Marvel's female Thor unmasked

Jane Foster has been part of the Thor comics and the Thor mythology from almost the very beginning. Photo / Zade Rosenthal

*Warning: This story contains spoilers for the Thor comic books*

The secret identity of Marvel's female Thor has been revealed.

Thor, the Asgardian God of Thunder became a Goddess of Thunder late last year in a rebooted comic Thor#1 . Her identity has been kept a closely guarded secret for the first seven issues of comic.

That all ends now with the release of the Thor#8 comic, due to hit stores and online.

The new heroine is actually Dr Jane Foster, an ex-girlfriend of the hero who has been battling breast cancer.

"Jane Foster has been part of the Thor comics and the Thor mythology from almost the very beginning. The very act of picking up this hammer, of becoming Thor, is killing her. Where we go from here is the real story," Thor writer Jason Aaron told the New York Times.The news has gone down well with Thor fans on Twitter.

"Oh my god yes #femaleThor" wrote Westflashes." "Thor's female identity finally revealed - and she be worthy," Femme Freak wrote.

In the Thor films, starring Australian Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman plays Jane, Thor's love interest.

- AAP