More than 30 years ago, Marvel Comics decided to make Jane Foster the new Thor in a non-canon “What If…?“ story. Little did they know at the time, the story would inspire the future Marvel Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Foster would become the God of Thunder in both the comics and the big screen. Foster’s Thor is a rare example of a non-canon, alt-universe story influencing the mainstream comics.
Jane Foster appeared in Thor’s earliest adventures, making her Marvel Comics debut in Journey Into Mystery #84 by Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, Stan Goldberg, Artie Simek, and Stan Lee. Foster’s first appearance was only predated by Thor’s by a single issue. Originally, Foster was written as the God of Thunder’s love interest, who was often battling for Thor and his alter-ego Donald Blake’s affection. Foster was adapted to the big screen in the first Thor film in the MCU, where she was played by Natalie Portman. Much like the comics, she wasn’t given much to do.
In Marvel’s “What If Jane Foster Had Found The Hammer of Thor?” in 1978 by Don Glut, Rick Hoberg, Dave Hunt, Carl Gafford, and Carol Lay, Marvel reimagined Foster as the person who found Mjolnir and became worthy. In the issue, she takes down Thor’s brother Loki and eventually gives the hammer back to Donald Blake. In the end, she’s turned into a goddess and marries Odin. While it appeared the tale was going to be a small footnote on her story, when Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman revealed a new female Thor, they decided to make the idea of Foster being the God of Thunder canon.
In 2014, Marvel Comics revealed the identity of the new female Thor, as Jane Foster became worthy in an incredible storyline that featured her balancing the duties of the Asgardian God while battling cancer. More than 30 years after the “What If…?” comic imagined what it would be like for Foster to become Thor, it became Marvel canon. And Foster’s time as Thor wasn’t a gimmick, as her adventures from Aaron, Dauterman, and co., are some of the best Thor stories ever told. It was heartbreaking to see Foster’s time as the hero end.
While there’s no way the original creators of Foster’s “What If…?” storyline knew their comic would eventually inspire a new, beloved version of Thor, ultimately, the alt-universe story was the stepping stone for the character’s evolution. While writers have since expanded on Jane Foster’s importance in Thor Comics – even recently making her a Valkyrie – the best version of the character is unquestionably when she was Thor. It’s incredibly exciting to see the hero become Thor in the MCU next.
