Beta Ray Bill

Within Marvel continuity, Beta Ray Bill is a member of the Korbinite people. During the Korbinites' flight after their world was devastated, Bill was placed in suspended animation aboard a sentient Korbinite ship called Skuttlebutt. Skuttlebutt later revives him as a champion to protect the surviving Korbinites; the ship brings Bill into the Solar System, where his initial encounter with Thor and Mjolnir occurs. After a confrontation born of misunderstanding, Odin intervenes and Bill is transported to Asgard early in his introduction in The Mighty Thor #337 and subsequent issues.

Created deliberately to look non-human and 'monstrous,' Walt Simonson's design began 'with a skull' and incorporated equine elements (a gap behind the teeth and horse-like features) so that readers might initially assume an antagonistic role. In his first storyline Bill assumes a variant of Thor's costume when he receives Thor's power via the Mjolnir-related incident; later visual markers include his personal hammer, Stormbreaker.

In narrative events described in his first appearance, Bill fought Thor to a standstill. When the Korbinite ship reached the Solar System, an enchantment related to Thor's hammer Mjolnir caused Bill to receive Thor's power after striking Donald Blake's cane (which reverted to Mjolnir under certain conditions), transforming Bill into a wielder of comparable power for that incident. Subsequently, Bill is granted his own war hammer, Stormbreaker, which serves as his signature weapon. He functions as a warrior champion and staunch ally to Thor and other figures in Marvel's Asgard-related stories and various crossovers.