Other than saving the day, there are few things Marvel's heroes love more than a costume change, and Thor's current duds are a doozy. But as the newest season of mega-hit battle royale game Fortnite welcomes some of Marvel's biggest heroes into the fold, many fans are asking why Thor looks so different from his previous appearances and what it means for the character and his powers.
Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber, Marvel's Thor is the Asgardian god of thunder and a mainstay of Marvel's various Avengers lineups. His inclusion in Fortnite is as part of a new season themed around Marvel, with Thor, Wolverine, Iron Man, She-Hulk, Groot and others teaming up to take on Galactus the Devourer of Worlds in various Marvel-themed locations including Doom's Domain.
It's no surprise that fans may not recognize Thor's new look, as his black costume only debuted in 2020's Thor #1, by Donny Cates and Nic Klein. The costume depicts Thor in jet-black armor - sometimes twinkling with stars - and a glowing blue-white sash in the shape of a Thurisaz rune; a real symbol linked to Thor in Norse mythology. Thor also sports a red cape and a black coronet, as well as eyes crackling with lightning. It's no accident that Thor's costume makes him look regal, as the reason for Thor's change in outfit is tied to his recent ascension to the throne of Asgard... and evolution into a cosmic herald.
In the long-anticipated War of the Realms, Thor fought in a war that spanned all of the Ten Realms, defeating the dark elf Malekith and reclaiming his fabled hammer Mjolnir. In recognition of this huge achievement, and of Thor's altered view on his own divinity, Odin declared him the new All-Father of Asgard. Thor's new position means a huge increase in both his power and responsibility within the Marvel Comics universe, but things didn't stop there. Thor was then gifted the Power Cosmic by an injured Galactus, giving him access to one of the most potent power sources in the Marvel universe as his new herald.
It's no coincidence that the stars visible on Thor's armor echo the visual design of Eternity, one of the most powerful entities in the Marvel universe. Since he took the throne of Asgard, Thor has tangled with huge new enemies like the Black Winter, becoming the Marvel hero to finally kill Galactus. While the MCU has played with the idea of whether or not Thor is actually the strongest Avenger, his current comics incarnation is unquestionably the most powerful hero in the Marvel universe, even if the upgrade has come with all new challenges. For players of Fortnite, Thor's new costume is a sign that they'll be taking control of the thunder god at his most powerful, and it's likely that Thor will take a leadership role in the story befitting his new station.