Badass Bystander from Thor

I've seen a few references to once scene in Thor or the Avengers where some random paramedic picks up Mjolnir, hands it to Thor and then dissapears. Does anyone know what book, volume and issue that is from?

I'm curious about that too.

I've been hearing about that online for several years now so I have assumed that it was in an older story.

So you heard about that too? Some even use it as an argument against Supes.

I've heard that argument before. And it's extremely stupid.

How have they been using it as an argument against Superman? o.O

^ Trying to say Supes lifting Thor's hammer in the (supposedly canon) JLA/Avengers crossover was nothing special.

I find it a little strange that Fricking Superman of all people is apparently not worthy of lifting Thor's hammer. He's just as honorable, good hearted, kind, etc as Captain America. He definitely should be able to lift it.

I don't really get that.

I do. Superman is not a warrior at heart. Yes, he's honorable and noble and all... but that isn't enough. You also have to be the kind of person who actively enjoys battle, and possesses a warrior's spirit. Superman would, if given his druthers, be totally and 100% content if he never had to fight again, not merely because he's of saintly character, but because for him fighting is something he does only because it is necessary.

When you put it that way, I guess it makes alot of sense. Although I don't recall being a warrior at heart to be a requirement. If so, does that mean the Captain America inherently enjoys battle more than Superman?

So as not to derail the topic, I'd like to see the Random Dude hands Thor his hammer scene, if only for the Double Take Thor would do.

Er . . . Superman did lift Thor's hammer.

Only because The enchantments that prevent those who are unworthy of doing so were lifted. When he tried to give it back, he no longer could.

Although not being a warrior at heart might be a logical mark against him.

edited 21st Mar '11 6:29:33 PM by HandsomeRob

I thought Superman couldn't lift it because Thor, the default owner of it, was there. Like, Thor trumps all other worthies because it's specifically his hammer or something.

If that were true, than Beta Ray Bill should never have been able to lift Mjolnir, 'cause he did so right in front of Thor.

Beta Ray Bill is a special case, though, because Odin actually was seeking to give Thor a reminder lesson in humility.

I guess in current continuity Superman never fought in WWII but Captain America did, so I guess there's a difference there.

And even if Supes wasn't "a true warrior at heart" Thor still remarked that it had never been in worthier hands. Which is nice.

More like nauseating. All must bow before the S. *rollseyes*

Right. I know what you mean; I think Superman should now be portrayed in comics as as a conceited celebrity, or something like that, because that's what everyone else is making him out to be. Reinvent him, just once more.

Well, it's just a nod of respect. Superman started the superhero genre, and Stan Lee has often stated that every comic book creator owes the character a huge debt.

Regardless of how you feel about his prominence, it's still cool to see homage be paid.

Maybe Odin let Superman lift Mjolnir because that was the only hope of destroying the barrier, and after the battle, Superman was unable to lift it.

It's been a while since I read it, but I could swear that there was explicitly some kind of conditional reason within the story itself that Superman could lift the hammer- might even be the 'Odin temporarily lifted that particular enchantment' reason. Suppose I could always dig it out.

And I can't speak for anyone else, but I thought that the image of Superman with Cap's shield and Thor's hammer, while a bit overblown, was still pretty Bad Ass.

That's exactly what happened. Just checked. Thor says something like "My father is stern, but not stupid." As I said, Superman wielding Mjolnir was the best hope the universe had at the moment.

edited 26th May '11 3:07:10 AM by Canondorf

Wait, JLA/Avengers was canon?

Didn't Galactus die in it, or is my memory hazy?

They rebooted the universes after everything was done with. Krona became a cosmic egg which figured into a JLA story and the Trinity maxiseries, and it's speculated that the corruption from DC's explicitly evil chaos magic is what caused her to go batshit during M-Day or whatever that crossover was.

^ "her" being Scarlet Witch, naturally.