Jane Foster is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #84 (September 1962). Jane Foster was introduced as a love interest of the superhero Thor Odinson until becoming a superhero in her own right.
For many years, Foster was a nurse, employed by Dr. Donald Blake, Thor's first mortal host, before becoming a doctor herself. Foster is later revealed to be deemed worthy to wield Thor's hammer Mjolnir when the former is no longer able. During this period, she adopts the mantle of Thor, and joins the Avengers. Foster's stint as Thor ends with the character sacrificing her life and the mantle reverting to the original Thor. After Brunnhilde and the rest of the Valkyrior are killed during "The War of the Realms" storyline, Foster takes up the mantle of Valkyrie.
Jane Foster has been described as one of Marvel's most notable and powerful female heroes. Since her original introduction in comics, the character has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products, including video games, animated television series, and merchandise. Natalie Portman has portrayed Jane Foster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Publication history
Jane Foster first appeared in Journey into Mystery #84 (September 1962), and was created by plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber and penciler Jack Kirby. Named "Jane Nelson" in her first two appearances, she went on to appear as the love interest of Dr. Donald Blake, the secret identity of the Norse god superhero Thor, in nearly every issue through #136 (Jan. 1967) of the title, by then renamed Thor."Jane Foster". Grand Comics Database.
In October 2014, the fourth volume of Thor, writer Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman in the first issue debuted a female character in the role of Thor after the classic hero is no longer able to wield Mjolnir. Aaron stated, "This is not She-Thor. This is not Lady Thor. This is not Thorita. This is Thor. This is the Thor of the Marvel Universe. But it's unlike any Thor we've ever seen before." In 2015, this Thor joined the Avengers in All-New All-Different Avengers FCBD (May 2015), which takes place in the aftermath of the "Secret Wars" storyline. In Thor vol. 4 #8 (May 2015), the identity of the woman was revealed to be Jane Foster. Aaron said, "It grew out of the idea of the previous Thor becoming unworthy, which was something I was always building toward. I liked the idea of dealing with his worthiness and the idea of what it means for a god to be worthy in the Marvel universe. You know, the god of thunder waking up every morning and looking at the hammer and not knowing if he's gonna be worthy to lift it. Then, of course, one day he should wake up and not be able to lift it. That opened the door for someone else to pick up the hammer and carry it around in his place. Really, the only character that was discussed was Jane." A second volume of The Mighty Thor by Aaron and Dauterman and again starring Jane Foster as Thor debuted as part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel initiative after the conclusion of "Secret Wars." The concept of Jane Foster gaining the powers of Thor had previously been explored in What If #10 (August 1978). Foster appeared in the 2015 original graphic novel Avengers: Rage of Ultron as a member of the Avengers.Avengers: Rage of Ultron #1. Marvel Comics (New York).
Jane Foster reappears in the War of the Realms storyline, before taking up the mantle as the new Valkyrie in a new ongoing series titled "Jane Foster: Valkyrie." The series was written by Aaron in collaboration with other authors. One of those authors, Torunn Grønbekk, wrote a new comic in 2022, "Jane Foster & The Mighty Thor."
Fictional character history Early history Jane Nelson, known by her more common name of Jane Foster, was a nurse for Dr. Donald Blake, eventually developing feelings for him and Thor, not knowing that they were one and the same. The love triangle went on for a while until Thor revealed his secret identity to Foster, which caused Odin to punish him though he was forgiven after saving Asgard, and in return Thor even took her to Asgard with him.Journey into Mystery #125 (Feb. 1966). Marvel Comics (New York). There, Foster was briefly granted immortality and the power of gods, until she failed to pass the tests of courage set forth by Odin when she showed fear battling the monstrous Unknown. Odin then strips Foster of her new powers and returns her to Earth, with no memory of Thor or her time in Asgard, where she meets her new love Dr. Keith Kincaid, who resembles Blake. Meanwhile, in Asgard, Odin reunites Thor with his childhood love, Sif.Thor #136 (Jan. 1967). Marvel Comics (New York).
Foster and Thor remain separated for some time until Thor learns Foster had been manipulated into attempting suicide by an entity known as Fear and rushes to her hospital bedside.Thor #231 (Jan. 1975). Marvel Comics (New York). Sif, seeing Thor still has feelings for Foster, saves Foster's life by merging their life-forces.Thor #236 (June 1975). Marvel Comics (New York). They soon are separated and Foster is exiled to a pocket dimension.Thor #249 (July 1976). Marvel Comics (New York). Thor and Sif eventually rescue Foster and return her to Earth, where she marries Dr. Keith Kincaid.Thor #334–336 (Aug.–Oct. 1983). Marvel Comics (New York).
Physician Foster appears again in the second Thor volume; now a doctor herself, she is in a position of authority over several New York paramedics, including Jake Olsen. Unbeknownst to her, Jake and Thor have been merged, which creates many conflicts. In one instance, Olsen ignores medical orders and utilizes Thor's knowledge to perform a complicated procedure on a critically ill man.Thor vol. 2 #5 (Nov. 1998). Marvel Comics (New York).
Later, Foster becomes involved in a police case against Olsen, who is accused of stealing drugs.Thor vol. 2 #15–16 (Sept-Oct 1999). Marvel Comics (New York). She also examines Jack Monroe, who stated that he sought her out due to her familiarity with superhuman patients. She later informed Monroe that he was dying due to the effects of the Super-Soldier Serum he had ingested as a youth.Captain America vol. 5 #7. Marvel Comics (New York).
During the 2006 "Civil War" storyline, Foster takes Captain America's side against the registration act and joins his resistance group, the Secret Avengers. She operates from S.H.I.E.L.D. safe-house number 23. She is also seen in issue 4, helping to assist a beaten Spider-Man.
Return Shortly after divorcing her husband and subsequently losing custody of her child, Jimmy Kincaid, Foster hears rumors of the return of Dr. Donald Blake and Thor. Blake soon visits Foster at her work in a New York City hospital in search of Sif, whose spirit Blake mistakenly thought had been reborn in Foster since their spirits had been merged once before.Thor vol. 3, #8. Marvel Comics (New York). Foster and Blake go on a date after an initially turbulent reunion.J. Michael Straczynski (w), Olivier Coipel, Mark Morales (p), Thor vol. 3 #11 (October 29, 2008), New York, NY: Marvel Comics Foster discovers that Sif's spirit had been reborn in the body of a dying elderly cancer patient under her care. She alerts Blake and Thor manages to restore Sif just before the patient dies.J. Michael Straczynski (w), Marko Djurdjevic (p), Thor #602 (June 24, 2009), New York, NY: Marvel Comics Foster then travels to Broxton, Oklahoma, the site of the resurrected Asgard,Thor #606 and opens a medical practice with Donald Blake.Thor #615. Marvel Comics (New York).
Cancer and becoming Thor Following the deaths of her ex-husband and son in a car accident,Thor #704 Foster is diagnosed with breast cancer,Thor: God of Thunder #12. Marvel Comics (New York). and accepts an invitation from Thor to represent Midgard in the Congress of the Worlds on Asgard. She undergoes therapy but refuses all magical treatments.Thor: God of Thunder #24. Marvel Comics (New York).
During the 2014 "Original Sin" storyline, Nick Fury whispers an, at the time, unrevealed secret to Thor that causes him to lose the ability to wield Mjolnir. Soon afterwards, an unidentified woman picks up the hammer, taking possession of Thor's power as the new Goddess of Thunder, and fights Malekith the Accursed, Dario Agger, and Absorbing Man. Although Thor initially attempts to reclaim the hammer,Thor vol.4 #4. Marvel Comics (New York). he – referring to himself as 'Odinson' – relinquishes the name and role of Thor after witnessing her wield its power.Thor vol. 4 #5. Marvel Comics (New York).
Angered that someone else is wielding Mjolnir, Odin and his brother Cul, the god of fear, send the Destroyer after the new Thor to retrieve the hammer, but Odinson and Freyja assemble an army of female superheroes to aid her.Thor vol. 4 #7 When the battle is over, Odinson asks Thor to reveal her face, but is interrupted by S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Roz Solomon, Odinson's last 'viable' suspect as the new Thor after all other possible candidates came to assist in the battle. Unbeknownst to Odinson, Mjolnir has given Foster the strength to fight as Thor while it is in her possession.Thor vol. 4 #8 However, Foster's use of Mjolnir has perpetuated her cancer as a result of the transformation process purging all toxins from her body, including the chemotherapy being used for her treatment, each time she transforms.The Mighty Thor vol. 2 #1. Marvel Comics (New York).
Secret Wars During the 2015 "Secret Wars" storyline, Foster participates in the final battle between Earth-616 and Earth-1610 during its collision during the incursion event. She is one of the few survivors of the end of the extant Marvel Universe, boarding Reed Richards's "life raft".Secret Wars #1 She and the other survivors are awakened eight years later, having been trapped in suspended animation.Secret Wars #3 In the interim, Doctor Doom created a new universe, Battleworld, from the fragments of dead universes. Knowing the survivors represent the only hope of defeating Doom, Doctor Strange scatters Foster and the others to different parts of Battleworld. For this, Doom kills Strange and begins hunting the survivors.Secret Wars #4 Foster infiltrated the Thor Corps, Doom's police force, and convinced a majority of them to revolt against Doom.Secret Wars #7
All-New All-Different Marvel In the 2015–18 All-New All-Different Marvel branding, Foster remains in Asgardia as a representative of Midgard (Earth) in the Congress of Worlds, and as Thor, she remains a fugitive pursued by Cul. Odinson is considered missing. She becomes involved in the war between Svartalfheim, the realm of the Dark Elves, and Alfheim, the realm of the Light Elves and encounters several incarnations of Loki.The Mighty Thor vol. 5 #1-5 After returning to Earth, Foster is taken into custody by two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who suspect her to be Thor until she is bailed out by Agent Solomon.The Mighty Thor vol. 5 #8-11
All-New All-Different Avengers Thor is also once again a member of the Avengers and appears in All-New All-Different Avengers. She appeared by chance in their encounter with Warbringer and subsequently agrees to help form a new official Avengers group.All-New All-Different Avengers #1-3 Her identity is unknown to her teammates until she is separated from the hammer when she is transferred a few days into the future by Kang the Conqueror, and Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, witnesses her as she reverts to her civilian form.All-New, All-Different Avengers #5 He agrees to keep it secret, and offers her moral support during chemotherapy treatments.All-New, All-Different Avengers #6