Thor: Love and Thunder it is many things at once. From a full-fledged comedy, to a superhero adventure movie, going through the path of drama and romance. All built to sustain the inner journey — at first teasingly and then, with a surprising twist to the painful — of Thor. But the most amazing narrative twist is the one dedicated to Jane Foster. Waititi recovers the character from a thankless background and gives him a vigorous evolution that surprises. That, while she inserts and sustains the love story that sustains the film as a premise.
For the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, what happened between Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Jane comes to the screen. And it does so in a tender journey about coexistence, intimate connections and love as a deep emotional and spiritual bond.
It is indeed, the love that Thor professes for Jane which triggers the main point of the film. And also a correct decision to give the character a new substance and unknown power. From damsel in disgrace to generic love interest, Jane Foster transforms into Thor: Love and Thunder in a powerful presence. Not only because of the hammer he wields, but also because he shows all the possibilities of a figure of splendid solidity. Jane Foster, a traditional character in the Thor comics, finally finds a powerful reflection in the film version of her.
Jane’s long drive to glory
Jane Foster is an old acquaintance to most Thor comic readers. In 1962 she made her first appearance in Journey into Mystery #84 as the nurse and assistant to Doctor Donald Blake, the god of Asgard incarnate. By then, Jane was part of a strange love triangle, being the love interest of both Thor and Doctor Blake. But the character never realized that both men were the same person.
During this first story arc, Thor took Jane to Asgard to receive the gift of immortality. However, Odin opposed such a decision. The All-Father felt that the nurse was not strong or brave enough to be of “true use” to them. So Jane was brought back to earth with no powers and no memory.
Over time, Jane evolved very little. As a secondary character, her story had very little relevance, unless she was directly related to the god of Thunder. Eventually, she Jane fell out with Dr. Blake (and Thor) and ended up marrying Dr. Keith Kincaid. A relevant figure who would help Captain America when the super soldier serum began to lose its properties.
Despite the distance, Jane continued to be a part of Thor’s world and all the conflicts that surrounded it. During the events of the Civil War comic, Jane joined Captain America and helped the so-called “Secret Avengers” – Thor also appointed her as the representative of Midgard. Finally, Jane arrived at what would be her most significant participation in the Universe associated with the god of thunder: her transformation into Lady Thor.
How Jane Foster became worthy
In the Thor Vol. 4 #1 comic, the god of thunder loses the ability to hold Mjolnir. From the outset, there is no clear reason for such a tragic event. The story merely indicates Nick Fury was advised by The Watcher — the same character from What would happen if…?— who whispered something in Thor’s ear. Whatever it was caused him to immediately make himself unworthy to hold. Forsaken of his powers, Thor remained on earth while the hammer continued on the moon, with no one able to move it, even Odin, who tried more than once to no avail.
Finally, a female character could do it. The end of the comic shows a mysterious figure flying over the lunar landscape until it reaches the Mjolnir. The inscription that gives him his power has changed and it can read “Whoever has this hammer, if he is worthy, will have the power of Thor.” So when the unknown woman wields the hammer and raises it, she not only gains the mystical weapon, but also Thor’s powers.
Later, it will be revealed that Jane Foster is the new wielder of the Hammer and that the story of her transformation is much stranger than might be supposed. On this occasion, Mjolnir telepathically “searched” for Jane. And, after verifying that she was worthy of it, he asked Heimdall to take her to the lunar surface to wield him. Because of all the implications of holding Mjolnir, Jane decided to keep her identity a secret. Something that caused great despair in Thor, abandoned the powers and hammer of him.
It was a painful transformation that began before Thor became unworthy to hold the hammer. Jane was diagnosed with cancer and was about to die, when Mjolnir decided it could hold her., in addition to inheriting Thor’s powers. Still, the change was not enough to cure him completely. Being the bearer of the ring caused the power of Asgard to remove any chemical components from her body. She and she included the medicines that allowed her to survive cancer. So every time she Jane transforms, she gets a little weaker and sicker.
Lady Thor is the legitimate successor of Thor and not only, for holding Mjolnir. She also has all of her powers and the ability to control lightning, fly, and travel between dimensions. Holding the hammer also changed Jane’s physical appearance. Every time she invokes Thor’s powers, Mjolnir changes its appearance growing long blonde hair and equipping it with a helmet and armor similar to Thor’s.
For the god of thunder, there was a short period of confusion and he actually confronted Lady Thor to demand his hammer back. But in the end, Thor proved that Lady Thor was worthy enough to wield the power and the symbol. So he accepted her transformation and the fact of her, that she now wields the symbol of her power. Due to the above, for a brief period of time, Thor renounced his name and his past. And done, he began to be called Odinson, instead of his appellation as god.
And on the big screen, Jane Foster becomes dignified
In Thor: Love and Thunder, Waititi almost completely moved Jane’s narrative arc, with just a few modifications. But in the same way as in the comic, the character managed to reach the fullness of her and say goodbye — for now — to the franchise. But he also did something else. Thanks to Thor’s love, Mjolnir not only found Jane worthy of her, but provided her with the opportunity to transcend.
for the end of Thor: Love and Thunder, Dr. Jane Foster, is a myth. And also, the newest inhabitant of Valhalla. An honor that pays tribute to the character, both on the small screen and on paper.