9 characters who have been able to lift Thor's hammer

Ian Phillips,Kirsten Acuna

May 2, 2015, 20:09 IST

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Warning: There are some spoilers ahead if you haven't seen "Avengers: Age of Ultron."

One of the running gags in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" revolves around Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, and the other Avengers' inability to lift it.

As legend goes, only those "deemed worthy" are able to lift Mjolnir.

In one of the film's more light-hearted scenes, Thor's teammates ranging from Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) to Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) all try their best to give it a lift. Though Captain America (Chris Evans) makes it budge, everyone's efforts prove futile.

You can check out the scene below.

Major spoilers ahead.

So it's a complete shock later in the film when Vision (Paul Bettany) effortlessly picks up Thor's hammer to hand it to the Asgardian God.

paul bettany vision avengers age of ultron

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Near the film's end Stark speculates why Vision is able to lift Mjolnir. He says since he's not human, the rules of the hammer probably don't apply to him.

Vision's not the only other character to wield the power of Thor on screen. Below are several others who have been deemed worthy enough to hold the hammer.

1. Beta Ray Bill: The Mighty Thor #337 (1983)

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Alien Beta Ray Bill holds a special place in the Marvel Universe. He was the first one outside the Norse pantheon worthy enough to wield Thor's hammer. Originally, thinking he picks up a stick, Bill accidentally picks up Mjolnir to gain Thor's power. Trying to figure out who gets to claim Mjolnir, Bill beats Thor in a fight, and Odin eventually creates a separate hammer for him.

2. Captain America - The Mighty Thor #390 (1988)

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Captain America went to pick up the hammer to give to Thor during an onslaught battle from Seth, the Egyptian God of Death. When things were looking most bleak for Captain (who renamed himself to The Captain at the time), he was able to pick it up to hand it off to Thor.

Later in the issue, Thor and Cap share a moment holding Mjolnir side by side.

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The next time Cap picked it up the hammer was to inspire heroes and civilians alike during 2011's "Fear Itself."

3. Ragnarok - Dark Avengers #189 (2013)

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Ragnarok, a "cyber-clone of Thor," is stuck in a dark, alternate world where the Dark Avengers are the ones being terrorized. In this alternate universe, Thor has fallen, giving the opportunity to wield Thor's mighty hammer.

With the upcoming "Thor: Ragnarok" in theaters in 2017 we may get to see a version of this scene played out in the cinematic universe.

4. Wonder Woman - Marvel v. DC #3 (1996)

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Sure, there might be a real-life rivalry between Marvel and DC, but the two universes have crossed over.

While Thor was busy fighting Captain Marvel, he lost his hammer and it ended up in the hands of Wonder Woman, who knew how to handle the power of a goddess.

5. Superman - Avengers/JLA #4 (2004)

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When Thor falls to the forces of Krona, it is up to Superman to save the day. For this moment, Superman also got to use Captain America's shield as well. He is the only one (besides Captain America himself) to use both the hammer and the shield at the same time.

6. Hulk - Avengers Assemble #4 (2012)

Marvel Wiki

Yet another Avenger got the chance to wield Thor's hammer, albeit not for a very long time. Hulk held it while Thor moved it around.

7. Awesome Android - She-Hulk #14 (2006)

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While many of the characters on this list got the hammer based on circumstance, Awesome Android (a.k.a. Awesome Andy) got it by becoming Thor.

This flashback-heavy issue showed that Andy has the power to copy any personality trait. He used this to "copy Thor's nobility" and thus, gave him the ability to both use and wield Mjolnir.

8. Magneto- The Ultimates 3 #5 (2008)

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Magneto, who can control metal with his mind, used his power to take Mjolnir for himself after both his son and daughter were killed.

9. Loki - Avengers & X-Men: Axis #9 (2014)

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Thor's brother Loki has been jealous of him ever since he was given Mjolnir instead of him.

Loki tried again and again to steal Thor's hammer. When he found out that he was one of the few deemed worthy of wielding Mjolnir, Loki made his own. When Loki gets a chance to hold the real thing, he almost defeats Thor with his own weapon. But then, Thor received some help from a few friends (Scarlet Witch, Doctor Doom, the inverted Red Skull), and Loki's evil plans were foiled once again.

It is only in a slightly inverted universe that Loki is able to almost finally claim victory.