| Ragnarok | |
|---|---|
 Ragnarok from the cover ofCivil War #4 (September 2006). Art byMichael Turner. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Civil War #3 (July 2006) |
| Created by | Mark Millar Steve Mcniven |
| In-story information | |
| Species | CyborgClone |
| Team affiliations | Dark Avengers Thunderbolts |
| Notable aliases | Thor, Clor, Project Lightning |
| Abilities |
|
Ragnarok is asupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. A cyborg clone of the heroThor, Ragnarok has a similar appearance and abilities but uses them in opposition to the established heroes.
Ragnarok first appeared inCivil War #3 (July 2006) and was created byMark Millar andSteve Mcniven.[1]
Ragnarok began appearing as a regular character in theDark Avengers series, beginning withDark Avengers #175.
WhenThor is missing in action and presumed dead,Tony Stark takes one of Thor's hairs, which he had retained from the first meeting of theAvengers. He helpedReed Richards andHank Pym create a clone of Thor, who is enhanced withStark Industries technology. During the superheroCivil War, the clone is sent to battle anti-registration heroes.[2] After the clone killsBill Foster, Reed Richards deactivates him with a vocal code and later operates on his brain to prevent such a mishap from happening again.[3] The clone returns during the final battle between the pro- and anti-registration heroes, during whichHercules defeats him by ramming his own hammer into his skull.[4]
The clone's remains are taken toCamp Hammond and stored in the laboratory for experimentation. During the "Secret Invasion" storyline, it is revealed that the Hank Pym, who helped create the cyborg clone, was actually the clone of aSkrull impostor namedCriti Noll. Noll had placed a program into the cloned Thor's remains as a contingency in case of the invasion's failure. Unless a special code, which only Noll knew, was input every eighteen days, the clone would reawaken. Following Noll's death, the clone reawakens. Malfunctioning and believing himself to be Thor, the clone threatensBaron Von Blitzschlag into returning his hammer to him and sets out to destroythe Initiative.[5] He takes on the name Ragnarok, which Von Blitzschlag had called him, declaring that he would "bring the end of all that is". Von Blitzschlag tells Ragnarok that the real Thor has returned and has formed a newAsgard floating aboveBroxton, Oklahoma. Disgusted by what he perceives as Asgard's "indignity", Ragnarok leaves Camp Hammond to confront Thor.[6] Thor fights Ragnarok and easily destroys him.[7]
Norman Osborn hasA.I.M. rebuild Ragnarok and places him under his control.[8][9] Ragnarok is severely injured in a fight with theNew Avengers and nearly killed byIron Fist.[10] Ragnarok later appears alongside the formerDark Avengers as a member of theThunderbolts.[11]
Ragnarok and the Dark Avengers team are transported to the alternate universe of Earth-13584, where they are captured by that world's version ofIron Man.[12]Moonstone and Ragnarok arrive at the site where this universe's version of Thor died and where Thor's hammerMjolnir lies. Ragnarok acknowledges that he is just a copy of the real Thor and that he does not know who or what he is. He then grasps Mjolnir and is deemed worthy to wield it, gaining a new bald-headed look and goatee.[13] Ragnarok and the Dark Avengers arrive at anA.I.M. base, where they find a portal that allows them to return to their universe.[14]
As acyborgclone of Thor, Ragnarok possesses a portion of the powers and knowledge of the God of Thunder prior to Thor's acquisition of the Odinforce. This includes super-strength, extensive combat knowledge, godly stamina, high resistance to physical injury, immunity to all Earthly diseases, and superhuman agility and reflexes.
Ragnarok's hammer, though not the enchantedMjolnir, is constructed of avibranium andadamantium alloy. The hammer is able to absorb and discharge lightning, like the true Mjolnir, and has circuitry within its head, which allows Ragnarok to direct it mentally. However, unlike Mjolnir, it can be picked up or lifted by others.
During a visit to Earth-13584, Ragnarok acquires that universe's version of Mjolnir and is accepted as worthy to wield it.
In 2022,Screen Rant included Ragnarok in their "10 Most Powerful Hercules Villains In Marvel Comics" list.[15]
An alternate universe version of Ragnarok appears in the one-shot "What if Iron Man Lost the Civil War". This version was released prematurely due to an agent on board theHelicarrier detecting a device that Captain America would have used to disable Iron Man's armor. When Ragnarok attempts to kill Bill Foster, Iron Man blocks the blast. Ragnarok then attempts to kill Iron Man, but Captain America holds him off long enough for Iron Man's armor to repair itself. Iron Man and Captain America join forces to battle Ragnarok, inspiring every other hero in the pro/anti-registration conflict to work together.[16]
A figure of Ragnarok was released in Hasbro's 3.75"Marvel Universe Gigantic Battles line, packaged with a 12"Goliath figure. A 6" scale Marvel Legends version was also released as a Target exclusive.
