Why Thor Has Goats In Love & Thunder (Marvel History Explained)

Many have described Chris Hemsworth's Thor as the GOAT — they perhaps didn't expect their favorite Asgardian to have goats in Thor: Love and Thunder. But who exactly are the Thor goats, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, and what's their comic background? Upon recovering from his post-Thanos slump, the MCU's Thor left New Asgard in the capable hands of Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson). He looked to set sail alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy following Avengers: Endgame. Hemsworth's superhero finally returns in 2022's Thor: Love & Thunder, helmed by Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi. Apart from transforming Natalie Portman's Jane Foster into Mighty Thor, the God of Thunder's fourth solo movie will also feature Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher.

Official Thor: Love & Thunder footage has given away plenty of juicy details about the MCU's forthcoming return to Asgard (spiritually speaking). Thor himself has a snazzy blue outfit, and Jane is decked out in full Mighty Thor armor. However, perhaps the most amusing aspect of Taika Watiti's superhero movie is Thor 4's goats, which pull the Norse god through the realms on a vehicle dubbed the Thor "Goat Boat" and immediately gain Thor's affections in Love & Thunder after he sees them roped up for sale. The Guardians of the Galaxy are having to put up with a great deal of screaming and bleating as a result.

The Thor goats' names are Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, and though they've only just made their MCU debut, they've actually accompanied Thor in the comics since the '70s and will be instantly recognizable to long-time Marvel readers. Apart from pulling the Thor goat chariot or boat, it'll be interesting to see what else these giant beasts can do in Thor: Love and Thunder. Here's why Thor 4 has goats and their origins in Thor's comic book history, explained.

Thor Goats: Names, Marvel Comics Origins, And Powers Explained

The Thor goats' Marvel comics origins go all the way back to 1976 when they were introduced in Thor Annual #5 as Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder. Marvel based these magnificent beasts on Tanngrisnir (teeth-snarler) and Tanngnjóstr (teeth-grinder), who similarly pull Thor's goat chariot for the actual Asgardian God of Thunder in Norse mythology. In the comics, Thor can summon the goats at will, and they can both run and fly at frightening speeds.

Apart from their formidable speed, size, and strength, they also come enchanted with magic, firing off bolts of lightning from their hooves as they charge between realms. While each goat is about the size of two grown men, the Thor goats alone are as formidable as an army of hundreds. They're technically not immortal, but they are always reborn – unless their bones have been broken. The goats aren't just a neat new addition to Thor's MCU story. Since debuting in 1976, they have been prominently featured throughout Thor's comic book adventures, with the pair eventually becoming a key part of the character's lore.

Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder are more than just weapons befitting a god, as Thor is emotionally attached to them just like any average pet owner. This was proven by Loki when he resurrected the fallen Toothgnasher as a gift to his brother in 2019's Thor #16, a story arc that might also be loosely adapted at some point in the MCU. Indeed, the presence of the goats in Thor 4 implies that Taika Waititi's God of Thunder is becoming closer and closer to his Marvel comics counterpart. Steeped in Marvel comics history, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder have so far done a fine job of appeasing both long-time Thor readers and MCU fans alike, suggesting that they are a worthy addition to the ranks of Asgard's Mightiest Heroes.

The Thor Goats In Love And Thunder

The Thor goats aren't just steeds for his chariot – their kicks also pack a wallop, and as Waititi's Korg explains, they scream quite a lot. The Thor goats' names reflect not just their godlike power, but also their unique personalities. Waititi's version of Thor has more comedic undertones than previous iterations of the character, and Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder form part of that vision. That said, they also should play serious roles in Thor's evolution as a leader and superhero in Thor 4 and beyond.

The CGI goats seem just as formidable and useful as their comic book counterparts, provided Thor can keep them controlled - and this presents an extremely familiar scenario for the God of Thunder. Just as Thor had to understand what being worthy of Mjolnir really means, Thor's MCU Phase 4 story arc now sees the Asgardian coming to terms with his stewardship over these mythical living weapons. Notably, Thor acquires the goats from somewhere else in the MCU, because just like the people of New Asgard, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder were presumably driven from their home in Thor: Ragnarok.

Thor Goats: MCU Phase 4 And Beyond

Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder in Thor Love and Thunder.

Despite accompanying Thor in the comics for more than four decades, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder were notably absent in previous MCU phases, and this is simply because they are much better suited to Phase 4 of the MCU. During its previous phases, the MCU was more dedicated to worldbuilding, translating Marvel comics material, and establishing character arcs for future development. Back in this somewhat grounded superhero reality, Thor being pulled along by two gigantic powerful goats wouldn't have done much for developing Chris Hemsworth's Thor character from spoiled brat to grounded war veteran and former Avenger. Since Taika Waititi came along, however, the God of Thunder has loosened up considerably, and being pals with two magic goats feels exactly like something MCU Thor would do at this point.

Thor 4's biggest question is whether or not live-action Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder are genuine Asgardian animals that were evacuated from the planet during Thor: Ragnarok (and then survived Thanos' attack). It's just as likely that they're two regular Earth goats that the folks of New Asgard have attempted to enchant. They're pulling an "Asgardian Tours" boat in Thor: Love & Thunder, so perhaps expect the latter. Thor 4 is the first time the goats are even mentioned, so they obviously won't share the same strong bond with Thor in the comics - at least, not straight away. He may, however, put the creatures through their paces against Gorr the God Butcher, then decide that they deserve better than carrying tourists around all day. Without Mjolnir or the Bifrost Bridge, Thor does need a new way of getting around for Thor: Love & Thunder. In any case, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder are bound to make regular appearances throughout Phase 4 of the MCU.

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