After discovering that he is, in fact, the son of the Frost Giant king Laufey (played by Colm Feore), he concocted a plan to take over Asgard by having Thor banished.Īfter that plot fell apart, he set his sights on Earth before being apprehended by its Mightiest Heroes - specifically, the big green one. As portrayed in the first movie, Loki was raised believing he was Thor’s biological brother. In the movies: British actor Tom Hiddleston’s performance as Thor’s mustache-twirling archenemy in both “Thor” and “The Avengers” has made him a fan favorite. Thursday - “Thor’s day” - is named after him.

He is famous for his red hair and beard, his violent temper and a herculean appetite. He has absolutely no family relation to Loki - adoptive or otherwise.Īlong with Mjolnir, which was described as being capable of leveling mountains, Thor has a magic belt, gloves and staff - each with catchy names of their own like Megingjardir - and he travels using a chariot drawn by two magic goats, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder. In mythology: The Norse god of thunder, storms, strength and fertility and the protector of mankind, he is the son of Odin and the earth goddess, Jord/Fjorgyn (not Frigga), and married to Sif. Using his magic hammer Mjolnir, which he disguised as a walking cane, he could transform at will into his Asgardian form.Īlongside Iron Man, Ant-Man, the Wasp and the Hulk, Thor was also a founding member of the original Avengers as they first appeared in their 1963 debut. Unlike the movie, Thor is first sent to Earth in the form of a mild-mannered, partially handicapped med school student named Donald Blake. He was created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Larry Lieber - Lee’s brother. 83 as a foil to another Marvel character, the Incredible Hulk. In the comics: The Mighty Thor first appeared in 1962’s “Journey into Mystery” No. Thor is portrayed as the son of Odin and Frigga, adoptive brother of Loki and crown prince of Asgard. Hemsworth reprised the role for Marvel’s “The Avengers” in 2012 before beginning work on “Thor: The Dark World.” In the movies: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth beat hundreds of competitors, including his brother Liam Hemsworth, according to, for the role of the Nordic god/alien in Kenneth Branagh’s “Thor.” The 2011 film saw the character temporarily stripped of his powers and exiled in the New Mexico desert after nearly causing a war between his home world of Asgard and the Frost Giants. Here’s a quick rundown of each of the major players as they appear in the movies, the comic books and - where applicable - Norse mythology. With Marvel’s highly anticipated “Thor” sequel hitting theaters this weekend, it might be a good idea to brush up on the large cast of characters.

Cast of thor the dark world