Marvel Comics superhero Thor gets a sex change

After a run of more than 50 years, Marvel Comics has confirmed that classic hero Thor is to be replaced by a woman.

The new hero’s identity was announced by Whoopi Goldberg on ABC’s The View on Tuesday.

Whoopi told her audience: “It’s a huge day in the Marvel Universe. Thor, the God of Thunder, he messed up, and he’s no longer worthy to hold that damn hammer of his. For the first time in history, that hammer is being held by a woman. That’s right. Thor is a woman!”

It is assumed that the classic male hero has been ousted as he is no longer worthy to wield his mystical hammer Mjolnir, from which he derives much of his power.

Commenting on the male biased inscription on Thor’s hammer, Marvel editor Wil Moss remarked: “The inscription on Thor’s hammer reads – Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor. Well it’s time to update that inscription.”

Joss Whedon, director of big screen superhero hit The Avengers, responded to the news on twitter. The longtime Marvel Comics writer posted an image of female character Starbuck – a character who was originally male – from the 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galactica and commented: “A female Thor? What the hell makes them think that would be cool?”

There is little evidence that the Marvel films are likely to follow suit. It has not been revealed who will take over the current hero’s role played by actor Chris Hemsworth.

Speculation abounds as to who exactly will take up Thor’s mantle and begin wielding his mystical hammer. Images released online have the new Thor’s faced almost entirely masked and the only detail that has been released about her identity is that she was once saved by Thor.

Writer of the current Thor series Jason Aaron displayed his faith in the unexpected move in a recent press conference.

Aaron said: “This is not She-Thor. This is not Lady Thor. This is not Thorita. This is THOR. This is the THOR of the Marvel Universe. But it’s unlike any Thor we’ve ever seen before.”

Joe Manners Lewis