Beta Ray Bill is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Debuting in the Bronze Age of Comic Books, the character was initially intended to be a surprise; an apparent monster who unexpectedly turns out to be a great hero. As such, Bill is the first being outside the Marvel Universe's Norse pantheon to be introduced as being worthy to wield Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. After an initial rivalry for possession of the weapon, the alien warrior was granted a war hammer of his own, called Stormbreaker, and the two reconciled as staunch allies, going on to fight side by side.
In other media[]
- Beta Ray Bill appears in the animated DVD film Planet Hulk, voiced by Paul Dobson. Having been previously captured and brainwashed by the Red King, Bill is forced to fight the Red King's gladiators until the Hulk destroys the mind control disk and nearly kills Bill while his guard was down. Bill later saves Hulk and the gladiators, freeing them of their control disks and offering to bring Hulk back to Earth, though Hulk declines.
- The aforementioned movie was somewhat alluded to in the movie Thor: Ragnarok (which is also inspired by the Planet Hulk saga), because the bust resembling Beta Ray Bill was seen on the tower showing the champions of the Grandmaster's Contest of Champions.