The Plot Armor Riddle in Marvel Comics: Thor's Unusual Wins and Battle Staunchness

Every superhero fans knows that a well-written story can elevate heroes above their typical power tiers, transforming them into almost invincible entities in the face of overwhelming odds.

However, there's a finer line between enhancing a character's journey and diving headfirst into unexplainable plot armor—certain story choices that simply defy logic. In the case of Marvel Comics’ Thor, we've seen a series of wins that only the most dedicated fan could believe in.

What is Plot Armor?

Before we dive into Thor's two notable examples of questionable plot armor, let's quickly define the term. Plot armor is when a character's plot-specific invulnerability or nonsensical abilities muddy the waters of their world and threaten their believability as a character. These moments often happen when a hero is in a seemingly unwinnable situation or when they face seemingly impossible challenges, yet they manage to emerge victorious through a cascade of improbable scenarios.

Thor's Heavenly Battles and Staunch Defeats

The Battle with Galactus: In recent years, the might of Thor has been pushed to unreasonable extremes, culminating in a dramatic—and some consider retcon-worthy—confrontation with Galactus earlier this year. In this encounter, Thor held his own against the Devourer of Worlds, which, in any balanced universe, would be an impossible victory. While the outcome is yet to be fully explained, many have noted a trend of underwhelming defeats or victories for cosmic-level adversaries in Marvel's recent publications. Surely this battle is poised for retcon as Thor’s overpowered state is unsustainable in the grand scheme of the comics.

Thor's Great 'Battles'

1. The Demogorge: A Deity Too Powerful?

Discussed in The Mighty Thor #300 (1980), this confrontation elevates the Demogorge to near god-like status. The Demogorge, also known as Atum or Amon Ra, devoured all corrupted Elder Gods, making it a formidable opponent even for beings of Thor’s caliber. However, Thor’s defeat of the Demogorge feels more like a point of humor than a serious battle. This inconsistency contributes to Thor's perceived overpowered state within the comic series.

2. The Battle with Zeus

The Thor series #558 (2008) offered a different take on Thor's might against a divine opponent. In this battle, the might of Zeus was passed over Thor as the "greatest fight" between the two. While Thor did put up a fight, especially compared to the traditional might of the Titans, this does not sufficiently justify Thor's victory. Despite being a slightly more balanced match, the victory still feels drawn out, wondering if something was amiss to leave this battle so even.

Conclusion: The Balance of Power and Fiction

The recurring theme in these battles is that of excessive powers inflating the character's invincibility. Fans enjoy these moments of spectacle, but they also bring to light the necessity for thorough world-building and comic logic. Thor's character is one of the most iconic in the Marvel Universe, and balancing his might with fairness is a delicate task.

As Marvel continues to expand and evolve its storylines, finding this balance will continue to be a challenge. The key is to ensure that plot armor does not detract from the overall narrative and character development, regardless of how epic the battles may become.

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