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Jane Foster (comics)
Encyclopedia
Jane Foster is a Marvel Comics
supporting character who for many years was the nurse employed by Dr. Donald Blake, the secret identity of the Norse god superhero
Thor
.
#84 (Sept. 1962), and was created by plotter Stan Lee
, scripter Larry Lieber
and penciler Jack Kirby
. Named "Jane Nelson" in her first two appearances, she went on to appear as the love interest of Dr. Donald Blake, the secret identity of the Norse god superhero
Thor
, in nearly every issue through #136 (Jan. 1967) of the title, by then renamed Thor. She has since made sporadic guest appearances in the title.
Jane and Thor remain separated for sometime until Thor learns that Jane had been manipulated into attempting suicide by an entity known as "Fear" and rushes to her hospital bedside. Sif seeing that Thor still has feelings for Jane, chooses to save Jane's life by merging their life-forces together. Jane is soon separated from Sif and is exiled to a pocket dimension only accessible through the Possessor
's runestaff. Thor and Sif eventually rescue Jane and return her to Earth. Upon her return Jane marries her mortal love, Dr. Keith Kincaid.
Later, Foster becomes involved in a police case against Olsen, who is accused of stealing drugs.
, Jane takes Captain America
's side against the registration act and joins his resistance group, the Secret Avengers. She operates from SHIELD safe-house number 23. Though only briefly seen in Civil War #2, Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort
stated in an interview on Newsarama
that it was really her welcoming the Young Avengers at the new headquarters. She is also seen in issue 4, helping to assist a beaten Spider-Man
.
Foster later goes to Broxton, Oklahoma
the site of the resurrected Asgard and opens a medical practice with Donald Blake.
during the first series of Ultimates
, where she was one of the few people that was convinced Thor really was the thunder god. She was also described as a nurse. In recent events, it seems she and Thor live in a flat together.
#10 (August, 1978) titled "What If Jane Foster Had Found the Hammer of Thor," Jane was also briefly transformed into a goddess and called herself Thordis. She even used those powers to rescue Donald Blake (Thor's powerless alter-ego) from danger. Upon saving Asgard from Ragnarok, Odin forces her to relinquish the hammer to Donald Blake, who then transforms back to Thor. This resulted in Jane losing her powers, but was allowed to remain on Asgard and keep her goddess status since she later falls in love with and marries Odin.
In What If? #25 (February 1980), titled "What If Thor Fought Odin over Jane Foster" (also known as "What If Thor Fought the Asgardian Gods"), Thor is banished from Asgard along with Jane when Thor refused to accept Odin's judgement following Jane's failure to ascend to godhood. Thor subsequently leads the Avengers against the forces of Asgard, leaving Iron Man
and Loki (who once again attempted to seize rulership of Asgard during the conflict) dead and forcing Thor himself into self-imposed banishment for almost destroying Asgard in favor of his love.
(2008), Jane Foster is the attending nurse present when Jerry Goodman wakes from his coma. He asks her on a date, and she accepts. Jerry has had a crush on Jane since reading Thor comics as a child.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
supporting character who for many years was the nurse employed by Dr. Donald Blake, the secret identity of the Norse god superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
.
Publication history
Jane Foster first appeared in Journey Into MysteryJourney into Mystery
Journey into Mystery was an American comic book series published by Atlas Comics, and later its successor Marvel Comics. It featured horror, monster, and science fiction stories...
#84 (Sept. 1962), and was created by plotter Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
, scripter Larry Lieber
Larry Lieber
Lawrence D. "Larry" Lieber is an American comic book artist and writer, and the younger brother of Marvel Comics' writer, editor and publisher Stan Lee....
and penciler Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
. Named "Jane Nelson" in her first two appearances, she went on to appear as the love interest of Dr. Donald Blake, the secret identity of the Norse god superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
, in nearly every issue through #136 (Jan. 1967) of the title, by then renamed Thor. She has since made sporadic guest appearances in the title.
Fictional character history
Jane Nelson, known by her more common name of Jane Foster, was a nurse for Dr. Donald Blake, eventually developing feelings for him and Thor, not knowing that they were one and the same. The love triangle went on for a while until Thor revealed his secret identity to Jane, which caused Odin to punish him though he was forgiven after saving Asgard, and in return Thor even took her to Asgard with him. There, Jane was briefly granted immortality and the power of gods, until she failed to pass the tests of courage set forth by Odin when she showed fear battling the monstrous Unknown. Odin then strips Jane of her new powers and returns her to Earth with no memory of Thor or her time in Asgard where she meets her new love Dr. Keith Kincaid, who resembles Blake. Meanwhile in Asgard Odin reunites Thor with his childhood love, Sif.Jane and Thor remain separated for sometime until Thor learns that Jane had been manipulated into attempting suicide by an entity known as "Fear" and rushes to her hospital bedside. Sif seeing that Thor still has feelings for Jane, chooses to save Jane's life by merging their life-forces together. Jane is soon separated from Sif and is exiled to a pocket dimension only accessible through the Possessor
Possessor (comics)
The Possessor is a fictional character appearing in publications from Marvel Comics. The character is one of the Elders of the Universe. His name comes from his self-given title Possessor of the Runestaff, a powerful alien artifact....
's runestaff. Thor and Sif eventually rescue Jane and return her to Earth. Upon her return Jane marries her mortal love, Dr. Keith Kincaid.
Physician
Jane appears again in the second Thor volume, now a doctor herself, she is in a position of authority over several New York paramedics, which includes Jake Olsen. Unknown to her, Jake and Thor have become merged, which creates much conflict. In one instance, Olsen ignores medical orders and utilizes Thor's knowledge to perform a complicated procedure on a critically ill man.Later, Foster becomes involved in a police case against Olsen, who is accused of stealing drugs.
Civil War
During the superhero Civil WarCivil War (comics)
Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
, Jane takes Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
's side against the registration act and joins his resistance group, the Secret Avengers. She operates from SHIELD safe-house number 23. Though only briefly seen in Civil War #2, Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort
Tom Brevoort
Tom Brevoort is an American comic book editor, known for his work for Marvel Comics, where he has overseen titles such as New Avengers, Civil War, and Fantastic Four. He became Executive Editor in 2007, and in January 2011 was promoted to Senior Vice President of Publishing...
stated in an interview on Newsarama
Newsarama
Newsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews and essays about the American comic book industry.-History:Newsarama began in Summer 1995 as a series of Internet forum postings on the Prodigy comic-book message boards by fan Mike Doran. In these short messages. Doran shared...
that it was really her welcoming the Young Avengers at the new headquarters. She is also seen in issue 4, helping to assist a beaten Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
.
Return
After hearing rumors of the return of Dr. Donald Blake and Thor, Foster divorces her husband and subsequently loses custody of her child. Blake soon visits Foster at her work in a New York City hospital in search of Sif, whose spirit Blake mistakenly thought had been reborn in Foster since their spirits had been merged once before. Foster and Blake go on a date after an initially turbulent reuniting. Foster later discovers that Sif's spirit had actually been reborn in the body of a dying elderly cancer patient and alerts Blake. Thor then travels to New York and is able to restore Sif, just before the patient dies.Foster later goes to Broxton, Oklahoma
Broxton, Oklahoma
Broxton is an unincorporated community in Caddo County, Oklahoma, United States. Broxton had an independent school district until the 1990s, but it was consolidated into the Fort Cobb-Broxton school district....
the site of the resurrected Asgard and opens a medical practice with Donald Blake.
Ultimate version
Jane was briefly seen in the Ultimate universeUltimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the company's superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series...
during the first series of Ultimates
Ultimates
The Ultimates is a fictional group of superheroes that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team was created by writer Mark Millar and artist Bryan Hitch, and first appeared in The Ultimates #1 , as part of the company's Ultimate Marvel imprint...
, where she was one of the few people that was convinced Thor really was the thunder god. She was also described as a nurse. In recent events, it seems she and Thor live in a flat together.
What if
In What If?What If (comics)
What If, sometimes rendered as What If...?, is the title of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics, exploring "the road not traveled" by its various characters...
#10 (August, 1978) titled "What If Jane Foster Had Found the Hammer of Thor," Jane was also briefly transformed into a goddess and called herself Thordis. She even used those powers to rescue Donald Blake (Thor's powerless alter-ego) from danger. Upon saving Asgard from Ragnarok, Odin forces her to relinquish the hammer to Donald Blake, who then transforms back to Thor. This resulted in Jane losing her powers, but was allowed to remain on Asgard and keep her goddess status since she later falls in love with and marries Odin.
In What If? #25 (February 1980), titled "What If Thor Fought Odin over Jane Foster" (also known as "What If Thor Fought the Asgardian Gods"), Thor is banished from Asgard along with Jane when Thor refused to accept Odin's judgement following Jane's failure to ascend to godhood. Thor subsequently leads the Avengers against the forces of Asgard, leaving Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
and Loki (who once again attempted to seize rulership of Asgard during the conflict) dead and forcing Thor himself into self-imposed banishment for almost destroying Asgard in favor of his love.
Marvel 1985
In the 6th and final issue of Marvel 1985Marvel 1985
Marvel 1985 is a six-issue American comic book limited series, published in 2008 by Marvel Comics. It is written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards.-Plot:Issue 1...
(2008), Jane Foster is the attending nurse present when Jerry Goodman wakes from his coma. He asks her on a date, and she accepts. Jerry has had a crush on Jane since reading Thor comics as a child.
Thor The Mighty Avenger
In this all ages "non-continuity" comic published in 2010 and 2011, Jane Foster is the newly-promoted head of the department of Nordic Antiquities at the Bergen War Memorial Museum in Bergen, Oklahoma. She first encounters Thor when he attempts to smash one of the museum's exhibit cases (which is later revealed to contain an urn inside which Thor's hammer is concealed). Over the course of the title's eight issues Thor (who has been exiled from Asgard by Odin and is staying at Jane's apartment) and Jane become romantically involved and have a variety of adventures together.In other media
Television
- Jane Foster is a supporting character in "The Mighty Thor" segment of The Marvel Super Heroes voiced by Peg Dixon.
- Jane Foster appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest HeroesThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest HeroesThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is an American animated television series by Marvel Animation in cooperation with Film Roman based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers. The show debuted on Disney XD in Fall 2010 starting with a 20 part micro-series. A second season has been...
, voiced by Kari WahlgrenKari WahlgrenKari K. Wahlgren is an American voice actress who has provided English language voices for dozens of anime titles and video games. Her debut role was as one of the main characters of FLCL, Haruko Haruhara. She had a live-action role as Tinker Bell in the 2003 Damion Dietz film Neverland...
. She made her series debut appearing in "Thor The Mighty". In this version, she is not a nurse, but a paramedic. She appears to have a heroic personality as Thor noted, and this is why he felt so amazed by her.
Film
- Natalie PortmanNatalie PortmanNatalie Hershlag , better known by her stage name Natalie Portman, is an actress with dual American and Israeli citizenship. Her first role was as an orphan taken in by a hitman in the 1994 French action film Léon, but major success came when she was cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel...
portrays Foster in the live-action film, ThorThor (film)Thor is a 2011 American superhero film based on the comic book character of the same name published by Marvel Comics. It is the fourth film released as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe...
directed by Kenneth BranaghKenneth BranaghKenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from Northern Ireland. He is best known for directing and starring in several film adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays including Henry V , Much Ado About Nothing , Hamlet Kenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from...
. Marvel StudiosMarvel StudiosMarvel Studios, originally Marvel Films, is an American television and motion picture studio based in Manhattan Beach, California. Marvel Studios is a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, a self-contained part of the The Walt Disney Company conglomerate....
stated in an announcement that the character will be updated from the comics' initial portrayal for the feature adaptation. This version of the character is an astrophysicist. - Portman is scheduled to return as Foster in Thor 2 directed by Patty JenkinsPatty JenkinsPatricia Lea "Patty" Jenkins is an American film director and writer. She grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and attended the AFI Conservatory. She graduated from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in 1993. The most famous film she has directed to date is Monster, a docudrama about...
for a November 15, 2013 release.
Toys
- A figure of Foster as she appears in the film Thor was released in wave 39 of the Marvel MinimatesMinimatesMinimates are a block-styled miniature action figure originally created by Art Asylum in 2002 and now released by Diamond Select Toys. The basic Minimate figure design has a 2" tall body that resembles an extremely simplified human form with 14 points of articulation, higher than average for block...
line as the chase variant.
Further reading
- Jane Foster-Kincaid (entry), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89Official Handbook of the Marvel UniverseThe Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
#3.