We can have a debate about the pandering, but Marvel today announced that there’ll be a new God of Thunder in a new series by writer Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman, coming this October.

The publisher has evolved once again in one of the “most shocking and exciting changes” ever to shake one of Marvel’s “big three” – Captain America, Iron Man and Thor – Marvel Comics will be introducing an all-new Thor, God of Thunder. No longer is the classic male hero able to hold the mighty hammer, Mjölnir, a brand new female hero will emerge will who will be worthy of the name Thor. Who is she? Where did she come from and what is her connection to Asgard and the Marvel Universe?

Marvel editor Wil Moss explained in a release that there’s more to this change:

The inscription on Thor’s hammer reads ‘Whosoever holds this hammer, if HE be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.’ Well it’s time to update that inscription. The new Thor continues Marvel’s proud tradition of strong female characters like Captain Marvel, Storm, Black Widow and more. And this new Thor isn’t a temporary female substitute – she’s now the one and only Thor, and she is worthy!

It was emphasized by Aaron that this isn’t some knock-off:

This is not She-Thor. This is not Lady Thor. This is not Thorita. This is THOR. This is the THOR of the Marvel Universe. But it’s unlike any Thor we’ve ever seen before.

Thor is the latest in the ever-growing and long list of female-centric titles the company has launched since their All-New Marvel NOW! initiative kicked off. This female Thor is the 8^th title to feature a lead female protagonist and aims to speak directly to an audience that long was not the target for Super Hero comic books in America: women and girls.