Gal Gadot made her debut as Wonder Woman in the oft-maligned Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and gained acclaim in her origin story solo movie directed by Patty Jenkins, which is set to be followed up by Wonder Woman 1984. Wonder Woman last featured in Justice League.
Thor is, of course, played by Chris Hemsworth. Having made his debut in 2011’s Thor, the character has become a staple of the MCU, most recently seen in Avengers: Endgame, which revealed that the former King of Asgard had succumbed to feelings of guilt and despair following the events of Avengers: Infinity War. He’s now one of the last original team members in movies, set to return in Phase 4 with a new solo adventure: Thor: Love and Thunder.
The parallels between both characters are often noted. Both were born and grew up in a uniquely mythical culture far different from the worlds they would go on to protect. Both are blessed with incredible strength and abilities beyond human. Both are cursed with exceptionally long lives that border on immortality. Both suffered such tragic losses that they isolated themselves from the world in their guilt and grief. Both returned to the battlefield when the threats were too great to ignore. Both pause to flash exhilarated smirks when the heat of battle is thickest. But, had Snyder’s original vision for Justice League come to fruition, Wonder Woman would have proven herself the shrewdest and strongest of the two ageless warriors - because she would have gone for the head.
Thor spent the entirety of Avengers: Infinity Wa building up to facing and killing Thanos. Finally arriving in Wakanda in the third act, the God of Thunder received his opportunity, hurling his new weapon, Stormbreaker, straight at the Mad Titan. Overcoming even the might of the Infinity Stones, the ax lodged firmly in Thanos’ chest. With the devastation of his people - as well as the deaths of both his brother, Loki, and his friend, Heimdall - still fresh in his mind, Thor proceeded to torture Thanos further. While it was understandable to inflict pain as justice for the pain inflicted, it proved to be a fatal mistake: in not going for the head, as Thanos gloated, the Mad Titan was able to snap half the universe out of existence. Though Thor later learned from that error and helped to rectify it by resurrecting everyone The Snap decimated, his entire Avengers: Endgame arc was informed by guilt over prioritizing his desires over the fate of the universe.
Based on Justice League images released by Zack Snyder last month, Wonder Woman would have avoided a similar journey after his Justice League. In the theatrical cut, Steppenwolf, consumed by fear following his defeat, is attacked by his own army of Parademons. They continued to ravage him as both he and they were whisked away via a Boom Tube. In the Snyder Cut, however, Steppenwolf’s fate is potentially far less ambiguous. Though still on the verge of retreating back to Apokolips, it would have been Wonder Woman who struck the final blow - lunging with her sword and brutally decapitating him (in the theatrical version, she only destroys his ax).
What this means in terms of whom would win in a battle between the pair, however, will have to remain the subject of external debate. Equally, whether or not the realization will fuel the already rabid desire to see the Justice League’s Snyder Cut officially released remains to be seen. Regardless, there is no denying that Wonder Woman’s control over her emotions would’ve put her a cut ahead of Thor. Hopefully, the Odinson will continue to heed these lessons in Thor: Love and Thunder. And, if not, Natalie Portman’s Mighty Thor, Valkyrie, and Diana Prince in Wonder Woman 1984 will no doubt show him how it’s done.
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