The galaxy’s favorite slacker heroPeter Quill, aka the Legendary Star-Lord, just got a huge upgrade, as theGuardians of the Galaxy’s longtime leader wields his own version of the Asgardian hammer Mjolnir. While Peter Quill is alotmore heroic than most fans think (the MCU skips his past as a self-sacrificing war hero), no-one has ever considered himsomeone who might be worthy of Mjolnir. However, in a dark possible timeline, Star-Lord wields his own enchanted hammer.
In Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing and Greg Land’sVenom War: Spider-Man #3, Spider-Man experiences a potential future where he becomes the new King in Black. While Peter Parker is a hero through and through, even he is corrupted by the experience, becoming a tyrant who rules over all of space with an iron fist. In a climactic battle, the galaxy’s remaining heroes join forces to bring him down, includingan aging Peter Quill who wields his own Asgardian Hammer.
It’s possible this is the Mjolnir of the Ultimate Universe, however it’s also possible Star-Lord is wielding Stormbreaker - the hammer ofThor’s blood brother Beta Ray Bill, likewise created by Odin and imbued with the same weather-control powers and ‘worthiness’ enchantment (though usually depicted as gold.) The older Peter is joined by Gamora, Groot and an aging Rocket Raccoon, as well as heroes including Silver Surfer, Hulkling and a new android Captain Marvel.
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Star-Lord Faces King in Black Spider-Man with His Own Asgardian Hammer
Venom War Reveals the Dark Potential Future of the Marvel Universe
Recently, Spider-Man has re-teamed with the Venom symbiote, which is being pursued by several of its former hosts. Fans know that whoever claims itwillbe corrupted, becoming the next King in Black and ushering in their own doomed timeline. However, so far Spider-Man’s is by far the most interesting, as his tyrannical rule is challenged by the last heroes left alive, now wielding the equipment of their fallen allies.Beta Ray Bill has worked with the Guardians of the Galaxy before, likely perishing in a prior battle with Parker’s King in Black, explaining how Peter came into possession of the epic weapon.It’s also implied that fighting back against Spider-Man’s rule has finally made him worthy to lift the enchanted weapon - though sadly he’s still killed in the confrontation.
Marvel previously publishedOld Man Quill, revealing Peter’s dark future in itsWastelanderscontinuity, which concludes with a similarimpossible face-off against Galactus.
Ultimately, Star-Lord and his teamdosave the day. After killing his former friends -including their leader Arachniote, who is revealed to be Peter Parker’s daughter - the King in Black realizes his rule has been for nothing. This is witnessed by the modern-day Peter, who makes the decision to give up the symbiote, preventing this timeline from coming to be (although thanks to the structure of Marvel’s multiverse, it’s probably still out there somewhere as an alternate reality.)
This older Peter Quill isn’t the only new Star-Lord this year to rock a god-tier hammer…
It’s a fascinating endgame for Star-Lord to end up as one Marvel’s Worthy, and a fitting end for Peter Quill to go down fighting a foe he knows he can’t beat, yet still somehow save the day. However, surprisingly,this older Peter Quill isn’t the only new Star-Lord this year to rock a god-tier hammer.
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Starlord 2099 Wields Her Own Ultra-Powerful Starhammer
Peter Quill’s Successor Was Designed to Match Thor & Captain Marvel
In the recentAnnihilation 2099 #2(from Steve Orlando, José Luís and Oren Junior & Dale Eaglesham),Marvel introduced a new Starlordto its2099continuity. This version of the hero is implied to have been mentored by Peter Quill, and carries on his legacy (minus the hyphen in his codename) at a whole new level.Wielding an energy-controlling Starhammer and outfitted in a vibranium costume, Starlord 2099 (aka Amandla Estrellas) is a Wakandan hero who teleports across multiple star systems protecting the innocent.Creator notes confirm the Starhammer can"asborb energy, redirect it, or release it against whatever threat she faces."
Starlord 2099’s first appearance redefined Quill’s codename by having her face off with (and beat) Quasar 2099 - a villain who is a sentient star. Starlord’s energy-controlling hammer and unbreakable costume helped her literally beat up a star and save countless people. The issue’s creator notes confirm that this hero was designed to"invoke the kind of power Captain Marvel and Thor have, a figure who can go toe-to-toe with a god if need be.“Fans who want to see more of Starlord 2099 can find her in Marvel’s ongoingConquest 2099series, where she unites with the future’s other new heroes to battle Dracula’s army of alien vampires.
It’s wild that Star-Lord - known primarily for being a roguish figure who sometimes has to be forced into good deeds - has been given his own Mjolnir in two different forms in 2024. It’s even possible that the mainstream Peter Quill will get to wield his own hammer sometime soon.Venom Wars: Spider-Man #3makes it clear that nothing in Marvel’s future is destined - heroes like Spider-Man could still be corrupted, and ne’er-do-wells likeGuardians of the Galaxy’s Star-Lordcould rise to be as worthy as the gods.
Venom Wars: Spider-Man #3is available now from Marvel Comics.
Star-Lord
Star-Lord, born Peter Jason Quill, is a superhero in Marvel Comics. The son of human Meredith Quill and Spartoi J’son, he becomes an interplanetary policeman known as Star-Lord.
