In Marvel Comics, Thor's hammer Mjolnir is one of the most consistently powerful weapons in the universe. Mjolnir’s origins are numerous and often complicated, and its power stems from not only Asgardian magic, but from forces as old as the universe itself.
Mjolnir was made out of Odin sealed Mjolnir away, only for Thor to later rediscover it as shown in The Mighty Thor Vol 1 Annual #11 by Alan Zelenetz and Bob Hall. After proving his right to wield it by completing challenges showing his worth, it became Thor’s signature weapon, only lifted by Thor and the select few others able to be judged truly worthy.
One key aspect that makes Mjolnir so powerful is the forces contained within it. The Mighty Thor Vol 3 #12 by Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman and Frazer Irving reveals that within Mjolnir is a sentient cosmic storm from the dawn of the universe itself. This storm is known as the God Tempest, which Odin trapped within the Uru metal gifted to him by the Dwarves. Seeing its potential, Odin had the dwarves forge Mjolnir, but due to the God Tempest's power even Odin couldn’t fully control the new weapon. To stop its power from ever getting out of control again, Odin created the worthiness enchantment, ensuring that no-one would take up the weapon until Thor claimed it.
Mjolnir Is Home To Several Ancient and Powerful Forces
However, the God Tempest within Mjolnir wasn’t done with the Asgardians. In defeating the ancient Asgardian foe the Mangog, Jane Foster destroyed both Mjolnir and Mangog by casting them into the sun in Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman’s Mighty Thor Vol 2 #705. In Aaron and Dauterman’s War of the Realms #6, the Tempest resurfaced, controlled by Thor to reforge Mjolnir anew. However, unbeknownst to the Asgardians, the Mangog had combined with the God Tempest, creating a gestalt being that saw its purpose as destruction and was frustrated at its existence trapped within Mjolnir.
Referred to in legend as the God of Hammers, this being was only stopped when Thor, wielding Odin’s full power, destroyed it in the very forge of Nidavellir where it was created. Mjolnir was then reforged a second time, free of the corrupted spirits that haunted it. With Odin’s recent death however, his soul has lingered inside the reforged hammer, unable to through to Valhalla. As such, it remains to be seen what powers this new forging of Mjolnir may possess, and with them, what trials will await Thor.
