Why Jane Is Called Mighty Thor, Not Lady Thor

Warning: Spoilers for Thor: Love and Thunder!

Jane Foster notably takes on the name Mighty Thor, not Lady Thor, in Thor: Love and Thunder, and the moniker preference is the correct call. After sitting out Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok, Natalie Portman returns as the genius astrophysicist for the director's latest Thor installment. The movie centers on Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) post-Endgame journey, including his reunion with Jane, his ex-girlfriend who is now in possession of Mjolnir.

Jane's Thor transformation in Thor: Love and Thunder stems from the character's cancer diagnosis. Without any other options and waning hope, Jane turns to Mjolnir after sensing a call from the destroyed hammer in New Asgard. In Jane's presence, the hammer repaired itself and chose her as the new wielder, giving her all of the powers exhibited by the God of Thunder. During the fight against Gorr the God Butcher's shadow monsters in New Asgard, Jane shows off her superhuman strength, agility, and speed, in addition to a new power that allows Mjolnir to break apart, ravage enemies, and come back together.

Throughout Thor: Love and Thunder, Jane contemplates a Thor-worthy catchphrase fitting for her new superhero role. Though the catchphrase becomes a tough task, Jane has no hesitation regarding her Thor moniker. While battling Gorr toward Thor: Love and Thunder's ending, the villain refers to Jane as "Lady Thor," to which she poignantly corrects him, saying that her name is "Mighty Thor." She then adds that if he can't call her that, the second option is "Dr. Jane Foster" before slamming down the hammer in rage. Interestingly, Lady Thor and "Female Thor" have often been used to describe Portman's transformed MCU character, but Waititi and the cast have made it a point to use the Mighty Thor moniker leading up to Love and Thunder because it's an important aspect of Jane's new identity.

Marvel Rightly Refused To Call Jane Foster Lady Thor

Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman in Omnipotent City in Thor Love and Thunder

Marvel continues to reiterate that Jane is Mighty Thor as a way to prove that this isn't just a female version of Hemsworth's superhero. By wielding Mjolnir, Jane becomes Thor in the same way that Sam Wilson becomes Captain America after taking control of the shield. Sam shouldn't be considered the Black Captain America, nor should Yelena Belova be known as Blonde Black Widow. The MCU refusing to call Jane Lady or Female Thor follows that same notion of distinction.

By biting back with the Mighty Thor comment, Jane is also showing that she wants to claim her own identity. It also pays tribute to the character in Marvel Comics. "The Mighty Thor" was an alias of the God of Thunder and the title of the character's solo comic book series decades before becoming the title of a comic series that followed Jane taking on the mantle. As inspiration for Jane's enhanced role in Thor: Love and Thunder, it makes sense that Mighty Thor was chosen as the official name. Not only does it honor the character's comic book history, but it also gives Jane a new identity that veers away from just being the female version of what viewers have been familiar with.

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