Summary

• Captain America has proven he is worthy of wielding Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, in pivotal moments throughout Marvel comics and the MCU.
• The explanation of worthiness for Mjolnir has evolved over time, with specific criteria outlined in Thor #15 for wielding the iconic hammer.
• Steve Rogers lifting Mjolnir in comics and film reflects his righteous warrior status and special role in Marvel, impacting the character's development.

Marvel's Thor is synonymous with the hammer Mjolnir, which can only be lifted by those the hammer itself deems worthy, including in several pivotal instances by Captain America. Some of Marvel's most climactic moments – on the page, as well as on screen – have been those times when someone other than the God of Thunder picked up the hammer and swung it.

Among the most notable examples of someone else using Thor's hammer was when Captain America wielded the enchanted hammer against Thanos in the climactic final battle of Avengers: Endgame. Mjolnir's judgement of "worthiness" has been nebulous at times throughout Marvel's history, but one Thor comic provided a notable explanation of its criteria.

This came in a conversation with Steve Rogers – the first Marvel character besides Thor to ever lift Mjolnir. Though other characters have at times achieved this same feat over the years, Captain America is the closest to embodying the virtues necessary to be deemed worthy.

Captain America Has Repeatedly Proven He's Worthy Of Wielding Mjolnir

The Most Iconic (Super)human To Use Thor's Hammer

Though Cap wielding the hammer was a stunning climactic moment for the early phases of the MCU, it was also a triumphant moment of adaptation, encompassing all the times Steve Rogers has lifted Mjolnir.

Thor's hammer Mjolnir famously confers his godly powers on whosoever holds it, but that prerequisite is trickier than it first appears. The wielder of Mjolnir must be "worthy" – a condition never fully defined in the comics. Initially, this test of worthiness was depicted as being set in place by Odin's magic; over time, however, it has become a core part of the hammer's functionality in itself. Heroes like Beta Ray Bill and Jane Foster have proven you don't have to be human, or even possess enhanced powers, to qualify. By far the most famous wielder of the hammer other than Thor was Chris Evans' Captain America, who lifted the hammer against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.

In one notable modern storyline, centering on Thor's relationship with Mjolnir, the God of Thunder lost his ability to lift the hammer after becoming convinced that humanity doesn't need its gods, robbing him of his divine purpose. Thor sought out his friend and superhero colleague, Captain America, one of the few humans who could understand what it was like to hold Mjolnir in his hands. Though Cap wielding the hammer was a stunning climactic moment for the early phases of the MCU, it was also a triumphant moment of adaptation, encompassing all the times Steve Rogers has lifted Mjolnir.

Thor's Explanation Of Mjolnir Explains Why Steve Rogers Can Lift It

Thor #15 – Written By Donny Cates; Art By Michele Bandini

[Steve] Rogers lifting Mjolnir in the MCU was a reflection of years worth of storylines where Captain America has proven himself to be the most righteous warrior in Marvel Comics.

In 2021's Thor #15, the God of Thunder explained a key aspect of being worthy of Mjolnir, which makes sense of Captain America wielding it in the MCU. Thor explained that Mjolnir had been resisting his control because it was intended for a warrior, while he had become the King of Asgard. While he still engaged in battle, that was no longer his focus; as it turned out, that's something Mjolnir requires. Thor revealed that Mjolnir's rejection resulted because he was "no longer the tip of Asgard's spear."

According to Thor, the hammer belonged to someone who is on "the front lines of any given threat to the worlds entangled in the roots and branches of the world tree." This revelation shed new light on what it takes to be worthy to wield Thor's hammer. Rather than simply being righteous warriors, Mjolnir's wielders need to be on the front lines of huge threats to the Ten Realms. This explains why in Age of Ultron, the MCU's Cap could only shift Mjolnir slightly –he was not yet the "tip of the spear." Later, facing off against Thanos elevated him to full worthiness.

As it turns out, Mjolnir is not simply looking for a warrior, no matter how righteous, but rather the first warrior into the fray. As the last man standing against Thanos – and the one who led the charge once reinforcement arrived – the MCU's Steve Rogers rightfully fits the bill. Rogers lifting Mjolnir in the MCU was a reflection of years worth of storylines where Captain America has proven himself to be the most righteous warrior in Marvel Comics. Thor's explanation for his hammer's worthiness makes plenty of sense considering past moments where Rogers has lifted the iconic hammer.

The First Time Captain America Lifted Mjolnir Was Groundbreaking

The Mighty Thor #390 – Written By Tom DeFalco; Art By Ron Frenz

While there are several conditions to lifting the hammer, the explanation from 2021's Thor #15 is the one that makes the most sense of Captain America's journey to wielding Mjolnir in Avengers: Endgame.

When Captain America first lifted Mjolnir in 1988's Thor #390, it was a gamechanging moment for the Marvel Universe. For over twenty-five years, no other being besides Thor had proven themselves worthy of the hammer – the moment when Steve Rogers finally did was not only proof of his special role in Marvel Comics, it also opened the door for other characters to prove themselves worthy. In the process, it made Mjolnir more than just Thor's iconic weapon; the hammer became a pivotal storytelling tool, able to be used in ways it hadn't previously.

Captain America has gone on to have several more notable experiences wielding Thor's hammer. One of his biggest moments with Mjolnir was during the Fear Itself event, where Rogers was indeed in the middle of the fray in a Norse Gods war zone. Evil Captain America was also able to wield the hammer during 2017's Secret Empire as an agent of Hydra; however, this was because he tampered with reality, essentially side-stepping the usual rules. Eventually, the real Captain America was able to use Mjolnir itself against his evil doppleganger, in yet another triumphant moment.

As far as the MCU is concerned, there have been plenty of fan theories about why Steve Rogers is worthy to wield Mjolnir against Thanos in the MCU but can't lift it in Age of Ultron, ranging from the idea that he was still feeling guilty about the murder of Tony Stark's parents, to the fact that he was already worthy earlier in the MCU but chose not to embarrass Thor. But while there are several conditions to lifting the hammer, this explanation from 2021's Thor #15 comics is the one that makes the most sense of Captain America's journey to wielding Mjolnir in Avengers: Endgame.