Marvel Official Reveals One Classic Thor Character’s New Look

by

Some comic book characters have designs that just wouldn’t work well on film, potentially keeping them out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But it looks like one famous villain might finally be getting ready for a live-action appearance.

The newest edition of The Mortal Thor features a redesigned Radioactive Man, and both critics and fans agree it’s his best appearance to date—some even say it’s the first time he’s looked good!

In the ninth issue of the current series, a new villain—Chen Lu, a green, glowing enemy of Thor—makes his debut. He follows a previous character, Sigurd Jarlson, and appears before the hero wearing a white suit that fits his large, six-foot build.

This new version of Radioactive Man, with artwork by Pasqual Ferry, isn’t just visually better than previous versions. This Radioactive Man, portrayed as Chen Lu, is also surprisingly refined – he subtly drinks coffee he took from Jarlson’s kitchen and politely asks for a calm conversation with the hero, all while hinting at a dangerous side. He radiates a new level of sophistication and concealed threat.

Al Ewing’s two-year run on The Immortal Thor concluded in July 2025 with the death of the Norse god. This new series, starting two months later, features Thor reborn as an ordinary, powerless human with no recollection of his past life in Asgard. He now faces both familiar and new foes, fighting them with a resourceful and street-smart approach to heroism.

How Radioactive Man Has Looked In The Past

Radioactive Man’s outfit in The Mortal Thor #9 is a noticeable change from his earlier appearances – it’s similar to a less formal version of Kingpin’s usual attire. In his first appearance with Thor, back in Journey Into Mystery #93 (1963), he only wore a simple metallic band around his waist.

Radioactive Man’s look evolved over time with minor changes, mainly involving a slightly darker green leotard. This outfit was tweaked with different cuts and variations of his star-shaped chest logo. In the early 2000s, he briefly wore a hazmat suit, which, while logically fitting for a character with radioactive skin, wasn’t a particularly exciting or unique design.

Around that time, Chen Lu was rebranded as a reformed hero and recruited into Norman Osborne’s Thunderbolts team. However, this move was controversial, as it seemed to go against everything the character previously stood for.

Radioactive Man, created by Stan Lee, Robert Bernstein, and Jack Kirby, first appeared as a scientist working for the Chinese Communist Party. An accident exposed him to high levels of radiation, transforming him into a dangerous being. While he mainly uses his powers to fight heroes like Thor and protect his country, he secretly dreams of world domination.

Now that Thor has lost his godly powers in The Mortal Thor, Radioactive Man is a more dangerous opponent than ever. He’s always been able to counter Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, with his radioactive energy, but now he’s also more composed and has a better sense of style, making him a truly formidable triple threat.

The Mortal Thor is available to read wherever comics are sold.

Read More

2026-04-08 23:07