Jane Foster

A nurse—later a physician—who first encountered the Asgardian Thor while working alongside Dr. Donald Blake, Jane Foster proved her worthiness over decades of heroism, ultimately lifting Mjolnir to become a mighty Thor in her own right and later serving as a Valkyrie.

Few characters in Marvel's Silver Age history have proven as enduringly vital as Jane Foster, who first stepped onto the page in Journey into Mystery #84 in 1962, brought to life by the legendary trio of Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Don Heck. Over an extraordinary span of more than six decades, she has grown far beyond her debut into one of Marvel's most compelling figures, racking up 305 catalog appearances and no fewer than 16 key issues that serious collectors prize. Her world is nothing short of the Marvel universe's upper tier — she shares pages with Thor Odinson, Captain America, Iron Man, and Spider-Man across the hallowed runs of Thor, Journey into Mystery, and Avengers. If you want to trace the full arc of what the Silver Age launched and where it can lead, Jane Foster's remarkable, ever-evolving story is essential reading.