Avengers: Infinity War Theory - Why Thor Is The Main Character
2. The Mythology Of Stormbreaker
Like Mjolnir, Gungnir and Jarnbjorn, Asgardian weaponry in Marvel comics comes with history. The Gods and their kin don't simply forge new weapons for the sake of it - they tend to come into possession of fabled artifacts that themselves hold special powers and history.
Stormbreaker might not have quite as long a history in the comics (it comes into being when Beta Ray Bill defeated Thor in battle and was given it by Odin), but it's a name that matters in Asgardian history, and it should already exist in the MCU.
In other words, Stormbreaker may already be on Nidavellir by the time Thor gets there, and there's a fairly compelling rumour that suggests he is forced to take it on as his own weapon when the Dwarves are unable to forge any more weapons thanks to Thanos (more of which soon). That's why the handle is made by Groot, as opposed to by a Dwarf blacksmith.
And crucially, there's a shot in the trailer that seems to suggest that the idea of Stormbreaker being forged there is impossible...
It might not be entirely clear, but that image has been digitally altered to remove Stormbreaker. If he already has his weapon, why does he seem to be igniting the forges with it? Because those forges really don't look fully lit at this stage (you'd probably expect more colour and more activity) and the light given off from the shot in the first trailer of him opening the space forge seems to be far greater. What if this - and Thor getting Stormbreaker - come before he even uses the forge?
So what is he doing with those forges? Read on to find out...