Anyone who is “worthy” in Marvel canon can lift Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, which means having a mix of courage, honor, self‑sacrifice, and a clean moral compass by Asgardian standards. Over the years, both in comics and on screen, a surprising list of characters has managed to pick it up and wield the power of Thor.

What makes someone worthy?

In Marvel comics and the MCU, Odin’s enchantment reads along the lines of: “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” Being worthy usually means:

  • Willing to sacrifice yourself for others, even at great cost.
  • Acting with honor: no abuse of power, cruelty, or selfish ambition.
  • Accepting responsibility and leadership instead of seeking glory.

The “worthiness” test is spiritual and moral, not about raw strength or even hero status, which is why some classic heroes still fail while a few unlikely candidates succeed.

Major Marvel heroes who lifted Mjolnir

Here are some of the best‑known Marvel characters who have canonically lifted Thor’s hammer:

  • Thor Odinson – The default wielder, once unworthy when Odin removed the enchantment, but later regains it.
  • Captain America (Steve Rogers) – Lifts Mjolnir in comics like “The Mighty Thor #390” and battles with it in events such as “Fear Itself” and “Secret Empire.”
  • Beta Ray Bill – The first non‑Asgardian to prove worthy, leading Odin to forge him his own hammer, Stormbreaker.
  • Jane Foster (Mighty Thor) – Becomes Thor while suffering from cancer, repeatedly lifting Mjolnir and wielding its full power.
  • Odin – Thor’s father both commissioned the hammer and can lift and command it thanks to his own godly authority and worthiness.
  • Vision (MCU) – In “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” he casually hands Mjolnir to Thor; some fans argue it’s because he is inherently pure and not truly “human.”

Marvel’s own official list for Mjolnir’s 60th anniversary also includes others like Eric Masterson (Thunderstrike) and characters in specific storylines or timelines.

Other surprising wielders (comics and crossovers)

Beyond the core Avengers, quite a few unexpected characters have lifted the hammer in one comic, a single issue, or an alternate continuity:

  • Wonder Woman – In the Marvel vs. DC crossover, she proves worthy of Mjolnir but chooses not to use it to keep the fight fair.
  • Superman – Briefly wields it in the “Avengers/JLA” crossover, after Odin temporarily lifts the worthiness restriction so he can strike a decisive blow.
  • Loki – In certain stories and alternate realities, a redeemed or variant Loki has managed to lift or wield a version of Mjolnir.
  • Hulk – At least once in comics he gets to use it briefly (or hold it while Thor is moving it), playing on the gag that sheer strength might bypass the enchantment under special circumstances.

More niche comics and recent videos round up long lists that include Moon Knight, Black Panther, Venom, Throg (the frog Thor), Gwenpool, and Squirrel Girl in specific arcs or universes.

Fun fan debates and forum talk

Fans keep spinning theories about who could lift Mjolnir next, treating “who can lift Thor’s hammer” as an ongoing thought experiment. Some argue that many heroes could technically hold it if the enchantment were off, but only the worthy would channel Thor’s power, while others think only worthiness lets you pick it up at all. This turns every new movie, show, or comic into a mini‑event whenever Mjolnir appears, because everyone wants to see if a new character might finally prove worthy.

TL;DR: Canonically, a select group including Thor, Captain America, Beta Ray Bill, Jane Foster, Odin, Vision, and a handful of others have lifted Mjolnir, all meeting Odin’s mystical “worthiness” standard in their respective stories.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.