WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS for Thor: Love and Thunder are discussed in this article.
Thor: Love & Thunder was focused on the new antagonist of Gorr the God Butcher, whose mission was to rid the universe of all the deities that failed to protect his family. Plenty of gods were featured throughout the movie, whether that was through the violent opening sequence, or perhaps during the visit to Omnipotence City.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe had plenty of omnipotent beings to choose from that have already been established on screen. But there are also a range of unusual and even original creations brought into the film, to continue to populate the Marvel Studios property. Which of these comic book gods were the most obscure, and what are they even the gods of?
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Bao
An original creation, although perhaps a reference to the Pixar film of the same name, Bao god of dumplings is one of the strangest inclusions within the movie. It’s clearly played as a joke, although the character’s visual design also stands out from the rest.
There appears to be no mythology surrounding Bao, nor is there even a gag in the comics that links to this food-based deity. However, there are all kinds of food gods in the source material, so it’s hardly a stretch to imagine a new edible character. The cute cartoonish nature of Bao is sure to make this a fan favorite.
Rapu
One major difference between the comics and the big-screen iteration of Gorr the God Butcher is his first kill. In the MCU it’s Rapu who he first slays. There’s no character with the same name in Marvel Comics and there doesn’t appear to be a legitimate deity of the same name in genuine mythology.
However, based on the look of the omnipotent being, he is likely some kind of sun god. He is worshipped as giving life and as a protector, which would certainly line up with the idea that he is a variation of entities like Helios, the god of the sun. It’s definitely a bizarre but fun inclusion for Thor: Love & Thunder.
Falligar The Behemoth
There’s quite a stunning moment in the comics that sees Thor come across Falligar the Behemoth, a being of such immense power that had been bested by Gorr. While he wasn’t the only deity to be slain by the butcher, he was by far one of the strongest and a friend to Odinson.
He’s certainly not a well-known name among cinema-goers though, and is largely only introduced as a protagonist for Gorr to destroy. Regardless, his comic book accurate portrayal on-screen makes for a visually gorgeous moment that sets the scale of the villain in motion.
Dionysus
Zeus was notably introduced in Thor: Love & Thunder alongside the post-credit tease of his son, Hercules. The Olympians are thus officially a part of the MCU, and there are a few other inclusions in the background scenes of the crowd in Omnipotence City.
One such inclusion was Dionysus, who was actually featured in a brief but hilarious way. The character is perhaps well-known to Percy Jackson fans, but outside of that, he’s hardly a heavy hitter on the page. He’s the Greek god of wine and often alcohol in general, a figure that Thor could surely get along with.
The Kronan God
Korg is a hilarious Kronan, a curious alien rock species which is explored in greater detail in Thor: Love & Thunder. While Korg may conclude the film with a partner and child, it’s not the only exciting moment for him throughout the piece. He also gets to look upon the Kronan god.
While his name is incredibly complex, it’s worth noting that he sits on a throne of scissors, creating a little rock, paper, scissors pun for fans paying attention. Korg isn’t the only Kronan seen in the MCU, with the god of thunder besting one in Thor: The Dark World previously. It’s clear that the majority of the species worship this one true being.
Minerva
Minerva is a goddess that so many wouldn’t have heard of, but might genuinely recognize. She’s the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, and victory, and is often pictured in conjunction with courtrooms, holding a set of scales. Her presence is briefly felt in Omnipotence City.
It will be interesting to see if the Greek and Roman gods are set up as separate pantheons or if in the MCU they are one and the same. In the comics, she’s part of the general ensemble of these gods, although not the most powerful of the group. It’s clear that she’s judging the unfolding events from the sidelines as Zeus turns his back on his Norse brethren.
Flower Gods
To continue to support the notion that Rapu was actually a sun god, the character was surrounded by other beings associated with nature. Amongst them was a series of flower deities, spirits perhaps that take inspiration from the nymphs and other environmental beings of Greek myth.
Of course, there’s something a little Alice In Wonderland about their design, which may be the point of the creations. In the comics, there are countless incredible beings that represent nature and take on similar appearances, meaning these creatures are an intriguing combination of many inspirations.
Artemis
Back to the Greek and indeed Roman deities, and Artemis is also among the credits for the gods in Omnipotence City. Her inclusion might be quite a surprise for mainstream fans, but it’s an interesting addition for any comic book readers. For starters, Artemis is actually a major Wonder Woman supporting figure in DC Comics.
Her role in Marvel is far smaller, although arguably the portrayal of the character is a little closer to Olympian Greek mythology in the Disney-owned publishing house. She’s the goddess of the hunt and the moon, another intriguing point of note considering Khonshu’s recent debut.
The Sequoia Queen And Oaken King
The comics debuted a variety of other gods for Gorr to butcher in the original comic book run involving the villain. While the big screen variation of the narrative didn’t go quite as far in portraying the obsessive quest of the antagonist, the source material’s version meant no one was safe.
The Sequoia Queen and Oaken King were both nature-based gods that were killed in Marvel Comics by Gorr and were a part of the line-up of slaughters in Thor: Love & Thunder. They were a unique choice, but the imagery of the pair hanging from a tree is a stark reminder of Gorr’s power.
Eternity
Does anyone outside of hardcore comic book fans actually know who Eternity is? The original creation of Marvel Comics has appeared countless times over the years and has been established as one of the most powerful beings in the whole of reality. His look in particular is a stunning piece of art.
It was shocking to not only see the deity included within the plot of Thor: Love & Thunder, but for the character to actually look exactly as he does on the page. Here he is treated as something of a wish-granter; a cosmic genie of epic proportions. His purpose in the MCU might not be finished though.