I’ve bought and sold many original and replica props for the past twenty-two years. So I was excited when Hasbro launched their Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black Series replicas line. Sure, these things were not exact 1:1 recreations of their on-screen counterparts, but various replicas were a fantastic way to get great display pieces without paying the prop market’s premium prices. Both lines from Hasbro have highs and lows, but very few have made me feel like I had wasted my money.

Right now, I’ve got a sizeable collection of Hasbro’s replicas. The Love and Thunder Mjölnir is the weakest of them all. Depending on the retailer, the hammer is priced a bit higher than the previous release, typically going for $125-$140. The first Marvel Legends Mjölnir is now going for $200-$400 on eBay and other sites. The Love and Thunder Mjölnir comes in at around $15-$20 less expensive than the Marvel Legends Stormbreaker but feels like something you’d pick up from Rubies during Halloween.

As far as lightning effects go, Hasbro’s Mjölnir is serviceable. The blue and white LEDs shine through the silver-painted plastic of the hammer’s head with stunning brightness. A library of various sounds emits through a few small slits at the bottom of the hammer’s head by pressing a well-concealed button on the handle. These sounds include multiple volume levels of thunder and the sound of the hammer flying through the air. Holding the button down triggers a more prolonged effect consisting of the sound of lightning, thunder, and flying sound, all in succession. A few moments after a sound is played, Mjölnir will slowly pulsate with blue light before turning off.

Sadly, the sound is a little too much for the speaker installed in Mjölnir. The effects crackle sometimes, but not in a way that adds to the lightning and thunder theme. I’m thankful the volume is loud, but I’d upgrade the speaker or give it a few more slits to better disperse the sound.

Compared to Thor’s other weapon, the Love and Thunder Mjölnir comes up short. What makes Stormbreaker stand out, aside from its size, is that the head and ax portions of the replica have multiple layers of molded plastic hidden inside that improve the lighting effects. The weapon feels robust, and the metal rod in the handle makes the entire thing feel extra sturdy. However, due to the segmented construction of Mjölnir’s rubberized grip, the toy is a bit shaky, and at times I’m worried that the segments will separate. There may be a small rod that’s giving the prop a bit of weight, but this thing works better as a static display piece.

The included stand looks the same as a few years ago. It holds Mjölnir in place, but a slight nudge would cause the hammer to topple. Thankfully the eye on the top of Mjölnir is wide and level enough to stand the replica upright. In addition, some customizers out there have created unique bases for this toy, so there’s always an aftermarket option if you want.

I was looking forward to getting this version of Mjölnir. I thought it would make a great display piece, not because of the movie or the character associated with it. It does that just fine, but for the same price, there are third-party replicas that would do the job far better. If you can get your hands on the other Mjölnir at a reasonable price, go for that one. Not only does it have more features, but it’s associated with a far superior MCU movie.

If you’re set on getting this specific replica, there’s a possibility that it will undergo a price cut before becoming hard to find. I picked up Stormbreaker for $120 last year. There’s always an alternative if you’re on the fence about Mjölnir.

I would give this version of Mjölnir 2.5 / 5.