If you’re interested in participating in the Geek Out Challenge, read this post here! Each day I will be posting a question for that day for the next 30 days. When I reach day 31, I will release all 30 questions in a single post with links to all of my answers. Follow along each day with your own post or feel free to wait until the entire challenge has been released and take it on when you like! Be sure to link back to the master post at the end or link back to each post for each day.

Day 27 – Favorite superhero?

If you know me, you know how much I adore Loki, who is more of a villain/antihero of the Marvel universe. So for this question I had to dig a little bit deeper. Well, maybe not that deep since I chose a superhero super close to the god of mischief himself: Thor, god of thunder!

Out of all of the Marvel movies, I always look forward to the movies about Thor (and Loki) the most. Thor’s epic movie arc is one of my favorite arcs of all time. (Spoilers for the Thor and Avenger movies.) From a former arrogant god, stripped of his powers, unworthy to wield his magical hammer, and exiled to Earth to a strong, powerful, self-sacrificing, team player. But it doesn’t end there.

After battling his sibling, Hela, Thor loses his eye, and his magical hammer is destroyed. During the battle with Thanos, Thor fails to kill him and watches as many of his loved ones are snapped from existence. Even after finding Thanos, and killing him, Thor still can’t handle what’s happened. He falls hard into the arms of depression and PTSD; he’s put on weight, is drinking heavily and ignoring his closest friends in favor of alcohol and video games.

By the end of Endgame, though, we see Thor rise up. He’s still overweight and suffering from the mental affects of Thano’s snap, but he realizes after a trip to the past that he is STILL worthy. After getting some closure with his soon-to-be-dead mother who immediately realizes he is from the future, Thor’s mother sets him back on his path, offering words of wisdom that help him regain some of his self-worth and inner peace. Knowing he can still wield his magical hammer, Thor works harder than he has the entire movie.

I’m no stranger to PTSD, depression, and being overweight. Seeing Thor call to the gods to ready him for battle near the end of Endgame and his new body being styled instead of just six pack abs and muscles suddenly appearing and his unkempt hair being braided… gave me chills. Thor owns his new self, scars and all. He fights without shame and gets to literally conquer his demon in a movie that wraps up many of our beloved heroes’ story lines. It’s a moment I’m not going to forget any time soon.

While I wish there could have been a better focus on Thor’s mental health and his body image, I still thought it was an excellent arc for Thor. I know there’s only so much that they can fit into these movies. Thor shows his fans that trauma doesn’t define you, and it doesn’t write your future. He can live with his pain without drowning himself in alcohol. He can turn to his friends. He is still strong despite what’s happened to him. It’s a lesson I continue to learn on a daily basis, and I thank Thor for the reminder.

Who is your favorite superhero? Let me know in the comments below OR take on the challenge yourself and link back to this post so I can see your answer!