How Did Hela Lift Thor‘s Hammer Mjolnir?
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is astounded when Hela effortlessly stops Mjolnir mid-flight and crushes it in her hand. This astonishing display of power raises the question – how could Hela lift and destroy the supposedly invincible Mjolnir when according to Odin‘s enchantments, only the worthy can wield it?
A Brief History of Hela and Mjolnir
To understand how Hela accomplished this incredible feat, it helps to first understand her origins and relationship with Mjolnir.
In the comics, Hela is the Asgardian Goddess of Death and ruler of the realm of Hel. As Odin‘s firstborn, she served loyally as his Executioner and helped him conquer the Nine Realms and build Asgard‘s empire.
According to legend, Hela may have even been the original wielder of Mjolnir in its early days. She and Thor were Odin‘s weapons in subjugating the realms. As ComicBook.com notes:
"However, as Odin‘s first born and most loyal and faithful servant, Hela was the original wielder of Mjolnir. Drawing enhanced strength and power from Asgard itself, at one point, Hela was the most powerful warrior in all Nine Realms, unmatched in every way."
So in her role as Odin‘s warrior, Hela would have been accustomed to wielding Mjolnir in battle.
The Power of Mjolnir‘s Enchantments
According to the MCU, after Odin cast out Hela and imprisoned her, he eventually passed on Mjolnir to Thor. But before doing so, Odin enchanted the hammer so that only the worthy could lift it.
What does worthiness mean? As ScreenRant explains:
"Odin‘s enchantment dictated that only those who were willing to protect the innocent and sacrifice themselves for the greater good could pick it up and wield its awesome power against any foe."
Mjolnir itself is already incredibly powerful – forged of uru metal, it can channel Thor‘s lightning and crush nearly any enemy. But Odin‘s enchantment provided a safeguard against misuse by the unworthy.
Mjolnir‘s weight has been cited as anywhere from 42 to 50 pounds normally. But the enchantment makes it impossible for the unworthy to even budge. According to Marvel‘s website, "It has several enchantments surrounding it making it practically indestructible. It can only be lifted by those who are deemed worthy."
Hela Overpowers Mjolnir‘s Magic
So how can someone as power-hungry and violent as Hela lift and destroy such a hammer? As the Goddess of Death, her dark magic seems to make her an exception to Mjolnir‘s rules.
ScreenRant provides some analysis:
"As the villain boasted in Thor: Ragnarok, Hela draws her immense power from Asgard itself. It stands to reason this power far exceeds even Odin‘s and the protections he placed on Mjolnir."
Similarly, CinemaBlend suggests that Hela‘s innate powers allow her to "overpower Odin‘s enchantment through brute strength." Rather than being truly "worthy", she is able to circumvent the rules imposed on lesser beings.
Hela vs Other Worthy Wielders
To further illustrate how Hela differs from more traditional Mjolnir wielders, here is a comparison:
| Character | Worthy Traits | Worthiness Status |
|---|---|---|
| Hela | Violent, power-hungry | Circumvents enchantment through magic |
| Thor | Reckless but became selfless hero | Proved worthiness over time |
| Vision | Driven by logic over ego/ambition | Deemed worthy by nature |
| Captain America | Willingness to sacrifice self | Embodies Odin‘s noble ideals |
While Vision, Thor, and Captain America all embody the traits of worthiness in different ways, Hela is clearly the antithesis.
The Comic Book Perspective
In the comics, Hela also manages to destroy Mjolnir at times. But rather than a direct display of strength, her ability stems from being the ruler of the realm of Hel where destroyed objects go. As ScreenRant explains:
"Hela has destroyed Mjolnir in the comics, but not through a feat of strength as in Ragnarok. Being the ruler of Hel, where Asgardians go after they die, Hela has prevented Mjolnir from being reborn after it was destroyed."
So the comics rely more on Hela‘s unique position as goddess of the underworld, rather than her magic directly overpowering Mjolnir.
Mjolnir has been destroyed and reforged several times in the comics, often requiring Odin or someone equally powerful to repair it. In one famous storyline, the hammer was shattered by Bor, father of Odin. It took Doctor Strange channeling the Odin Force to finally put it back together.
Conclusion: Magic Trumps Worthiness
In the MCU version of events, Hela‘s dark magic allows her to simply overwhelm Odin‘s enchantments through brute magical force. While clever, this does Remove some of the nuance around worthiness that is core to Mjolnir‘s lore.
Nonetheless, the Goddess of Death being able to crush Thor‘s hammer makes for an epic scene and boss battle in Thor: Ragnarok. Her raw power and lack of restraint prove greater than rules imposed on lesser beings by the hammer‘s magic.
It will be interesting to see if future MCU installments explore Hela‘s origins and relationship with Mjolnir further. But for now, through a key display of magical might, she has cemented herself as one of the few villains capable of handling the mighty Mjolnir and living to tell the tale.