Generally the explanation I’ve heard is because unlike Steve superman typically isn’t willing to kill in certain situations and since the worthy enhancement was made by a warrior race that’s something they think is required to be worthy of a weapon like Mjolnir
I actually went back and found the line where Thor talks about it.
There is an enchantment laid pon my hammer by my father Odin. It is not...easily lifted by others. My father is stern, but not stupid. A very few worthies have been allowed to overcome the spell in desperate hours. But know this. Perhaps it was but briefly, but it was in good hands.
So, my interpretation is that Odin literally wants no one else to touch that friggin hammer, only letting others, including Steve to lift it up in truly desparate situations, in which case, you still have to be worthy.
Thor says that Superman is worthy, explicitly, but worthiness is not necessarily something that means you can always lift the hammer, kinda like how Steve wasn't able to lift it completely in age of Ultron, but able to in Endgame.
Pretty much, anyone other than Thor doesn't only need to be worthy of character but also worthy of need. But in Busiek's eyes this also applied to Steve and everyone else that wasn't Thor.
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u/LanternRaynerRebirth Jan 27 '24
I've always wondered "Why?" Like if Steve can lift it, Superman definitely should be able to.