Unworthy Thor Is The Best Marvel Hero The MCU Has Never Been Able To Do Properly

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There is no telling what the future will bring for Chris Hemsworth’s role in the MCU, but could The Unworthy Thor finally be the answer? Anything seems possible given what Marvel Studios is planning for Avengers: Doomsday, which means renewed hopes of seeing the best Thor epic finally brough to life on the big screen.

With theories surrounding everything from Thor’s potential death in the MCU to another reinvention of the character, more and more comic fans are pointing to the acclaimed Unworthy Thor storyline from Marvel Comics as the answer. The argument makes sense, and there’s no denying that Chris Hemsworth in Unworthy Thor’s costuume would make headlines. But the biggest problem? An ‘Unworthy Thor’ is the first one audiences were introduced to, and Marvel has only made a film version of the comic more impossible with every movie since.

The MCU Has Already Delivered An ‘Unworthy’ Thor

The creative team behind the first Thor movie recognized that stripping the god of thunder of his hammer, his title, and all of his power made for a compelling story. How better to prove Thor is a hero then to remove his powers, and see him become one anyway? And to Marvel Studios’ credit, this crisis of identity and acceptance of humility and purpose was several years before The Unworthy Thor even began in the comics.

The stories differ, with the comic version taking place well into Thor’s career as a superhero and Avenger, adding impact (and mystery) to his sudden unworthiness of Mjolnir. But director Kenneth Branagh and star Chris Hemsworth succeeded in making Thor a complex, tortured, and ultimately humble demigod, succeeding for all the same reasons The Unworthy Thor was lauded in the pages of Marvel Comics. But since then, Thor has… changed.

After Taking Mjolnir Away From Thor, The MCU Played It For Comedy, Not Drama

Unfortunately for anyone looking to bring a version of an Unworthy Thor to life on screen, consider how far Hemsworth’s hero has strayed from this humble characterization and realize just how out of reach a return now seems for the MCU. After all, the second time Marvel decided to explore what losing Mjolnir would mean for the god of thunder resulted in the regrettable “Fat Thor” of Avengers: Endgame, turning his character into a walking joke instead.

But whatever your feelings about Thor’s journey from his first movie to Love and Thunder, the fact remains: the MCU has explored what would happen if Thor lost his powers not once, not twice, but three times already. So even if ‘the fourth time was the charm,’ the biggest challenge to adapting a version of Unworthy Thor faithfully to film is the Marvel brand itself.

The Unworthy Thor is Now The Opposite of The MCU

A Violent, Bloody, And Arm-Removing Mission That Disney Will Never Allow

It might seem reductive, or even be viewed as giving Marvel Studios a pass to say that The Unworthy Thor is simply ‘too mature’ to adapt accurately, completely, or correctly. But take one look at the story from Jason Aaron, Olivier Coipel, and Matthew Wilson, and it’s hard to disagree. Considering that comic books are written for a predominantly adult audience, it makes sense for Thor to respond to his sudden unworthiness the way any Norse god would. By turning to alcohol, endless slaughter of trolls and giants, and a surly, unheroic attitude.

But those are all ruled out by Marvel’s existence as a Disney brand, required to appeal to all quadrants as ‘family friendly’ adventure. To remove the “adult” response to Thor’s unworthiness would be unfaithful to the story, and to remove the blood and brutality into which Thor regresses would be to remove all of the story’s power. And that begins with explaining how the former Avenger ends up in need of a new, artificial, metallic arm.

The MCU Version of Unworthy Thor Would Need To Be Funny, Missing The Point

When facing off against Malekith the Dark Elf in his Mjolnirless, unworthy state, Thor’s anger proves to be his downfall. Making a joke of his unworthiness, Malekith slices Thor’s arm clean off, and keeps it as a souvenir. The Dwarves come to the rescue, but Thor’s metal arm (forged out of Uru, same as Mjolnir) is a reminder and physical manifestation of his loss, not just an awesome new character design. Sure, it can be both, but not in the Disney-approved version of the character.

Fans need look no further than Thor’s eye being bloodlessly destroyed by Hela in the climactic battle of Thor: Ragnarok… to soon be used as comic relief, and rapidly replaced in Avengers: Infinity War. There’s no denying that in its darkest moments, the MCU depiction of Thor has approached the mature, serious tone that his Unworthy era demands. But the Marvel need to undercut seriousness with comedy wouldn’t just harm an Unworthy Thor, but completely miss the point.

The MCU Completely Erased What ‘Being Worthy of Mjolnir’ Even Means

Of course, the most tangible problem with the MCU adapting a faithful version of an Unworthy Thor is that the films have intentionally erased the lore surrounding Mjolnir’s ‘worthiness’ requirement altogether. The first movie followed the spirit of the story faithfully, beginning with Thor seemingly possessing all his Asgardian strength and lightning powers innately, but being stripped of them by Odin until he proved worthy. Thus renewing his humility every time he raised the hammer.

Since then, the MCU has contradicted, twisted, or erased this idea. Mjolnir being shattered in Thor: Ragnarok was a deception, with Thor realizing he possessed his powers all along. Infinity War suggested Thor needed a hammer to channel his power after all, but any magic hammer (or axe) would do. Finally, Love and Thunder backtracked to turn anyone worthy into Thor. But Thor is still Thor, with or without Mjolnir, meaning there is no longer anything for him to be ‘unworthy’ of.

If Unworthy Thor Joins The MCU, It Only Means His Costume

It will be disappointing for fans of Marvel Comics to hear, but given his existing MCU baggage, the idea of Avengers: Doomsday or even a future Thor 5 featuring or adapting an Unworthy Thor would primarily refer to his design. The longer beard, minimal or non-existent armor, red cloak, and black metal arm are all just visual cues of the brutal story, best paired with a more serious persona (ironically best captured by Hemsworth’s earlier Thor performances, before becoming a comedic character). But the costume design is where the similarities will end.

Even if Marvel Studios, or a new team of filmmakers sought to be faithful to the Unworthy Thor of the comics, the existing movies make that impossible. Unless a completely different Odinson were to step out of the Multiverse, having lived a completely different history to become a comic-accurate Unworthy Thor, movie fans will need to be satisfied with appearances. A fantastic design, but one designed and used for a completely different Unworthy Thor than the one the MCU created.

“}]] With Thor’s MCU future unknown, fans are dreaming of seeing The Unworthy Thor adapted. Which is a massive problem, since Marvel’s made it impossible.  Read More