Ranking the 13 Most Powerful Thor Villains Developed by Stan Lee, Based on Their Physical Might

As Marvel’s God of Thunder, Thor ranks among the mightiest entities in the universe—a half-Elder God infused with a cosmic tempest. Naturally, such formidable strength attracts equally powerful adversaries, many of whom have been with Thor since his inception, thanks to co-creator Stan Lee (often alongside fellow creator Jack Kirby).

Below are the 13 most formidable villains introduced by Stan Lee. This list focuses on physical might, so magical beings like Loki and Enchantress are excluded. We’re also considering villains who maintain a longstanding connection to the God of Thunder, sidestepping foes like Galactus and Ultron that lack personal ties to Thor.

13

Lava Man, aka Molto

First Seen in Journey Into Mystery #97 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Easily the most forgotten entry on this list, Lava Man has had limited appearances despite his ties to some of Thor’s earliest foes—the Lava Men. This underground race can manipulate heat and have frequently crossed paths with Thor, also working against the Avengers. However, no Lava Man is mightier than Molto—the most formidable warrior who can generate heat, release ash clouds, and toughen his body to nearly indestructible levels.

12

Grey Gargoyle, aka Paul Duval

First Appeared in Journey Into Mystery #107 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

A former chemist, Paul Duval concocted a formula that transformed his body into a stone-like material. This granted the Grey Gargoyle impressive strength and the power to temporarily petrify his victims. Thor remains susceptible to this ability; in the recent Immortal Thor #16, he was turned to stone by Grey Gargoyle and shattered by Mister Hyde.

During the events of Fear Itself, Grey Gargoyle embraced his true potential, becoming one of the chosen warriors of Thor’s malevolent uncle Cul, influenced by Mokk, Breaker of Faith. He turned Paris to stone while battling Iron Man in one of Tony Stark’s most harrowing confrontations, where each missed strike endangered more innocent lives.

11

Radioactive Man, aka Chen Lu

First Appearance Journey Into Mystery #93 by Stan Lee, Robert Bernstein and Jack Kirby

A long-time adversary that Thor has ultimately outgrown, the Radioactive Man is now often associated with the Thunderbolts, serving as a steadfast member. Nevertheless, Thor and the Radioactive Man battled each other for decades, with Chen Lu employing his superhuman strength, force fields, and radiation control to contest Thor’s power and jeopardize numerous innocents.

10

Absorbing Man, aka Carl Creel

Debuted in Journey Into Mystery #114 from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Prior Contributions by Bill Everett

A former heavyweight boxer, Absorbing Man was empowered by Loki, consistently posing a significant physical challenge to both Thor and the Hulk. His ability to absorb the traits and functions of anything he touches makes him particularly dangerous. He can siphon energy sources like Hulk’s gamma radiation and Silver Surfer’s cosmic power, absorbing new abilities by interfacing with technology, for instance, gaining the capacity to fly after coming into contact with a jet.

Absorbing Man poses a unique threat to Thor as his abilities hinder Mjolnir’s effectiveness. When he touches Thor’s hammer, he can turn his skin into unbreakable uru metal, compelling the God of Thunder to exercise caution in his use of the enchanted weapon.

9

The Executioner, aka Skurge

First Seen Journey Into Mystery #103 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

An Asgardian like Thor, Skurge is renowned as one of Asgard’s most formidable fighters. He turned to evil out of love for Amora the Enchantress. Often serving as her enforcer, he wields the Bloodaxe—a weapon that requires a blood price for its use and provides Skurge with various abilities such as energy blasts and teleportation.

Historically a rival to Thor, recent story arcs have shown the two reaching an understanding, with Thor acknowledging Skurge’s warrior spirit, and Skurge even sacrificing himself to safeguard the God of Thunder. Once capable of lifting around 65 tons, Skurge’s strength has undoubtedly escalated in more recent stories.

8

Mister Hyde, aka Calvin Zabo

Introduced in Journey Into Mystery #99 by Stan Lee and Don Heck

Marvel’s most underrated powerhouse, Mister Hyde is an old adversary of Thor and a core member of the Masters of Evil—the counterpoint to the Avengers. Drawing inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic novel, Mister Hyde engineered a formula that amplifies his darkest urges while enhancing his physicality to superhuman standards. With overwhelming strength and resilience, Mister Hyde also possesses a potent healing factor and can increase his size further through misuse of his formula, albeit at a risk to his health.

Calvin Zabo is the father of SHIELD agent Daisy Johnson, aka the superhero Quake, who gained superpowers thanks to damage done to her DNA by Zabo’s experiments.

7

Ulik the Unconquerable

First Seen in Thor #137 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

A frequently overlooked adversary, Ulik is the leader of the Rock Trolls, residing deep within Asgard, ostracized by the gods. With Class 100 strength (the peak limit as recognized by Marvel, though characters like Hulk exceed it), Ulik is a formidable opponent for Thor, equipped with magical knuckle dusters that amplify his might, allowing him to create seismic activity with a mere punch. Ulik commands loyalty from fellow Rock Trolls, rendering him both a unique and tactical threat.

One of Ulik’s remarkable victories was impersonating Thor under the alias Tanarus, the new God of Thunder, thanks to Karnilla’s magic, showcasing Ulik’s strength as the deities of Asgard failed to question his authenticity.

6

Laufey

First Seen in Journey Into Mystery #112 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Loki’s biological father, Laufey governs Jotunheim as the king of the Frost Giants. A massive foe, Laufey can emanate intense cold from his breath. He frequently wields the Casket of Ancient Winters—an ancient mystical artifact capable of enveloping the Earth in ice. Despite dying multiple times in Marvel’s lore, Laufey always manages to return.

5

Jormungand, the Fenris Wolf and Fafnir

Seen in Thor #127, Journey Into Mystery #114 and Thor #134, All by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Based on ancient mythology, Thor comics feature several creatures from Norse mythology, including the World Serpent Jormungand, the giant wolf Fenris, and the extradimensional dragon Fafnir. Among these, Jormungand is easily the most powerful, destined to kill Thor during Ragnarok’s final battle—though only after being slain by the God of Thunder. Interestingly, Fenris is Thor’s uncle and one of Loki’s monstrous progeny. While Jormungand and Fafnir typically remain in their ferocious forms, Fenris can take on a human appearance and sometimes hunts on Earth.

4

Ymir

First Appeared in Journey Into Mystery #97 by Robert E. Howard, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Ymir ranks among the most ancient entities in Marvel lore and is the ancestor of the Ice Giant race. Possessing strength comparable to the mightiest Asgardian gods, Ymir can deliver ice blasts potent enough to freeze nearly anything. Towering above mountains, Ymir stands as an enemy of Asgard and a longtime rival of Surtur, commanding fear and reverence from all Frost Giants, akin to a divinity.