Thor: Love and Thunder is finally here, and the excitement for the latest Marvel Studios project is at an all-time high. This fourth Thor outing sees the return of Taika Waititi in the director’s chair. Chris Hemsworth is back as Thor Odinson, along with Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, and Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster who is now suiting up as The Mighty Thor. But perhaps one of the most exciting additions to Thor: Love and Thunder is Christian Bale as the villainous Gorr the God Butcher!
Unfamiliar with who Gorr is? Don’t worry, we have your backs! Let’s dive into Gorr the God Butcher’s comic lore for any hint of his story in the fourth Thor film!
Gorr the God Butcher before Thor: Love and Thunder
Gorr hasn’t been in Marvel comics for an exceptionally long time, with his introduction in Thor: God of Thunder #2 in November of 2012. Throughout the last decade, Gorr’s backstory was explored, with readers discovering that he was born on a plant that suffered from rampant starvation. He and his people prayed to the Gods, told by his parents to trust that the gods would save them. Their prayers fell on deaf ears and no salvation came.
Gorr’s parents died when he was still young, leaving him alone on the planet with no name. As he grew, Gorr found a wife and fathered many children. However, eventually, he lost everyone, starting with his wife who died in an earthquake.
With the passing of his final child Agar, Gorr became angry and convinced himself that there weren’t any gods, for none have saved him or his family.
Let the god butchering begin
With the loss of his entire family, Gorr was wandering in a desert, hoping for death to come swiftly. Instead of death, he found two gods battling. One was Knull, an eldritch god of darkness who created the symbiotes connected to Venom. The other was a god powered by the Engima Force, who begs Gorr for help.
Gorr, shocked to discover that gods are actually real, takes All-Black the Necrosword from Knull, allowing it to fuse with his body. Enraged that his prayers for salvation were never answered, Gorr slaughters the purple-skinned Engima Force God and makes a promise to himself. A promise to rid the world of all gods.
Gorr travels the cosmos for thousands of years, killing gods and earning the name Gorr the God Butcher along the way. Sometime in the ninth century, Gorr crosses paths with Thor after the former drew the attention of the God of Thunder for killing an American God. Thor began investigating the death of the American God, which led him to discover a slew of Slavic gods dead.
At this point, Thor and Gorr finally meet, with Gorr attacking and torturing Thor for the location of Asgard. Thor walked away from the attack with the villain’s arm and a belief that Gorr was gone, however, the God Butcher managed to survive and continued his mission. Gorr spends the better part of a millennium traversing the stars and killing as many gods as possible. During this time he also acquired an army.
Traversing through time
Eventually, Thor catches wind of Gorr the God Butcher, while answering a prayer from someone begging for help. While Thor tracks Gorr down, The God Butcher attacks The Palace of Infinity, killing a Time God, and giving himself the power to travel through time. He uses this power to fight Thor on all fronts, attempting to enslave young Thor, warring with All-Father Thor, and attacking Avenger Thor.
Gorr eventually resurrects his wife and son Agar using the All-Black Symbiote, sealing his fate at the same time. Agar eventually helps Thor defeat his father, using prayer from him and the rest of the surviving gods to charge Thor. This allows him to overpower Gorr the God Butcher once and for all.
How does Gorr’s comic history impact his MCU appearance?
There are some aspects that I expect to be changed about Gorr as he appears in the Marvel Cinematic universe. I don’t think he will have been empowered by the symbiote, even if he is still wielding the Necrosword.
While Marvel Studios and Sony have a pretty good working relationship, the symbiote only got introduced into the MCU at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home. So his powers most likely come from a different source. Along those lines, I don’t expect an appearance of Knull as well.
I think the main aspects of his character will be present, such as the loss of his wife and children. Gorr is clearly angry with the Gods in the trailer, which has to come from somewhere. Losing a wife, children, and parents after praying to Gods that aren’t listening has to hurt. No wonder he wants to seek revenge.
I love that regardless of any changes, the parts that make Gorr a god butcher will still be present. His motivation is the same, even if how it comes to be is slightly different. But what do you think? Are you excited to see Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher in the MCU? Do you hope that the symbiote is involved somehow? Let us know on Twitter!
For a complete list of Gorr’s comic appearances, check out Vin’s The Mighty Thor guide and his Thor: Goats and Gods comics reading guide!
Source: MCU Fandom
