How Jane Foster Becomes Thor

Despite the official start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Four having been delayed due to Black Widow being pushed back from its intended April 2020 release, there are some major plans for this latest batch of movies for the MCU. And one such picture being eagerly anticipated by many fans is Thor: Love and Thunder.

To be directed by Thor: Ragnarok's Taiki Waititi, Love and Thunder will be a monumental moment in the MCU, as the mantle of Thor will be passed over to Natalie Portman's Jane Foster.

Upon the announcement that this fourth Thor movie will play out in this way, some more casual comic book fans were taken a little aback at the notion of there being a new Thor. However, the likes of Red Norvell, Beta Ray Bill, and Eric Masterson have all likewise taken on the role of Thor for a least a short spell over the years. But still, Jane Foster is the most recent, and the best, alternative Thor to have been seen in the pages of Marvel Comics.

How does Jane become Thor? How will this play out in the MCU? That's what we're here to dive deep on.

While some moviegoers may only have become aware of the Jane Foster character upon seeing Natalie Portman's portrayal of Jane in 2011's first Thor film, the character's comic book roots go way, way back.

Created by Stan Lee, Larry Leiber, and Jack Kirby, Jane Foster made her comic book bow in 1962's Journey into Mystery #84. That original depiction of Jane saw her as a nurse who worked alongside Dr. Donald Blake. Donald Blake, of course, was the first mortal host and human alter-ego of the God of Thunder, Thor. And technically, Jane Foster was yet to become Jane Foster, for her two first two appearances saw her named Jane Nelson.

Eventually, Jane would go on to become a doctor in her own right, and she quickly become the primary love interest of Donald Blake/Thor.

Before finding out about Thor's real identity, Jane had a spell where she was in love with both Donald Blake and Thor. As in, the two identities were completely separate people to Jane. Thankfully, the Odinson would let the cat out of the bag and reveal that Blake and Thor were in fact one and the same.

Still, that knowledge was erased from Jane's mind by Odin at one point in time. That coming after a trip to Asgard saw Foster fail a test of courage put together by Thor's father. This would lead to Jane marrying a fella called Dr. Keith Kincaid, while Thor would rekindle his relationship with childhood sweetheart Lady Sif.

This wouldn't be the last that Jane would see of Thor, however.