# Mjolnir....in Space **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 2, 2013, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145 "2013-08-02T12:23:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2

**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/21 "2013-08-03T22:47:06Z")

> [@Miller](#): > > The Ultimate Hulk as worthy to weld Mjolnir? The one that’s a giant, cannibalistic rape monster? > > Jesus, I’m glad I stopped reading that book when I did. I don’t follow the series that closely, but I don’t think you have to be worthy to lift the Ultimate Mjolnir, just incredibly strong. ---

**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/22 "2013-08-04T00:03:57Z")

IIRC\< didn’t Red Hulk recently grab and use Mjolnir in space, on the grounds that since it was in space, it had no weight and therefore anyone could throw it. Note that this is a substantial canon violation if you care about it, as Red Hulk is a complete douche. ---

**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/23 "2013-08-04T00:37:26Z")

Superman was able to use it because of a [special dispensation from Odin](http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/14/148811/2839989-superman___thor_s_hammer.jpg). > [@TBG](#): > > Captain America is (or was as of ~2008 when I stopped collecting comics) the one worthy person who’s picked it up and remained himself rather than turn into an ersatz Thor. There was also a nameless paramedic who picked it up without changing. Just strolled by during the clean up after a battle, said something like “Hey Thor, we found your hammer” and handed it to Thor then went back to work. Collecting quite the double-take from Thor once he realized what had happened. Loki also once managed to life it but he cheated; he used magic drawn from the sword of Surtur to overcome the magic on the hammer to let him do it, and when it was destroyed lost the ability. Thor then made a point of tossing Loki the hammer. (“Oh, no!” _\_) ---

**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/24 "2013-08-04T01:19:16Z")

_“meow meow?”_ ---

**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/25 "2013-08-04T02:42:43Z")

Notably, Wonder Woman voluntarily dropped the hammer before fighting Storm, as it wouldn’t be fair. By all indications, she could have hung onto it indefinitely. Of course, her losing to Storm even without the hammer is so ridiculous (one moment among many) that I’d happily write off the entire series as a load of crap. Seriously, was that whole thing just a treatment for a new _Street Fighter_ game or something? Blech. ---

**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/26 "2013-08-04T02:47:53Z")

> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Notably, Wonder Woman voluntarily dropped the hammer before fighting Storm, as it wouldn’t be fair. By all indications, she could have hung onto it indefinitely. > Of course, her losing to Storm even without the hammer is so ridiculous (one moment among many) that I’d happily write off the entire series as a load of crap. Seriously, was that whole thing just a treatment for a new _Street Fighter_ game or something? Blech. There were a number of fights that were decided purely by fan votes. That was one. Wolverine beating Lobo was another. I will grant that Lobo is basically a parody of Wolverine, but I can’t see Weapon X beating the Main Man in a quick bar fight. ---

**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/27 "2013-08-04T03:17:19Z")

> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > IIRC\< didn’t Red Hulk recently grab and use Mjolnir in space, on the grounds that since it was in space, it had no weight and therefore anyone could throw it. Note that this is a substantial canon violation if you care about it, as Red Hulk is a complete douche. Yes and it was laughably stupid and has been subsequently mocked in other comics. The writer, Jeb Loeb, tried to defend it by saying that the enchantments don’t apply in space. That goes against years of continuity. The Hulk has never wielded Mjolnir in 616 continuity. The Celestials recreated the hammer so presumably they can lift it along with most other cosmic level chracters. Beta Ray Bill lifted it because Odin allowed him to. In the Avengers/JLA cross over Superman was deemed unworthy to lift the hammer and was only allowed to wield it again by Odin’s consent. The first MARVEL/DC cross over was awful and should never be discussed. ---

**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/28 "2013-08-04T03:21:42Z")

There was also a one-shot character named Elfqueen who upon discovering she couldn’t lift the hammer off the ground, promptly animated the earth underneath the hammer into a huge fist and had it smash Thor with his hammer. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Notably, Wonder Woman voluntarily dropped the hammer before fighting Storm, as it wouldn’t be fair. By all indications, she could have hung onto it indefinitely. > Of course, her losing to Storm even without the hammer is so ridiculous (one moment among many) that I’d happily write off the entire series as a load of crap. Seriously, was that whole thing just a treatment for a new _Street Fighter_ game or something? Blech. No; as I recall who won each fight was determined by fan votes, which is why they made so little sense. Except for Superman; it was in the crossover agreement between the two publishers that he’d win. ---

**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/29 "2013-08-04T03:50:28Z")

> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > There was also a one-shot character named Elfqueen who upon discovering she couldn’t lift the hammer off the ground, promptly animated the earth underneath the hammer into a huge fist and had it smash Thor with his hammer. Early in his career, Doctor Strange conjured up an enchanted hand to yoink the hammer away from Thor – who promptly (and hilariously) fell out of the sky. ---

**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/30 "2013-08-04T04:08:42Z")

Oh, brother…! :rolleyes: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/V9w7aWptl6s/maxresdefault.jpg "Girls Read Comic = Hammer Arguement") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9w7aWptl6s) ---

**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/31 "2013-08-04T05:30:52Z")

I know fan votes were the deciding factor in Storm v. Wonder Woman, as it was in several other fights in that series (only a few, as I recall, so the series could be tied or nearly-tied when it finally got near the end). What I find to be an act of stupidity is that the editors allowed it, or for that matter that they thought it was a good idea to base the story on a bunch of rounds of one-on-one in the first place. ---

**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/32 "2013-08-04T06:28:27Z")

> [@Lochdale](#): > > Yes and it was laughably stupid and has been subsequently mocked in other comics. The writer, Jeb Loeb, tried to defend it by saying that the enchantments don’t apply in space. That goes against years of continuity. > > The Hulk has never wielded Mjolnir in 616 continuity. The Red Hulk did indeed wield Mjolnir (in zero gravity) in 616 continuity. It happened in 2008, Hulk #5, pages 11-14. I know Thor fans don’t like it, but the zero-gravity factor made the difference. In all honesty, I thought it was a creative examination of the extent of the enchantment (and kind of think it’s laughable that the hammer _wouldn’t_ be able to be moved in the emptiness of space). To each their own, I guess. Also: It’s not Jeb, it’s Jeph. ---

**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/33 "2013-08-04T07:02:46Z")

shouldn’t it translate to inertia in space? there is no reason to limit the magic to the presence of an anchor. ---

**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/34 "2013-08-04T07:32:37Z")

> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > I will grant that Lobo is basically a parody of Wolverine, but I can’t see Weapon X beating the Main Man in a quick bar fight. Especially since the parody involves cranking him to 11…and then exaggerating it a whole lot more. He’s more violent, stronger, tougher, and with a more ludicrous healing factor. He should never have lost that damn fight. ---

**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/35 "2013-08-04T12:55:24Z")

> [@Lochdale](#): > > In the Avengers/JLA cross over Superman was deemed unworthy to lift the hammer and was only allowed to wield it again by Odin’s consent. Wait, what? Maybe I’m partisan, but Superman is pretty much the definition of strong and honorable and good, isn’t he? If Superman’s not worthy then no one sort of CAN be. I always found Captain America enormously inspiring as a human who is so honorable that he can lift Mjolnir. That’s why - even though he’s one of the lesser-powered Avengers - he’s the leader. ---

**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/36 "2013-08-04T13:47:22Z")

> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Maybe I’m partisan, but Superman is pretty much the definition of strong and honorable and good, isn’t he? If Superman’s not worthy then no one sort of CAN be. Superman tends to turn into a jerk in the presence of Marvel characters. It’s like they’re dicktonite, or something. ---

**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/37 "2013-08-04T16:03:11Z")

**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/38 "2013-08-04T16:36:16Z")

One hypothesis I’ve heard is that the Aesir are a pantheon of warriors, and so their notion of “worthy” includes the willingness to kill enemies. Superman is unwilling, or at least extremely reluctant (depending on writer), to kill, and so he’s not regarded as worthy. ---

**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/39 "2013-08-04T18:47:27Z")

> [@shijinn](#): > > shouldn’t it translate to inertia in space? there is no reason to limit the magic to the presence of an anchor. Perhaps it should, but magic is often more about the words than the spirit. If the enchantment originally specified weight, then it could just mean weight. But, assuming there’s a way to do so, that oversight should be corrected. As for Superman–he had to be unworthy to prove the point that being super strong is not enough. The Hulk is insufficient, as he might not be mad enough. ---

**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145/40 "2013-08-05T03:35:06Z")

> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Wait, what? > > Maybe I’m partisan, but Superman is pretty much the definition of strong and honorable and good, isn’t he? If Superman’s not worthy then no one sort of CAN be. Sounds like someone needs a [superdickery](http://superdickery.com/index.php?Itemid=45Voir) refresher. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mjolnir-in-space/665145.md?page=3)