Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor

Key Takeaways

  • Thor has been bested by formidable characters like Hulk, Hercules, and even Superman in comic book history.
  • Hercules drained Thor’s power, Red Hulk defied Mjolnir’s enchantment, and Scarlet Witch overpowered the god.
  • Unexpectedly, even Squirrel Girl and Mantis have managed to defeat the mighty Thor in various comic storylines within the Marvel universe.

As a comic book enthusiast who has spent countless hours poring over panels and issues, I must say that the world of superheroes is indeed a fascinating one. The tales of these larger-than-life characters are a testament to human imagination and creativity.


In the realm of Marvel Comics, Thor stands out as one of the most powerful characters, earning this status due to his membership in the Avengers team. Across various comic book narratives, Thor has scaled great heights, which is not surprising considering he’s a superpowered deity who can control lightning.

In contrast to popular belief, Thor hasn’t emerged victorious in every fight he’s engaged in. He’s encountered various adversaries – both heroic allies and cunning villains – who have managed to defeat him in battle on different occasions. These ten characters from Marvel Comics might astonish readers when they learn that they’ve actually defeated the powerful Thor.

10 Hercules

Thor’s Rival Has Brought Greece-d Lightning

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesHercules Panhellios, Herakles, Herc, Defender of Olympus, Giant-Killer, Prince of Power
PowersGodlike strength, superhuman speed, invulnerability, regeneration, immortality
Team AffiliationsGods of War, Avengers, Secret Avengers, Heroes for Hire, Defenders, Argonauts
Portrayed in the MCU ByBrett Goldstein (Thor: Love & Thunder)
When They Fought ThorThor Vol. 1, #126

Throughout their comic book journeys, Hercules and Thor have often found themselves at odds due to their shared roots as offspring of leading deities (Zeus and Odin). Notably, Hercules first appeared in a shared comic issue with Thor, but their battle in that edition was interrupted by Zeus without either claiming victory.

In the first solo series of Thor, during issue #126, Thor and Hercules engage in another round of combat over Jane Foster’s affections. The battle is intense as they are evenly matched, but suddenly, Thor’s power is sapped by Odin, allowing Hercules to emerge victorious. Consequently, Hercules gains popularity among fans and Hollywood, whereas Thor manages to retain Jane.

9 The Hulk

Thor Often Scraps With His Fellow Avenger

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesBruce Banner, Green Goliath
PowersGamma physiology, transformation, super-strength, super-durability, healing factor, telepathic resistance
Team AffiliationsAvengers, Illuminati, S.H.I.E.L.D., Defenders, New Hulkbusters, New Fantastic Four
Portrayed in the MCU ByMark Ruffalo (The Avengers-onward), Edward Norton (The Incredible Hulk)
When They Fought ThorThor Vol. 1, #385

In their Marvel Comics history, Hulk and Thor have had numerous confrontations, being known as the Avengers with the most combative tendencies. Interestingly, in the debut Avengers comic, Loki manipulated Hulk into attacking Thor, but ultimately, it was Thor and Hulk who united to overpower Loki. However, they engaged in a genuine battle in issue #385 of Thor’s initial comic book series.

At first, Thor seems to be dominating Hulk, but things change when Hulk endangers an innocent woman. Abandoning Mjolnir, Thor engages Hulk in a real fight. Despite this, Thor fails to overpower him and ends up being overpowered instead. Eventually, Thor is forced to submit as the Hulk departs. Recognizing the extensive damage caused during their battle, Thor decides it’s wiser to let his fellow Avenger walk free.

8 Red Hulk

A Much Tougher Hulk Surprises Even Thor

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesThaddeus Ross, Thunderbolt,
PowersGamma physiology, conscious transformation, super-strength, healing factor, energy absorption
Team AffiliationsPower Elite, Hulkbusters, Avengers, Thunderbolts
Portrayed in the MCU ByHarrison Ford (Captain America: New World Order-onward), William Hurt (The Incredible HulkBlack Widow)
When They Fought ThorHulk Vol. 2, #5

Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross is well-known for assuming the form of the Red Hulk following his daughter’s death at the hands of Abomination. What makes Ross’ Red Hulk unique compared to Bruce Banner is that he can transform voluntarily, whereas Bruce’s transformations are involuntary. In issue #5 of this comic book series, the Red Hulk has recently defeated Banner when Thor encounters him.

In this battle, Thor faces one of his most challenging opponents yet, as Red Hulk manages to withstand many of Thor’s most powerful blows. Incredibly, Red Hulk even manages to pick up Thor off the ground, all while Thor is holding Mjolnir – a feat made possible due to a loophole in the enchantment that allows only the worthy to lift it. Ultimately, Red Hulk hurls Thor (along with Mjolnir) onto the moon’s surface and leaves him covered in lunar dust.

7 Scarlet Witch

Few Avengers Can Overcome Wanda’s Magic

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesWanda Maximoff, Living Darkhold, Emperor of Magic
PowersWitchcraft, Chaos magic, clairvoyance, energy manipulation, flight, reality warping, resurrection, telepathy, teleportation
Team AffiliationsAvengers, West Coast Avengers, Secret Defenders, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants
Portrayed in the MCU ByElizabeth Olsen (Captain America: The Winter Soldier-onward)
When They Fought ThorUncanny Avengers Vol. 1, #4

It might not be unexpected for Scarlet Witch to find herself in conflict with another Avenger, considering her habit of straddling the line between hero and villain. Contrary to what some Marvel Comics fans claim online about Wanda’s lack of strength compared to Thor, a 2013 comic book shows otherwise, as Thor was mind-controlled by the Red Skull instead.

In this particular comic book issue, Scarlet Witch wasn’t fighting Thor solo; she had backing from Avengers members like Captain America and Havok. Yet, this time, she managed to vanquish Thor through the use of Chaos magic that sent the Norse deity into outer space. It’s worth noting that actress Elizabeth Olsen, who portrays Wanda in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), appears to share the sentiment that Scarlet Witch is stronger than Thor within the MCU.

6 She-Hulk

Thor’s Part-Time Lover, Part-Time Opponent

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesJennifer Walters, Hulkette, Shulk
PowersGamma physiology, transformation, super-strength, body-switching
Team AffiliationsAvengers, Fantastic Four, Lady Liberators, Defenders, Heroes for Hire, Hulkbusters
Portrayed in the MCU ByTatiana Maslany (She-Hulk: Attorney-at-Law)
When They Fought ThorAvengers Vol. 1, #296-297

It appears that Thor consistently finds himself at a disadvantage when facing various versions of the Hulk, with Jennifer Walters, the lawyer turned superhero, being no exception. Known for her remarkable feats in the comics, she’s shown an ability to vanquish villains such as Psycho-Man and even assert her presence by challenging comic book writers themselves.

In these two Avengers comics, Jennifer Walters, or rather, She-Hulk, manages to overpower her teammates, Thor and Black Knight, when under Dr. Druid’s mind control (who in turn was controlled by Ravonna Renslayer). Once freed, she leaves the Avengers to grapple with her guilt over fighting her allies after realizing what transpired.

5 Ghost Rider

Thor Can’t Overcome The Spirit Of Vengeance

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesJohnny Blaze, Brimstone Avenger, Spirit of Vengeance, Bonehead
PowersTransformation, super-strength, invulnerability, regeneration, hellfire generation, magic, soul manipulation, penance stare
Team AffiliationsMidnight Sons, Savage Avengers, Thunderbolts, Defenders
Portrayed in the MCU ByGabriel Luna (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Nicolas Cage (Ghost Rider-Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance)
When They Fought ThorAvengers Vol. 1, #214

As a devoted admirer, I’ve noticed Ghost Rider often gets overlooked among Marvel’s pantheon of heroes, largely due to his unique orbit separate from heavyweights like Thor. Yet, delving into Marvel history, we find a captivating instance in issue #214 of the original Avengers comic series. It was here that Johnny Blaze, my beloved Ghost Rider, became host to the demon Zarathos, unleashing a destructive rampage. This chaotic outburst eventually caught the attention of the Avengers, who intervened to halt his fury.

As a gamer, let me tell you, taking on Ghost Rider isn’t a walk in the park for our team of heroes – Captain America, Thor, Tigra, The Wasp, and Iron Man. At first, it seemed like we had an edge with Thor, but boy, was I wrong! Ghost Rider managed to seize control of Mjolnir, smashing into Thor and leaving him unconscious before slipping away while we picked up the pieces following our humbling defeat.

4 Mantis

Not Even A God Can Resist Her Powers

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesBrandt, Celestial Madonna
PowersEmpathy, telepathy, astral projection, precognition, regeneration
Team AffiliationsGuardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, Knowhere Corps
Portrayed in the MCU ByPom Klementieff
When They Fought ThorAvengers Vol. 1 #114 & #123

To some, learning that Mantis, who possesses limited powers, managed to defeat Thor might seem surprising. However, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are aware of how underestimated she is, as she almost subdued Thanos in “Avengers: Infinity War.” In fact, she has demonstrated similar abilities against Thor in various Avengers comic books from the 1970s.

In issue #114, Mantis and Swordsman become part of the Avengers team, but this alliance is actually a trick by the Lion God to eliminate Black Panther. As the battle unfolds, at first, Mantis and Swordsman support the Lion God, managing to overpower Thor by putting him to sleep using Mantis’ powers. In subsequent issues, she repeats this tactic against the Avengers in another encounter.

3 Beta Ray Bill

A Thor Copycat Gets The Best Of The Hero

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesGodhunter, Champion of Korbin, Thor
PowersSuper-strength, super-speed, healing factor
Team AffiliationsGuardians of the Galaxy, Omega Flight, Annihilators, Thor Corps
Portrayed in the MCU ByN/A
When They Fought ThorThor Vol. 1, #337 & #338

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at the intriguing storyline that pits Beta Ray Bill against my beloved Thor. This Korbinite warrior is meticulously crafted to be Thor’s toughest competitor. In an unexpected twist, it’s revealed that Beta Ray Bill is worthy of wielding Mjolnir.

Later on, Odin insists that Beta Ray Bill and Thor fight again for the privilege of keeping the hammer. This time, Beta Ray Bill emerges victorious and claims the hammer. However, he later chose to return it to Thor and acquired a new weapon called Stormbreaker instead. In due course, he became an ally to Thor as well as other Asgardians such as Sif, and eventually joined a team of hammer-wielding superheroes known as the Thor Corps.

2 Squirrel Girl

She’s Overpowered, Even By Marvel’s Standards

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesDoreen Green, Lady Crimepocalypse, The Slayer of All That Breathes
PowersSquirrel powers, super-strength, healing factor
Team AffiliationsNew Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., Great Lakes Avengers
Portrayed in the MCU ByMilana Vayntrub (Cancelled New Warriors series)
When They Fought ThorUnbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe, #1

Characterized by an extraordinary level of power for humorous effect, Squirrel Girl’s abilities have proven to outmatch even formidable foes such as Thanos, Wolverine, and Doctor Doom. Given her past victories, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if she could successfully engage and triumph over a character like Thor in combat.

Every year, the comic book titled “Unstoppable Nutcracker Takes Down the Marvel Multiverse” presents Doreen Green battling wicked duplicates of the entire Marvel universe. Interestingly, she has demonstrated the ability to lift Mjolnir, a feat that only a select few Marvel heroes can achieve. Remarkably, there’s one hero who gave Doreen a run for her money – surprisingly enough, it was a version of herself.

1 Superman

He’s Not Even From Marvel, But He Still Beat Thor

Marvel: Surprising Characters Who Have Beaten Thor
AliasesKal-El, Clark Kent, God of Strength
PowersKryptonian physiology, super-strength, super-speed, super-vision, heat vision, flight, invulnerability, teleportation
Team AffiliationsJustice League, Sinestro Corps, SuperCorp, The Authority, Legion of Super-Heroes
Portrayed in the DCEU ByHenry Cavill (Man of Steel- Black Adam), Nicolas Cage (The Flash), David Corenswet (Superman-onward)
When They Fought ThorJLA/Avengers, #2

It’s not unexpected that one of the most powerful superheroes, even surpassing Thor, has triumphed over him, given that their universes rarely collide. However, it could be just because Marvel and DC seldom intersect, as seen in the four-issue miniseries “JLA/Avengers“, where numerous conflicts between Marvel and DC characters unfolded, including Thor’s clash with Superman in issue #2 – a highly anticipated confrontation.

To put it simply, in a fair match-up, the confrontation between Superman and Thor tested their utmost capabilities. Superman had a tough time dealing with Thor’s hammer. In the end, Superman emerged victorious against the Avenger, claiming that this battle was the most challenging he had ever faced. Yet, it was just one encounter, influenced by creative decisions in storytelling, so perhaps under another writer’s guidance, Thor could triumph over Superman.

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2024-10-02 11:04