Loki Finally Lifts Mjolnir In New Appearance, Marvel Confirms

Thor accidentally inherits Mjolnir to Loki as Secret Wars‘ secret villain gives both Asgardians an unexpected upgrade. Beyond the Odinson himself, iconic heroes like Beta Ray Bill and Jane Foster, the Mighty Thor, have famously hoisted Mjolnir. Earthbound heroes have also met the strict moral criteria of the spell, most notably Steve Rogers, who has lifted the hammer during desperate hours to rally the Avengers against absolute annihilation. In the comics multiverse, even Superman has proved his worthiness by lifting Thor’s mythical weapon.

In the MCU, Vision established his virtuous nature and earned the immediate trust of the Avengers as soon as he was born by casually lifting Mjolnir. Years later, Captain America generated one of the most iconic crowd-pleasing moments in cinema history when he summoned Thor’s hammer to fight Thanos one-on-one, followed by Jane Foster wielding a reassembled version of the broken Mjolnir. By this point, Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder has transcended the necessity of his signature tool, as described by Odin’s reminder that Thor isn’t the “God of Hammers.”

But while Chris Hemsworth’s MCU Thor has largely left Mjolnir behind, the enchanted hammer continues to be a central object in the Marvel Comics multiverse.

Loki Is Worthy Of Lifting Mjolnir Thanks To The Venom Symbiote

What If…? Thor #1; Written By Torunn Grønbekk; Art By Sergio Dávila, Aure Jimenez, And Bryan Valenza

Marvel’s What If…? Thor #1 presents a timeline where Thor picks up the Venom symbiote before Spider-Man, leading the God of Thunder to meet Knull long before the time Knull reveals his existence on Earth-616. Although Thor is much less experienced, he manages to defeat Knull, at the cost of the symbiote. However, the symbiote survives, Loki rescues it, and the God of Mischief becomes capable of lifting Mjolnir. What If…? Thor doesn’t reveal what happens next, but a Mjolnir-wielding symbiote Loki could doom Asgard in record time at this point in the timeline.

The fusion of an early-timeline Loki with a Klyntar symbiote, paired with the ability to lift Mjolnir, would severely alter the cosmic balance of the early Marvel Universe. If a younger, deeply insecure Loki bonded with the symbiote, the alien’s adaptive psychology would feed on his profound sense of abandonment and amplify his hidden desires. Armed with Mjolnir’s might, Loki would no longer need to rely on borrowed armies or weapons to conquer realms. The symbiote-clad Loki could effortlessly overthrow Asgard from within, execute other cosmic foes, and possibly establish an unassailable interstellar empire.

Venom Would Have Been Very Different If He Was Picked Up By Thor Or Loki

The Symbiote’s First Host Is Essential To Its Personality

If the symbiote had bonded with Thor during his early years in the Marvel timeline, the entity that would eventually be known as Venom would have evolved into a radically different creature, completely disconnected from Eddie Brock’s early street-level malice or Peter Parker’s heroism. Immersing itself in the psyche of the God of Thunder, the symbiote would absorb Thor’s immense pride, his warrior ethos, and his desire for glorious combat. Instead of developing a twisted, spider-themed appearance, the alien would eventually evolve to manifest a more majestic suit of obsidian armor than the one Thor wears in What If…? Thor #1.

As What If…? Thor shows, the main problem is that the symbiote is incompatible with Thor’s electric powers, meaning a truly merged symbiote Thor would lose his ability to summon lightning, losing his “God of Thunder” nature. Still, a symbiote Thor would fully unleash the Asgardian god’s violent tendencies, which would make him just as dangerous without lightning. What If…? Thor provides a glimpse at his strength without boundaries, with Thor being able to slice through hordes of Frost Giants effortlessly.

Meanwhile, if Loki had discovered the symbiote first during his hidden wanderings, the alien creature’s personality would likely evolve into a nightmare of psychological warfare. Mirroring Loki’s deeply rooted resentment, his chronic inferiority complex, and his mastery over illusion, the symbiote would likely shed any desire for honorable combat. A symbiote Loki would master the art of camouflage and gain protection against his brother’s godly strength. Most importantly, a symbiote-bonded Loki could steal Knull’s army and infiltrate other empires to expand his reach.

Would you like to see how Venom-Loki’s story continues?

What If…? Thor #1 is now available from Marvel Comics

First Appearance

The Amazing Spider-Man

RELATIONSHIPS

Eddie Brock (primary host and ally), Peter Parker/Spider-Man (initial enemy, later uneasy ally), Anne Weying (former wife of Eddie Brock and occasional host), Cletus Kasady/Carnage (offspring of the Venom symbiote and a deadly enemy)

Race

Klyntar (Symbiote species)

POWERS

Superhuman strength, speed, agility, and endurance, Ability to cling to surfaces, Shape-shifting abilities (forming weapons, shields), Regeneration and healing factor, Immunity to Spider-Man’s spider-sense, Enhanced senses, Able to produce webbing, Bonding with a host to share or amplify powers, Immunity to all Earthly diseases