Why Is Thor NOT Stronger Than Hulk?

The debate over Thor vs. Hulk is a hot topic among Marvel fans. Even Stan Lee, the creator of both characters, declared Thor as superior. 

However, scientifically speaking, Thor is arguably WEAKER than Hulk, and we’re about to delve into why. 

Buckle up and let’s head to the lab!

Did Thor and Hulk Both Get into Battle Before?

Thor and Hulk have clashed in numerous comic battles, starting with 1963’s Avengers No. 3, ending with no clear winner. They continued their rivalry through several comics:

• 1965’s Journey into Mystery No. 112 – No clear winner.
• 1971’s The Submariner 35 – No clear winner.
• Defenders 10 – Draw.
• Incredible Hulk 300 – Draw.
• Mighty Thor 489 – Draw.

Their cinematic encounters, including in “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Avengers,” humorously showcase their strengths yet never declare a clear winner (often interrupted at pivotal moments).

Despite these frequent encounters, both in comics and films, neither character consistently outperforms the other, maintaining a balance in their ongoing rivalry.

However, outside of direct confrontations, both the pages and movies still provide some clues to scale their powers. 

Stay tuned and let’s find out!

Raw Power Showdown: Hulk vs. Thor in Comics and MCU

In this section, we will explore the power of each character by focusing on standout details in the comics and attempting to extract data from them.

Keep in mind the criteria: no strategizing, no tactical skills or martial arts. Just pure strength.

Raw Power Showdown: Evidence In Comics

First, let’s explore Marvel Comics. In “Incredible Hulk #102,” Hulk pulls two tectonic plates together and shoulders a 300 trillion-pound mountain to manipulate tectonic plates. 

On the flip side, in “Thor” #272, Thor’s notable moment lifting the Midgard Serpent involves an immense jaw-dropping five septillion (5×1024) pounds of force. 

Despite Thor’s impressive display of force, Hulk consistently exhibits more extreme physical capabilities across multiple scenarios. 

Conversely, while Thor has lifted heavy objects and battled formidable enemies, his feats often depend on his magical hammer, Mjolnir, to reach their full potential. 

In conclusion, Hulk slightly edges out Thor in terms of his broader range of exceptional strength feats in the comics. 

However, we will next explore another aspect—how these characters compare in the more visible Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Raw Power Showdown: Evidence in MCU

Another case to explore the power of each character is in the “Avengers” movie, where both Hulk and Thor had opportunities to showcase their strength in quantifiable terms. 

To estimate the forces exerted, we are gonna examine based on physics principles to measure the force to indent asphalt for Hulk and the pressure needed to deform gold-titanium for Thor. 

In “Avengers,” during the battle aboard the spaceship, note the moment Hulk attempts to lift Mjolnir; he impressively indents the tarmac beneath his feet. 

By calculating from the size of Hulk’s feet and the PSI of the tarmac, it is estimated that Hulk exerts a massive 3,768,000 pounds of force per foot to create such an indentation—a feat Thor could not achieve in his first movie. 

Meanwhile, Thor single-handedly crushes Iron Man’s Golden Titanium gauntlet (with a PSI four times that of steel), exerting 3,456,000 pounds of force, slightly less than Hulk’s foot.

In summary, when considering only the metric of pure strength, it appears that Thor’s divine abilities fall short in comparison to Hulk’s more formidable physical prowess. 

What do you guys think about this calculation? Share with us!