WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Avengers #39, by Jason Aaron, Dale Keown, Scott Hanna, Jason Keith and VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.
One of the most iconic weapons in the entire Marvel Universe is Mjolnir, Thor's signature hammer, which helps him channel his devastating powers as the Asgardian God of Thunder. Commissioned by Thor's father Odin and forged in the heart of a dying star Nidavellir by dwarves from the mythical metal Uru, an enchantment by Odin means that the hammer can only be wielded by those deemed worthy to lift it.
And as a lengthy flashback to the Marvel Universe in the year 1,000,000 B.C. reveals in Avengers #39, not even Odin himself was worthy enough to wield Mjolnir after the hammer was first forged, much to his consternation.
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As the prehistoric Phoenix realizes that she must lead Earth to improve and evolve, the Stone Age superhero decides to scour the cosmos for other super-powered figures to help inspire the masses. This search takes her to Asgard where she discovers Odin in the Norse kingdom's armory alone with the hammer nestled in its proper resting place. Even though the All-Father commissioned the creation of the hammer, he is unable to lift Mjolnir, cursing his own enchantment as he himself isn't worthy enough to lift it. Odin attributes his inability to lift the hammer to the Storm Mother he had implanted in it as he seeks to wield it to defend Asgard from an apparent attack, revealed just to be the fiery Phoenix.
Recently, Odin's enchanted to make Mjolnir only accessible to those deemed worthy has apparently been lifted. Testing his suspicions, Thor sent the hammer to Broxton, Oklahoma where an elderly mechanic named Adam Aziz was able to effortlessly pick Mjolnir up and temporarily wield the powers of the Asgardian thunder god. Even Iron Man was able to lift Mjolnir after he arrived on the scene, angrily clocking Thor right in the face in response to a public prank committed by the newly crowned King of Asgard. Even before this, it appeared to be a free-for-all for who could lift Mjolnir, with Moon Knight claiming the hammer from Thor as he conquered the Marvel Universe in the name of Khonshu.
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Millennia in the past, the enchantment appears the strongest and most selective its ever been, with not even Odin able to wield the hammer he had commissioned as Asgard falls under a perceived attack. Other flashbacks to the antics of the Avengers 1,000,000 B.C. have shown Odin wielding Mjolnir in action, hinting that the prehistoric superheroes will show how exactly Odin grew worthy enough to wield his own hammer, as well as the prehistoric incarnation of Black Panther. Odin seems set to inspire primitive humanity to evolve as the Phoenix intended and come toOdin at a moment when the All-Father needs it the most to turn the tide of battle against whatever the Stone Age superheroes face.
Mjolnir has been revealed to be older than Thor, forged by Odin as a weapon for only Asgard's most worthy. In developing this enchantment, the King of Asgard has created the ultimate weapon whose legacy will continue to help defend and shape the course of the Marvel Universe, including millennia into its relative future. But, as it stands in this issue, the All-Father has not met the bar he himself set to determine who exactly is worthy enough to lift his fabled hammer.
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