Bring your tissues to see Thor: Love and Thunder because there’s going to be a depressing death scene.

If there’s one thing that is certain about a Thor movie, it’s that someone important to the God of Thunder will die in a heartbreaking fashion. First, it was his mother, Freyja, killed during a Dark Elf attack during Dark World. Next, Odin turned to golden dust and was scattered by the wind in Ragnarok. The more impactful deaths occurred in Infinity War when Thanos killed Heimdall, Loki, and half of the remaining Asgardians. Don’t forget about Black Widow and Iron Man in Endgame, which Thor was a sizable part of. 

Outside 2011’s Thor, death surrounds the Thunder God. Despite the cheerful and happy teaser trailer for Love and Thunder, I wager that Taika Waititi has an unexpected twist planned for the audience. This one could hit harder than all the others. 

To whom am I referring? Jane Foster.

JASON AARON’S THOR

My theory comes directly from the pages of writer Jason Aaron’s run on Thor beginning in 2014. We have known for about three years now that Love and Thunder would take heavy inspiration from his take on the characters. If you have read the comics, you will know that Jane briefly dies at the end of that story arc. 

It began with Thor losing his magic hammer. In Original Sin #7, Nick Fury whispered, “Gorr was right,” referring to the God Butcher's assertion that gods are vain, vengeful, and not worthy of worship. It was enough to cause the God of Thunder to drop Mjolnir. His fear and doubt made him unworthy of the Asgardian power, and he was unable to lift his own hammer. 

For a time, Mjolnir remained on the moon, waiting for a worthy hand to lift it and claim the powers of the Thunder God. As Thor sought to reclaim his godly worth, a mystery guest grips the hammer and holds it high. It’s common knowledge now that it was Jane Foster, but at the time, it was one of the most intriguing mysteries in Marvel Comics. 

Lady Thor

Sporting blonde hair and a helmet that concealed most of her face, Jane became Lady Thor, Goddess of Thunder, and she starred in a rebooted Thor series. Meanwhile, Odinson had adopted a giant axe as his weapon of choice in the Unworthy Thor. Bear in mind, it had been revealed that Jane Foster was dying of cancer. While in her Goddess of Thunder form, she was nearly invincible, but her mortal body was being neglected and withering away because the chemotherapy treatments were purged each time Jane transformed. 

At one point, Jane went to Doctor Strange for medical treatment after she refused the Asgardians’ magical cures. She discovered that her cancer was in an advanced stage, and Strange warned her that becoming the Thunder Goddess would kill her. When the god-killing monster, Mangog, threatened Asgard, Jane accepted her fate and transformed one last time to save her friends. After the battle, she reverted back to her mortal form and died in Thor #705.

COMIC BOOK LOGIC

Of course, these are comics, and superheroes don’t stay dead for long. In an effort to save Jane, Thor summoned the God Tempest held within Mjolnir. Coupled with Odin’s magic, they were able to resurrect the former Goddess of Thunder. With a second chance at life, she continued with her chemo treatments, beat cancer, and would eventually become a Valkyrie.

This could all be in line with what Waititi and Kevin Feige have planned for Love and Thunder. The director has been known to inject drama into his projects for an increased emotional impact. Comic fans may have an inkling of where Love and Thunder could be headed, but mainstream audiences would be caught by surprise.

If done correctly, it could make the latest Thor entry as one of Marvel’s best films to date.

Want more Thor?

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER – ANGELA AND THE MCU
HOTTEST COMICS: THE THUNDER GODDESS REIGNS
THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER – ZEUS KEYS

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