#not yet worthy of mjolnir

[vertigoartgore]

2012's Thor: God of Thunder variant cover by Daniel Acuña.

[lucianalight]

Uhh...well this post turned out really weird. I don't even know what this is lol. First part is more meta, and second part is more headcanon. I just really needed to get these thoughts out of my head :D

I still couldn't get over the fact that Odin had planned and gifted both Hela and Thor with a powerful artifact(Hela's helmet and Mjolnir) and decided to later gave them one more(Gungnir) for ruling, and yet he gave Loki nothing. It really showed how Odin viewed Loki among all his three children and preferred to ignor him. He seriously went from telling the brothers that both of them were born to be kings but only (heavily implied the worthy) one could ascend to the throne(which basically made sure that these brothers are going to compete for it), to giving Thor Mjolnir, then the throne and Gungir would have come with it, making Thor the most powerful he could be and in the brothers' eye the worthier and the winner("This was to be my day of triumph"), and yet he expected Loki to be ok with it? To not try desperately to figure out why Thor was favored while it was Loki who was the more thoughtful one, who understood ruling better? And then people wonder why Loki was jealous of Thor. And you know what? He had every right to be envious of Thor because how Odin treated Loki was so damn unfair.

Then I realized actually this is not completely true. Odin did in fact plan to give Loki a powerful artifact.

The day he showed the Casket of Ancient Winters to the boys, just as he had showed Hela the helmet when she was a kid. The time he talked about "evil Frost Giants", never bothered to correct Thor that they weren't monsters, scared Loki of his own race and people to the point that he asked whether the Frost Giants still live. And then told them that they were both born to be kings, but only one can ascend to the throne of Asgard. The other gets the throne of "monsters" he was meant to as a puppet king under Asgard's control, bringing their treasure back and remake what Odin had destroyed years ago.

We never found out when these plans didn't matter anymore. Was it before or after Jotunheim? Or did Odin have another reason? Could it be that he was so afraid of Loki's power he preferred not to encourage him for his magic, or give him anything that could make him stronger? After all "a king must tame his threats to ensure they fight for him".

This line of thought made me question sth else. What Odin was talking about when he mentioned "threat" to Hela and showing her the helmet? We know he was talking about Fenrir and implying it about Hela too. But why did he mention taming a threat and showing her a helmet that clearly made her upset and uncomfortable?

Now we get into the more headcanon-y part.

Let's go back in time a little and observe some Asgradian choices in fashion, weapons and politics during centuries.

This is Bor, father of Odin with horns on his helmet and Gungnir in his hands, killing the dark elves. Bor later was considered a hero for basically genocide.

Odin Borson. His helmet has some considerable changes from Bor. It has horns and wings and Hela's helmet. He is standing alone with Gungnir.

Later Odin has given Hela the helmet and conquers the realms with her help, following his father's steps to more extremes.

I assume during their conquests Odin made the Dwarfs build Mjolnir and gave it to Hela.

Then he stops at the nine realms, banishes Hela and keeps Mjolnir with all other stolen relics in Asgards' vault.

He later gives Mjolnir to Thor. But that's not the only thing Thor inherits from him.

Thor's helmet carries the wings of Odin's, and Loki's helmet bears the horns.

(Which is a nice symbolism for the roles of golden child and scapegoat Thor and Loki have in their family dynamic but I digress). He has basically divided all he had between his three children. The helmets of his three kids together make his original helmet in the mural.

What I was trying to get at with this, is that since Odin didn't wear the helmet after Hela and was keeping it in the vault, and referring to it as sth related to a threat, I headcanon that the helmet originally didn't belong to him and he got it from the someone else during a battle as he tends to steal powerful objects from people he defeats. Considering Hela's reaction she probably knew the story behind it. We've seen Odin likes to tell the stories of his wars to his children while showing them the trophies.

So who was the original owner of Hela's helmet? And why Odin had decided to give it to Hela? This implies he was sure Hela could use the Helmet's power, but why? Well, I have another headcanon :D What if the original owner of the Helmet was Hela's mother? Hela never mentions her mother, and she knew the helmet was going to be hers and wasn't happy about it. Odin could have taken it from his first girlfriend and killed her or imprisoned her, telling Hela that her mother was an enemy, to make sure she never talks about her or questions Odin. This also fits well with my other headcanon that Hela's Loki mother :D Because a child who had inherited her mother's magic and Jotun's powers could be exceptionally powerful and Odin had to tame that threat.

Congrats! You've reached the end of this incredibly messy post. Here's a realistic rendering of me while I was writing it :D

[jessiarts]

So I made another design in my series of Pride Norse designs, aka my "Fuck-off nazis, these symbols aren't for you!" designs, aka my "I hope we can make designs of them that are so blatantly gay they won't want to touch them anymore" designs. (Previous designs: Pride Loki Runes | Be Gay, Do Pride | Pride Yggdrasil with Runes | Pride Valknuts)

This time I drew Mjolnir and colored many versions with different Pride flags. I also made two versions of each design, one saying "You are Worthy" and another saying "I am Worthy," with the exception of a progress flag version that says "We are Worthy"

Here are some I've done so far:

(All designs are transparent. Images with colored backgrounds are for visibility purposes)

I do have plans to do more with other flags, but if you see I maybe haven't done yours yet, feel free to send me an ask.

Like the previous sets, I've got the full-res designs hosted on my Ko-fi as free downloads for anyone who wishes to use them. Print them on a shirt, make yourself stickers, use on gifts for others- whatever.

I also have them available on Threadless for those who can't print them on stuff themselves (or just don't feel like it) but still want something with the design on it. Each sale will also make an automatic donation to various LGBT+ charities like The Trevor Project and the It Gets Better Project.

(Note: I am completely aware that in the original Norse Mythology the "must be worthy" charm doesn't exist with Mjolnir. However, stories change and adapt over time, and people can find meaning in all interpretations of a story, including this popularized adaptation. I felt the message was just more important than being accurate to the original mythology, just in case anyone wanted to come through with a stick up their ass because "uM acTUaLLY, ThE WorthY pARt AcTuaLLy COMeS fRoM maRVeL...")

[tyrannuspitch]

thinking about endgame thor again... with all appropriate caveats, i think there's a possible universe in which a) he's skinny thor rather than fat thor, and b) it's good.

like, i think it would be genuinely quite arresting to see a character so defined by his strength, as represented by his physical size, literally diminished. it would be a reminder that thor is not a god, just a person from another planet - he has needs, he gets sick, he can die.

and to be clear, i know that using thinness to represent vulnerability and tragedy can play into fatphobia, and it's absolutely fair to criticise canon for simultaneously using fatness to represent serious ill health in thor and treating it as a joke. fat thor should have been a tragic and arresting figure too.

but the thing is, fat thor's actual size is not that big of a deal. his mental illness and addiction certainly are, but his body type is not, in and of itself, unhealthy. of course laughing at fat thor is fatphobia, but making a huge tragedy out of the fact that he's got a bit of a belly wouldn't be any better.

thinness, on the other hand, gets dangerous much faster than fatness. if thor had lost the amount of weight canon had him gain, he would be in imminent danger of death. and considering that thor had a body-builder physique to begin with and therefore basically only had muscle to lose, it's even more alarming. (i'm not necessarily suggesting that they should have gone for weight loss that extreme, just trying to demonstrate the contrast in the core concepts here.)

and with all that in mind... they would have to get more creative with thor's plot and character than just winding him up like a toy soldier again if he were actually too physically unwell to fight. the idea of thor "still being worthy" would hit harder if thor's worthiness didn't have to take the form of killing people with hammers yet again, and what he contributed to the cause came instead from his heart or his mind.

and this would also probably not involve undoing the destruction of mjolnir, but even if it did, it would probably *feel* less like simply undoing it and more like completing an arc, because it would mean saying several related but distinct things:

mjolnir does not give thor his power.

mjolnir does not define thor's worth.

thor's power doesn't define his worth either. he doesn't need a magic hammer or lightning powers to be able to help his friends or to have a reason to go on.

oh, and finally, for the gimmicky marketers and easter egg nerds: it could be a fun callback to skinny steve in ca:tfa. cmon kevin, i know you want to do an eight-years-later cgi comparison! it would still be a little silly, but at least it wouldn't be a fat suit. and if there was a story with heart behind it, i think they could get away with it again.

[picturesofspideyman]

DOOM FLOW

I’m movin’ different. This shit ain’t nothin’ to me man, I’m a god. I’m attaining absolute power, we smokin’ Beyonders. Smokin’ that Panther God, Heart-Shaped Herb, Vibranium kush. We smokin’ Infinity Stones. I’m on the Power Cosmic, smokin’ on the Silver Surfer’s board. We smokin’ Blackbeard’s treasure. We snortin’ that good Rabum Alal, Library of Worlds, Incursion pack, I see Eternity. They use all caps when they spell my name. Opps tried to step to me, I hit em with the Foot Dive. I don’t need to use my Assists, I’m already top tier. They call me Leto II the way I’m the God-Emperor of Doom. Mjolnir isn’t worthy of me. Even my robot duplicates are built different. Celestial thought he could start something, nobody judges me but me. Hollywood can’t even handle me, I’m too real. I’m like Adam Warlock, I was Him from the start. This shit ain’t nothin’ to me, man. The Illuminati got conspiracies about me. I already rule the world, the opps just don’t know it yet. Top shelf zaza retconned my origin story. I’m movin’ multiversal. Take me to Earth-1610, I am Ultimate. I’m spittin’ more fire than Johnny Storm. I’m movin’ like Omar Little, you come at the king, you best not miss. Silenced the opps from the shadows, call that Secret Wars. Went back in time to the crucifixion, let him get a good look at his replacement. Even Mephisto doesn’t want to deal with me. Call me Kurt Russell the way I got The Thing cooked. I remade all existence before Nathaniel Essex even achieved Dominion. Called my kingdom Battleworld, cause my whole life is a struggle. Richards had to scar me, otherwise I’d be getting too much pussy. Fuck it, I switched bodies with the opp. I am a Canon Event. Doom’s word is law, you stupid piece of shit. This shit ain’t nothin’ to me, man.

[bedlamsbard]

yonderverse and/or morning: any scenes stuck in your head that you haven't yet written?

Yonderverse: There's a scene where Carol, after searching for the missing Asgardians for weeks, finally finds them and brings the Valkyrie to Earth to meet Loki. It's a scene that's referred to a few times and which I started writing for a Horizon flashback, but I only wrote 1K of it since it wasn't going to work in Horizon. Another Yonderverse scene, planned as a Horizon flashback but never written at all, is a scene immediately post-Snap where Loki takes Steve and Natasha to Nidavellir to check on Eitri. I think it's mentioned either in Yonder or Horizon, but it never even made it to the concept stage.

Morning: There are some altverse flashback concepts that I've started writing, but never gotten very far with -- Loki, Sif, and Hogun going to Earth to look for Thor when he first goes missing; Sif and the Warriors Three confronting Thor during the Battle of New York; Loki, Steve, and Natasha hooking up for the first time. The first two potentially could have made it into Morning; they're not going to at this point because there's just not really space for them.

There's also, in Morning, the universe where the Mjolnir that IW!Thor picks up comes from, which is a pruned timeline where Thor and Loki both fall off the Bifrost in Thor and end up with Thanos. That timeline goes longer than expected (because of the way I do the Sacred Timeline in Morning, not the same as show canon) and actually goes all the way to the point of The Avengers and Chitauri invasion before it causes a nexus event -- essentially, Thanos separates that Thor and Loki and they both terrible things to him, and Thor gradually loses the ability to use Mjolnir due to the worthiness clause. He's the one who's sent to Earth to steal the Tesseract and Sif and the Warriors Three come after him (I'm not sure the Bifrost is destroyed in this 'verse). Thor explains the situation (sort of) and they use the Tesseract to go back to Sanctuary to get Loki and kill Thanos and in the process Thor is able to call Mjolnir and then the TVA intervenes and kills that timeline. That's the Mjolnir that IW!Thor picks up in Morning; there's just literally nowhere in this story to explain where it comes from. It's a Mjolnir that has the worthiness clause (which altverse Mjolnir doesn't, which is why altverse Odin is so confused when Thor is talking about it in Morning 7), but not from a close-canon universe.

[phaticserpent]

You Call This ‘Fate’?

You’re friends with Helen Cho and she promises you the ‘best night of your life’ at Tony’s party. You didn’t really expect to get caught in the conflict between Ultron and the Avengers

Warning: Mention of character death, angst, slight fluff

NOTE: this was honestly the 1k fic i was planning to do....but I didn’t like it and the pacing, so this is just a drabble. So, THIS IS NOT THE 1K FIC (enjoy this while I try to rewrite something else)

Word count: 2,716

It had been some time since you and Ultron met; it was unfortunately, through Tony's luxurious party. 

You were invited to the grand party on the Avengers Tower, though you were a little skeptical. Your friend, Dr. Helen Cho insisted on your company. You constantly reassured that she would do fine on her own and how she wouldn't even have to worry, but she managed to convince you. So here you were, standing awkwardly with people that have higher class than you. Feeling overwhelmed, you slipped away to a more less crowded area, which was the bar. 

"Hey (Y/N)," Natasha greeted and you awkwardly smiled. "Want a refresher?" 

"Yes please, just water." You smiled. She nodded in understanding and you waited patiently for your drink. Soon enough, Natasha pushed over a tall drink of cold water. "Thanks so much." 

"Not a problem." She winked. "So how are you liking the party?" 

"Oh, it's a little too class for me." 

"Ah, I get it." She nodded. "Well, you're always free to rest up here, I can personally ask for a private room for you." 

"Oh, no need." You smiled. Before you could thank Natasha, your friend walked up to you. 

"(Y/N), come, come join us!" Helen laughed. You shot Natasha a grateful look before being pulled away by Helen. "Are you enjoying the party?" 

"I should ask you that." You laughed. "How are you enjoying it? Is Thor the man of your dreams?" You and Helen burst out laughing as she tried to hide her flushed face. 

"Oh, I don't know." She finally said. "He has a girlfriend, I don't want to come between them." 

"Ah," you silently panicked. "I'm sure you'll find someone better! Hey, who needs Avengers as a partner? They'll be awful boyfriends anyways." You did your best to reassure her and she was grateful. She insisted that you could leave as the party died down, but you insisted upon staying. 

You were just exiting the bathroom when the Avengers were settled in a certain area, including Helen. You silently made your way over as they were in the midst of debating whether or not they were worthy. Worthy of what? You watched as each member took turns in trying to lift Mjolnir. 

"Widow?" They all glanced at Natasha, who seemed shocked at their suggestion. 

"Oh no, that's not a question I need answering." She declined. There was slight laughter as they continued to debate about it. The atmosphere was interrupted with a piercing ring, and everyone immediately doubled down or covered their ears. 

"No…." A metallic voice rang out and everyone turned to the source. "How could you be worthy? You're all killers." 

"Stark?….." 

"Jarvis….." Tony started, clicking at the buttons impatiently. 

"I'm sorry, I was asleep." The robot answered. "Or I was a-dream." 

"Reboot Legionnaire OS….we got a buggy suit." Tony instructed, but nothing happened. 

"There was a terrible noise……And I was tangled in….in strings." The robot looked down to emphasize their claim. "I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy." 

"You killed someone?" 

"Wouldn't have been my first call," it replied. "But, down in the real world we're faced with ugly choices." 

"Who sent you?" Thor interjected. In which the robot played back a recording. 

"I see a suit of armor around the world." 

"Ultron!" Bruce realized, turning to Tony. You couldn't see their expressions, but you knew they were shocked. 

"In the flesh." It exclaimed. "Or, no, not yet…..not this chrysalis." You eyed Agent Hills and how she had her gun cocked. 

"(Y/N)–" Helen grabbed your arm. 

"I'm on mission." 

"What mission?" 

It turned to look directly at Natasha, "peace in our time." Just then, there was glass shattering everywhere. You and Helen immediately ducked down from the commotion as you heard gunshots being fired. Helen quickly dragged you away from the chaos, hiding behind a piano. You and Helen watched as the Avengers battled against Tony's Iron Legion; you had been a little distracted when Helen tugged on your sleeve, she was backing away from an approaching suit. You tried to intervene and stick yourself in between, but she held firmly. Steve immediately rushed to your aid, tossing the suit to Thor, who crushed it with his hammer. "That was dramatic." 

"Are you two okay?" Agent Hills asked you both; the two of you nodded. The chaos ceased and everyone stared warily at Ultron. 

"I'm sorry, I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through…..you want to protect the world but you don't want it to change." Ultron sighed. "How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to…..evolve? With these?" He picked up a fallen Iron Legionnaire before tossing it away. 

"These puppets. There's only one path to peace. The Avengers' extinction." He claimed, but Thor quickly threw his hammer as the suit crumpled to the ground. That night ended on a dim notice, you quickly dismissed yourself back to the hotel you and Helen were staying at.

"Get back safe." She gave you a tired smile. 

"You're not coming?" 

"Tony insists on me staying for a while, but I'll get back later." You nodded in understanding as you bid farewell to the other Avengers. You couldn't help but feel a little uneasy as you went outside to walk through the city streets, and that dread never wavered even after you entered your hotel room. 

Ever since then, you had one run-in with Ultron. You were on your way to visit Helen, when you stood in the hallway between the exit and Ultron. There was no way you could hold him down while the Avengers were on their way; the only reasonable outcome to your survival was to point out a mistake of his. 

"Are you seriously going to escape in a truck from our lab?" You questioned. To which he just stared at you quizzically, before recollecting his error. "For an artificial intelligence, I thought you would be smarter than that." Now you were just testing your luck. 

"And what would you have me do?" 

You were hoping you wouldn't be blasted on the spot; your plan consisted of two Ultron, which meant that he would have to bring his backup. The backup would oversee the Vision, while the current one would get away, in case anything happened. So the other Avengers wouldn't be suspicious. You then added, "that's just my thoughts…..you could do it your way." You just hoped that Helen was okay. 

"Let's say I go with your plan, where do you recommend me to hide? A hotel?" Ultron snorted sarcastically. 

"You can't just fly back to your hideout?" 

"Chances are, they'll fly here with a quinjet, which could pick up my signal before I could leave the premises." 

"Oh." You sighed. "Well….I do have a place in mind." 

You didn't know why you were letting an 8ft tall A.I into your home. You stood awkwardly as he stood a couple of meters from you. 

"You're really something." Ultron let out a throaty chuckle. "Letting me into your home, just…like…that." 

"I will throw you out the window." You snorted. Ultron opened his mouth but you interrupted him, "if I hear one more snarky thing out of your mouth, I will alert the Avengers." 

"That's funny," Ultron started. "You're acting as if I haven't cut communications here." Your smile dropped as you reached for your phone. Ultron stood smugly as you noticed the lack of signal. 

"You lil shit." You breathed. 

"Well, you better let me leave in one piece if you want your signal back." Ultron bargained. You sighed in defeat and nodded. As it grew closer to midnight, you were fighting every urge to fall asleep. You haven't even showered, in which you could feel Ultron silently judging you. "Aren't you going to–"

"Shower? Sleep? Hardly, with you near me." You scoffed. Ultron just rolled his eyes. "How can I trust that you won't leave?" 

"You're just going to have to trust me." Ultron sighed. ".....I really don't have anywhere to go." You turned to face him, a little startled by his tone. Deciding to trust him, you slipped into the bathroom to finally take a shower. Though you were still paranoid, you finished quickly before nearly running out of the bathroom once you were clothed, to see Ultron sitting on the couch. He seemed rather bored. Well, if I were an intelligent being, I would be bored too. 

As you walked down the stairs, Ultron turned to look at you. "Told you I wouldn't leave." 

"Uh-huh." You scoffed. "What next? You're gonna tell me to sleep?" 

"Yes." He said nonchalantly. You rolled your eyes as you sat down on the couch. He then stood up and began walking to your bedroom. He seemed to wait for you, turning a bit to make eye contact. You let out a huff before following. Ultron stood by the doorway, his arms crossed as he stared at the bed. "Huh, that's going to be a problem." 

"What, is my bed too small for you?" 

"I can sleep on the couch." Ultron insisted. 

"You sleep?" 

He sighed, "I have a power down mode." Before he turned around to leave, you instinctively grabbed his arm. Which he quickly yanked away from your touch. "Don't." 

"Don't….leave." You pleaded. His eyes scanned your eyes before tilting his head up in defeat. "Besides, how am I supposed to know you won't sneak off in the middle of the night? You could kill me in my sleep for all I know." 

"I would never." He growled. Though you held your ground, he could see the slight fear in your eyes at his tone. Ultron inched away from you as you cleared your throat. 

"W-well if you wouldn't, then get in the bed." You responded. Without a single protest, he gently put his weight on the bed, pausing when it creaked dangerously. He gave you a look that you ignored. "Move." You scoffed, pushing him to the edge as you settled on the other half of the bed. 

The two of you remained awake. "My systems deem you as a threat….I won't be able to power down if you're near." 

"Sucks for your system, I'm not going to sleep until you power down." You declared. Ultron let out a huff and you smiled to yourself. Soon enough, you could hear a faint sound of him shutting down. It was….strangely human; though the sound was very machine-like, you could feel that he was sleeping. Like how you could tell when people were drifting to sleep. Dismissing your thoughts, you eventually drifted off to sleep a couple minutes after. 

You felt warm, a little too warm. Without opening your eyes, you could see that it was morning and your room was illuminated by the sun. You cracked your eyes open but you were confused by what you saw. Instead of seeing your bedroom floor, you saw shiny metal. Slowly, you pulled away and your arms felt numb. As your eyesight became clearer, everything else was suddenly transparent. Ultron had his arms around you and you had clung onto him during the night. You tried to pry yourself away, but his grip was unbearably strong for someone being in power-down mode. You dreaded his reaction when he woke up. As if on cue, you could hear his systems whir back to life and your face paled as he blinked. 

Ultron froze as your wide eyed expression came into view. "Morning." You awkwardly greeted. Quickly, he pulled his arms away, allowing you to distance yourself. 

"Uh, morning." He replied. "I'm sorry about…the night." 

"N-no no, don't be. It happens." You stammered. Though, you were curious about one thing. Ultron had his back to you, and you took advantage of that by gently placing your hand on him. "Although….you are strangely warm." 

Ultron tensed from your touch, but he didn't pull or push you away. "I designed myself that way….to reflect basic human bodily functions; I can warm myself and cool myself." 

"That's really cool….you really put a lot of thought and research into it." 

"....thank you." Ultron sighed. You could feel the shift in his gears as his body loosened. Awkwardly, you retracted your hand from him. "Aw, I was just getting used to your touch." He drawled. 

"Pity." You pouted before getting out of bed. "I take it, you don't eat." 

"Ha ha," He laughed sarcastically. "Of course I don't eat. Haven't really gotten to that part yet." 

"You're seriously missing out." You sung out. Ultron just rolled his eyes as he quietly yearned for your touch. 

"Tell me about it." He chuckled. Soon enough, Ultron followed after you, into the kitchen where he peered down. 

"I'm sure the Avengers are no longer near, so you're free to leave." You felt his looming presence behind and over you. You turned to face him, "thanks for not killing me." 

"Pft, you sure are charming." Ultron laughed. 

"I try to be." You grinned. He shook his head in astonishment before he settled down. "Wait…..do you…..?" You searched his optics and Ultron silently panicked that you had figured him out. 

".....you laughed! You find me funny!" You beamed. He thanked that you were a little slow. 

"Of course, I have a sense of humor." He said it like he was offended by your observation. "To be honest, I'd rather stay…..just for a few minutes." 

"Oh, uh….yeah, sure! It's your decision, not mine. You're welcome to leave anytime." You turned away to continue prepping breakfast. Ultron didn't know what this new emotion was, he was feeling something but he couldn't explain it. It took everything in him to hold himself back from hugging you. Though, he promptly stopped himself by focusing on your breakfast. 

"Is that it?" 

"What?" You asked. "I don't have time to cook a full meal." 

"Take that out of your mouth." Ultron sighed. "I'll prep you something." You hesitantly pulled the bread out of your mouth as he started filing through your refrigerator. 

"...seriously, I can't eat that much for breakfast." 

"Cause you keep eating small." Ultron dismissed. You huffed and set the bread aside, slowly moving to the couch to wait. You slumped on the couch, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger. "Don't slouch." He barely gave you a glance. 

"Jesus…." You breathed out, fixing your posture before flipping through your phone. The signal was back on. You didn't dare to call for help, as Ultron was comfortably making breakfast but you were curious from the endless onslaught of messages. Your eyes widened and your heart ached at the news; Helen Cho was attacked and harmed. She didn't make it and the person who harmed her……..

Was in the same room as you. You set your phone down just as Ultron proudly announced that breakfast was ready. You had no explanation how, but the spark and light in his eyes disappeared when he saw your expression. 

"What?" He asked. "....what's wrong?" 

"Ultron, did you….you…..what did you do to my friend?" You breathed, trying to suppress yourself. "Helen…." There was a long pause. He was as still as a statue and you were convinced you were talking to one. 

Ultron slowly placed the pan on the counter before speaking,  "(Y/N), I….." The pause was unbearable, and it didn't matter how carefully he would word it, your best friend's murderer was standing in front of you.  

"Ultron…..I'm going to ask one more time, what did you do to my friend?" You felt the tears rise in your eyes. Your rage only grew when he couldn't meet your eyes, but that action alone told you everything you needed to know. "Get out." 

"(Y/N) please–"

"Get. Out." He quickly left without another word. Once you knew he was gone, you fell to the floor and quietly sobbed. In truth, he was on the opposite side of the door. His fists clenched in regret and hatred as he heard you cry. He left momentarily, unable to handle anymore of your sobs. You were overwhelmed with all the emotions; grief, anger, hatred, sadness, shock, perhaps even relief that he hadn't killed you, or disappointment that he hadn't killed you. At least you would’ve been reunited with your friend then. 

[tobiasdrake]

Villain Breakdown: Hela, Goddess of Death Colonialism

Earlier, I said there are two main types of Marvel villains with a third recently introduced. The villain who embodies the subject matter of the film, the excuse villain who exists to be fought while the subject matter happens apart from them, and the newly arrived progressive villain. Hela's in an interesting spot, acting as #1 and #2 together.

Much of this movie is about change. The death of the old, the birth of the new. All the familiar tropes that make up the Thor franchise die here. Wise old Odin both literally and figuratively, Mjolnir and the Worthiness rules, the comical antics of the Warriors Three, Loki's duplicitous relationship with Thor, the very setting of Asgard itself. It all gets washed away in an ocean of change.

You might expect, as the Goddess of Death, that Hela would embody that change. But. No. Actually. The ironic thing is, Hela is the antithesis of change. She's a staunch regressive clinging to past glory, unable to evolve, incapable of ever being more than what she is now. She is a killer, but she does not embody death. In fact, she could use a dose or two of it.

So she's the excuse villain, right?

Well. No. Because there is something Hela embodies. In addition to a story about change and renewal, Thor: Ragnarok serves as a condemnation of colonialist powers. It re-examines the wealth and authority of Asgard through a new lens, and it's this lens that Hela represents.

Hela is the spirit of Asgard's past crimes coming back to haunt it. Not a vengeful spirit seeking justice for its past wrongs, but a malicious spirit seeking to do more wrongs. She's the ugly truth buried beneath the floorboards. The purposeful omission from the history books so that children can grow up with pride in their bloodstained country.

Hela is colonialism. She is what built Asgard from brick and mortar, and she's what Asgard can never truly be rid of so long as they continue to sit on the plundered spoils of murder and conquest. Locked away where no one can see, but always there, waiting for a chance to emerge in a fit of nationalist furor and Make Asgard Great Again.

This is why her power is directly tied to the existence of Asgard the Place. The movie doesn't even try to justify it; It just is, because it's necessary to the metaphor.

This puts Hela in an interesting position. She's a one-note villain who serves mostly as a punchable bad guy to drive the plot, and yet this punchability enhances the messages being conveyed here. She's a performance piece, and she gives it her all in that, while still being married to one of the movie's essential themes. Just not the one she claims to be.

And in the end, I think it works. The movie has just the right amount of Hela, in just the right ways.

[samasmith23]

I've always loved the big plot twist at the end of Unworthy Thor #5 where we finally learn the answer to the long-running mystery of what exactly Nick Fury whispered into Thor Odinson's ear during the Original Sin crossover which made him unworthy to lift Mjolnir.

It was only three simple words: “Gorr was right.”

It’s so simple yet so effective, and perfectly makes sense from a thematic and character standpoint. I've seen a lot of fans argue that this twist is either underwhelming or comes out of nowhere, but if you’ve read Jason Aaron's Thor run in its entirety up to this point, it is clear that Odinson was experiencing a downward spiral & questioning his own worthiness as a god ever since his initial encounter with Gorr the Godbutcher at the very beginning of Aaron's tale. Nick Fury’s whisper was simply the final nail in that coffin for the doubt Odinson was already experiencing.

From Unworthy Thor #5 by Jason Aaron & Oliver Coipel.

[avengersacademyarchive]

Mission: Prove Worthy 1, part 1

Thor: I want you to tell me why there are two Mjolnirs, and why you chose me to wield one. It's only fair that I and your sons should know. Odin: I told you why when I gave you the hammer. You're capable. You're worthy. Thor: But how did you know? I wasn't even healthy at the time... Odin: Mortal health has nothing to do with it. The Realms needed a Thor. My wife told me that you were the best person to wield Mjolnir in Thor's absence. She was right, as usual. Thor: You never answered the question about there being two Mjolnirs... Odin: I didn't. Not yet...

[mischief-lies-and-stories]

To Change the Telling

Spoilers for The Immortal Thor issue 6.

To Change the Telling

I am no longer this.

Not this.

He declares as he raises an ax

Over his blond head.

Did you swear this when you cast me aside,

Dear brother?

Did you hear me say the same,

As you threw me from my apartment window?

All this behind us, before us, around us

In a cloud of hazy memory.

If I say I believe you, believe in you, now

Will you say the same of me?

Can we lay down our regrets

And leave them in the wake of my last death?

For as this twice-told thread unravels again,

Brother mine,

I still feel the lick of the flame

At both our fate-marked heels.

You may not die in this retelling,

But our story spins even as we recollect.

No, Thor, you are no longer this:

No longer prideful and brash,

Ego fragile and violent and impulsive.

If your being can turn with the seasons,

Can twist and wind as your story unfolds,

Cannot my own? Am I not entitled to my own becoming?

You still scarcely trust me, yet my palms

Still tingle with the memory of Mjolnir in their grasp,

My ears still ring with the echo of your words

Compassion. Restraint. Nobility. Wisdom.

If I am worthy enough of your power,

Perhaps I'm worthy also

Of turning back the tides of myth and memory

Of reminding you how it was then

While also weaving a new strand in the telling.

I have changed, and changed again

I change like the phases of the moon, and so

I can tell this tale in a way that will

Be worthy of mighty Mjolnir's strength,

The strength to change that which wants to be static.

There is capacity for change in you still,

I believe this, Brother, I do,

It's why I agreed to tell you this tale

This memory, this myth that could bring

Both of us so much pain, that could even

Take your life with this new telling.

I only hope that the change you welcome

Will be enough to save you in the end.

I do not dare impose upon the fates to allow

Our change to save me, too.

[couldtheywieldmjolnir]

WHOSOEVER HOLDS THIS HAMMER,

IF THEY BE WORTHY,

SHALL POSSESS THE POWER OF THOR

Thus goes the inscription upon the head of the mighty Mjolnir, weapon of Thor, the god of Thunder. And yet, Thor has been incapacitated by a recent battle, leaving him unable to defend Asgard. In his stead, he has chosen myself and you all to seek out warriors from across the bounds of the cosmos, yes, even the multiverse itself, in the hopes of finding one worthy of wielding Mjolnir, and capable of protecting us all!

A Lofty Task

Of course, there is the ambiguity in the wording of the binding. What does it mean to be worthy? Some have suggested that mere moral fortitude is enough, while others argue that a true warrior's heart is required. Thus, your vote shall speak for itself on those whom you consider worthy!

To Every Rule, an Exception

Of course, some who are unworthy have wielded Mjolnir in the past, such as Hela, the murderous daughter of Odin in a far away universe. Do you argue that your own candidate may have some sort of ability that circumvents the binding? Vote for yourself on that, as well!

Know Thine Weapon

Keep in mind, as well, that we are speaking specifically of the Mjolnir found in most marvel properties. The ones of myth, alternate continuities, and other universes are not bound by the same declaration, and thus can (presumably) be wielded by those of sufficient strength. We, however, seek to find those who are worthy, not simply strong!

All Are Welcome! (With a few exceptions)

Submit any whom you'd like! The only ones I shall turn away are those exist outside of a fictional world. This includes your fellow tumblr-mates as well, unless you are bold enough to submit yourself!

Additionally, do recall that Mjolnir is but one weapon, so I would advise against submitting groups of people. If you have a valid reason for doing so, let me know in your ask, and I shall take that into consideration!

[marvelnewssource]

What If... Loki Was Worthy? (A Loki and Valkyrie Story) by Madeleine Roux | March 12, 2024

Loki and Valkyrie seek redemption in the first adventure of an epic new multiversal series that reimagines the origins of iconic Marvel heroes.

Full synopsis ⬇️

So many worlds, so little time. Infinite possibilities, creating infinite realities. Long have I watched the trickster god sow chaos. But . . . what if Loki saved Asgard from Tony Stark’s revenge?

Thor—Son of Odin, God of Thunder, wielder of the hammer Mjolnir—is dead. And Loki is responsible.

It was only meant to be a joke—tampering with the Destroyer, changing Thor’s course to Midgard—a bit of mischief with a chance of maiming. But Loki's harmless prank spiraled out of control, unleashing death and destruction on New York City and the heroes sworn to protect it. The city was saved, but at the cost of Thor’s life.

Furious and heartbroken, the All-Father banishes Loki to Earth for his crime. Loki finds himself in a realm of boxed wine, instant noodles, and some sort of regional performance troupe known as the “Buffalo Bills.” It’s a meager existence, far from Asgard’s grand courts, but he finds his new friend, Brian the Gecko, a much more engaging companion than the sycophants back home. A true meeting of the minds. Loki is the God of Mischief—but he knows, deep down, that he never truly deserved to stand next to their father’s golden child Thor, as two true sons of Odin.

Yet, he cannot even endure his exile in peaceful isolation. A Valkyrie—Hel-bent on carrying out her oath to Thor—barges into his trailer-home with his brother’s final words from the beyond: a plea to find a certain Dr. Jane Foster and pass on Mjolnir to its rightful heir.

While Loki struggles to fulfil his brother’s last request, the far-reaching consequences of his fatal prank return to haunt him. Blinded by grief from those he lost in the chaos wrought by Asgard, Iron Man vows revenge on those who consider themselves gods. Determined to protect the Earth from the might of this unpredictable alien power, he forges Asgard’s own weaponry into a lethal suit of armor, set on eradicating any tether between their worlds. Consequences be damned. When Asgard looks to Loki for salvation, he must answer the question: Am I truly worthy?

[394bugle]

Front page news:

The wedding reception of Asgardian Prince Thor Odinson and Dr. Jane Foster didn't go as planned last Saturday, as Avengers Tower where the party was located, fell under attack by Hydra insurgents. Sources say that Hydra agents weakened defenses a few days before in what is now being called a 'practice run,' and took advantage of the crowded guest list to sneak in and strike from the inside. Civilians and heroes alike were wounded, several seriously. Asgardian Prince and fellow heir to the throne, Loki Odinson, took a particularly nasty blow and remains in serious condition. Prior to his injury, some witnesses claim they saw the younger god lift the hammer Mjolnir -- a mysterious Asgardian artifact. (See page 3 for a more in-depth article.) Clean up efforts have already commenced at Avengers Tower, and while the mood is tense, for now the danger has passed. Still, this reporter has to wonder how long it will be until the next major attack -- and how something like this can happen in the first place. If heroes can't keep their own houses safe, what hope do the rest of us have? Tell us your thoughts at letterstotheeditor@bugle.com

Page 3:

Mjolnir, mysterious weapon of Thor, was rumored to have been destroyed in Canada earlier this year. Yet eye witnesses from the Reception Attack claim to have seen the hammer reform before their very eyes. This reporter delves deep into the history and myths surrounding this strange hammer, asking what exactly it means to be 'worthy.' Find out more inside.

Page 6:

The wedding might have been all about Asgardian royalty, but Captain Peggy Carter and Captain Steve Rogers showed us all what old-school romantic couple goals should be. Looking classy arm in arm at the ceremony, and leading efforts to keep civilians safe when the attack broke out.

ft: @asgcrdianprince @drfcstrs @strongestavengerthor @cptcvrter @cptamerica

if you want your characters mentioned in the next bugle post, shoot us a message here. but double check out submission guidelines!

[the-henry-cavillian]

Unleashing Cavill's Marvel Might: 5 Epic Roles Awaiting Henry In The MCU!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has a penchant for casting exceptional talent and Henry Cavill, best known for his portrayal of Superman in the DC Extended Universe, could be an intriguing addition. Known for his strong performances and physical prowess, Cavill would be a perfect fit for many characters yet to make their debut in the MCU. Let's explore five potential roles that could suit him.

 Hyperion

Hyperion is essentially Marvel's answer to Superman. A member of the Squadron Supreme, he's an extraterrestrial possessing superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and flight capabilities. Cavill, with his already established superhero persona and physical stature, would be an ideal choice for this character. Given his experience playing a similar role, Cavill could bring depth and nuance to the character of Hyperion.

 Nova (Richard Rider)

Nova, specifically Richard Rider's version, is a powerful character yet to debut in the MCU. As the human chosen by Rhomann Dey, the last surviving Nova Corps Centurion, Richard Rider gains superhuman abilities and becomes a member of the intergalactic police force, Nova Corps. Henry Cavill, with his experience as a galactic protector, could portray this character with the necessary gravitas and commitment.

Beta Ray Bill

Beta Ray Bill, an alien worthy of wielding Thor's hammer Mjolnir, is a beloved character by many Marvel fans. With his unique alien appearance and heroic qualities, Beta Ray Bill's character could be a challenge to bring to life. However, Cavill's established superhero credentials and his ability to embody complex characters could make him a fitting choice.

Blue Marvel

Adam Bernard Brashear, also known as Blue Marvel, is one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe. As a former U.S. Marine and a veteran of the Korean War, he gained his powers through exposure to anti-matter radiation. Known for his strength, flight, and energy manipulation abilities, Blue Marvel is a compelling character that has yet to appear in the MCU. Cavill, with his proven track record of portraying strong, complex characters, could bring depth and intrigue to this role.

 The Sentry

The Sentry (Robert Reynolds) is a character with immense power and a complex, troubled psyche. He possesses the 'power of a million exploding suns', granting him abilities such as super strength, speed, invulnerability, and flight. Cavill's acting range and his experience with characters struggling with their powers (like Superman) could make him an excellent choice for this role.

[yetanothercomicbook]

The Sins of the Father

Guardians of the Galaxy #42

Good.

"The first born son of Odin could not wield Mjolnir, for he was no longer worthy!"

The 4-page history of future Thor slows the pace a lot. So do the 5 pages with Heimdal and Aleta in trouble "at the outer fringe of the galaxy." When you include Mephisto, that's 10 pages that take us away from the conquest of Asgard. Which happen very fast and off-panel. Yet, the issue is undeniably entertaining and the final page is very satisfying indeed.

Michael Gallagher (15 of 36).

8/10