Thor’s Unconventional Road to Marvel Royalty
There are two things in the Marvel Universe that are undeniably certain, Marvel’s god of thunder is among the studio’s most beloved characters, and he began as one of its most underwhelming; this is Thor’s unconventional road to Marvel royalty.
In the decade-plus history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans have seen some of the biggest and most beloved heroes and villains come and go.
Photo: Marvel
There have been entire film franchises dedicated to some of these incredibly adored heroes whose narrative arc creates a journey that sees them approach an eventual end.
2008 saw the birth of that universe with Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark, the iconic beginning that introduced a lovable self-obsessed genius who now dedicated his renewed existence to protecting the earth from insurmountable threats.
Source: Marvel Studios
Around this same time, Marvel also introduced both Chris Evans Captain America and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor; two characters that joined Stark in establishing the trinity of the MCU.
All three of these characters were received quite differently despite all being vitally important to the development of the original six Avengers.
Source: Marvel Studios
Captain America was the leader archetype, who found a fanbase in those who appreciated his unrelenting willingness to do the right thing and protect people at all costs.
With the developing films and characters, one got lost in the shuffle; Thor.
Photo: Marvel Studios
A hero with very few characteristics to make them relatable to many audience members, the original Thor was a character wrought with entitlement and royal perspectives that made him almost unlikeable.
So, then, how did we get there? How did we now enter into a world in which Thor is among the most popular and most beloved heroes of the current Marvel Universe?
Source: Marvel Studios
Well, it’s due to Thor’s unconventional road to MArvel royalty.
After Thor: The Dark World became Marvel’s biggest flop, the studio was certain of only one thing; something has to change in the character is to ever make it within the growing MCU.
Unused ‘Thor: The Dark World’ footage used in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Photo: Business Insider
He was stale, boring, and far less interesting than the characters who surrounded him; that was until Marvel chose a new person to helm the character’s journey.
Taika Waititi is as eclectic as he is creative, and his renegade style of filmmaking was the boom or bust proposition that was perfect to attempt the impossible; recreate the Thor that fans had come to know throughout Marvel’s first few phases.
Source: Marvel Studios/ New York TImes
Taika created a character who was relatable, who never took himself too seriously, and with Thor: Ragnarok, began upon an emotional journey that would test everything about him as he- along with the audience- was attempting to figure out just who this.
Thor: Love and THunder is the culmination of this road to Marvel royalty, as he is fully embracing the metamorphosis that produced the depressive Thor of Avengers: Endgame, as he battles mental illness more daunting than any physical challenge he would attempt to face.
Source: Marvel Studios
The reality of Thor is that he, due to the challenges that face him, has fully evolved into one of the most popular Marvel heroes in the current landscape; and it only took him four solo films and a role in decades worth of Avenger films to get him there.
