Avengers: Endgame was a rollercoaster ride for most fans watching – with Thanos finally being defeated but at the cost of Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff. In the movie, one thing really caught people’s attention: Steve Rogers picked up Thor’s hammer. This shocked even Thor himself – but did it make Steve Rogers a god?
Many fans have wondered what the implications are of Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, wielding Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor.
Thor, as fans will remember, had his hammer taken from him by his father, Odin, in the first Thor movie.
This sent Mjolnir flying away onto earth, and only when Thor was worthy and mended his selfish, foolish, war-mongering ways was he able to wield the hammer’s power yet again.
However, various awful things took place between that moment and Avengers: Endgame, including his hammer being shattered into a thousand pieces at the hands of Hela, Thor’s sister, in Thor: Ragnarok.
It was during the time-travelling in Avengers: Endgame that Thor was able to retrieve an alternate version of his hammer, and he brought it back to the present to fight with once again.
Armed with his hammer, though not his god-like physique, Thor was able to fight in the furious battle against Thanos and his army, after those who were taken during the Snap were able to return.
However, this battle also brought another fantastic moment – Captain America wielded the hammer of Thor.
Some fans thought perhaps this meant Captain America was a god, however, Odin’s words from the first Thor film were still ringing in people’s ears.
Odin said: “Only he who is worthy shall possess the power of Thor.”
Therefore, while Captain America is not a god, he showed his worthiness to wield its power, and therefore he possessed the power of Thor.
In the comics, he has wielded Mjolnir’s power and defeated such villains as Juggernaut, and he and Thor have spoken of how they have a “sacred bond.”
Thor told Captain America: “A sacred bond unites all those who have ever been privileged to wield Mjornir!
“A bond which stretched into infinity. I salute you, Captain!”
Captain America replied: “I hope I’ll always be worthy of that honour and privilege, my friend!”
Clearly, the honour, worthiness and courage are what makes Captain America someone else who can wield the power of Thor’s hammer, though it does not make him a god.
Mjolnir gives Captain America the same powers as Thor while he uses it, including the ability to use it as a sort of flying mechanism and to channel a kind of electricity through him which caused Juggernaut to be taken down.
All in all, while Captain America is no god, he has the courage and worthiness to possess Thor’s power, meaning the two will have a sacred bond whether or not they are immortal.
At the end of Avengers: Endgame, Captain America lived a full life with Peggy Carter before returning to the present, clearly aged.
As Asgardians live far longer, it is clear while Steve Rogers wielded some amazing powers, he is not quite a god.