage.
7) Thunderstrike
Eric Masterson proved himself worthy of wielding Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, after Thor himself – a rare feat! This happened during a battle where a villain named Mongoose was about to kill Thor. Eric bravely lifted Mjolnir and saved Thor’s life, but tragically died in the process. Thor pleaded with his father, Odin, to bring Eric back. Odin agreed, but with a condition: Eric and Thor would have to become one being, with Eric serving as the human side and Thor as the superpowered hero.
This situation echoed a past event involving Donald Blake, but with a key difference: Eric was a genuinely real person – though he had passed away when the agreement was made. This arrangement only lasted for 24 comic book issues before Odin banished Thor, allowing Eric to continue living as Thor on Earth. Eventually, Thor returned, and Eric became a new hero called Thunderstrike, wielding a special mace of the same name. Sadly, Eric later died, but his son took up the mantle and continued his heroic work.
6) Jane Foster
As a huge comic book fan, I remember when Jane Foster became Thor – it was such a captivating storyline! The mystery of *who* was wielding the hammer kept everyone guessing, both the characters in the Marvel Universe and us readers. Jane had always been around in the Thor comics, initially as a love interest for Donald Blake and later as a dedicated nurse. But she was battling cancer, and things were looking grim. Meanwhile, the Allmother was searching for a worthy new hero, and the convergence of those two storylines was just brilliant.
The Allmother selected Jane to wield Mjolnir, transforming her into a new version of Thor. While she possessed similar abilities, there was a dangerous side effect: each transformation erased the chemotherapy drugs from her system, bringing her closer to death. Jane eventually returned Mjolnir to Thor and embraced the role of a Valkyrie.
5) Loki
Loki and Thor are adopted brothers, but Loki always resented Thor, knowing he was the rightful heir to the throne while Loki was seen as a disappointment by their father, Odin. This rivalry made them fierce enemies for many years. Although Loki has evolved into a more complex, antiheroic character in Marvel comics, they were once dedicated foes for decades.
During the events of *Avengers & X-Men: Axis* #9, a powerful spell flipped the moral alignments of everyone on Earth, turning heroes into villains and vice versa. This meant Thor became evil, while Loki surprisingly became good. The magic was so potent that Loki’s heart became truly pure, making him able to lift Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, and defeat Thor in a way he’d never experienced before. Ultimately, Thor had no memory of Loki ever being worthy enough to wield the hammer and win the fight.
4) Beta Ray Bill
Beta Ray Bill started as an alien who unexpectedly became a fan favorite in Marvel comics. Before meeting Thor, he was already a chosen leader of his people, the Korbinites. After a demon destroyed their home world, Bill set out to find them a new one, which led to a battle with Thor.
Thor once threw his hammer at a man named Bill, but surprisingly, Bill was able to catch it! This act transformed him into a new version of Thor, proving he was worthy of the power. Bill, motivated by a desire to protect others, eventually gave the hammer back to Thor. Impressed by Bill’s courage, Odin gifted him a different, powerful weapon called Stormbreaker, which he continues to use as a cosmic hero. Though not quite as strong as Thor, Beta Ray Bill is still considered one of the most powerful beings in the universe.
3) Venom
Venom and Eddie Brock are definitely not usually strong enough to lift Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer. But in the *King in Black* storyline, Venom actually did lift it to help defeat Knull and save Earth. He wasn’t able to do it on his own, though – a powerful god merged with Eddie and Venom, giving them the strength they needed.
After returning to Earth, the Enigma Force granted Venom the incredible powers of Captain Universe. With these abilities, Eddie Brock managed to take Mjolnir from Thor and the Silver Surfer’s board. Combining them, he created a powerful weapon and successfully defeated Knull, saving the universe. Afterwards, Venom returned both Mjolnir and the board to their rightful owners and gave up the Captain Universe powers.
2) Silver Surfer
The Silver Surfer is incredibly powerful, already ranking among the universe’s strongest beings thanks to the cosmic power granted by Galactus. He’s capable of battling even formidable opponents like Thanos, Adam Warlock, and Thor. However, in *Thanos* #16, he became even more powerful when he briefly wielded the enchanted hammer, Mjolnir.
This story is a Marvel alternate reality set within the ‘Thanos Wins’ universe. In it, one version of Thanos single-handedly fought both the Cosmic Ghost Rider and the Hulk using a powerful hammer. While he ultimately lost, he was incredibly strong – it took all three heroes just to attempt to defeat him.
1) Thor
Thor Odinson is undoubtedly the most powerful being to ever wield Mjolnir. He not only had to initially prove himself worthy of lifting the hammer, but he consistently demonstrated his strength and skill, surpassing all other Asgardian gods to truly master it. Throughout history, he’s consistently exceeded expectations.
Okay, let’s talk about Thor. This guy is seriously powerful, and we’ve seen it time and time again. I mean, he *killed* Galactus – yeah, he had a little cosmic boost at the time, but still! That’s a massive feat. And remember when he just completely wiped the floor with Iron Man, then casually mentioned he’d been holding back all along? It’s moments like those that really cement him as, alongside the Hulk, potentially the strongest hero Marvel has to offer. And Mjolnir? It’s not just a hammer, it’s a power amplifier. He’s a force to be reckoned with, plain and simple.
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2025-10-09 16:14