Thor: Ragnarok may be eight months away from striking theaters, but the God of Thunder is rockin’ the cover of EW this week alongside Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie and Cate Blanchett as Hela, the Asgardian goddess of death and the ruler of Hel. The first thing you may have noticed is that Thor’s signature blond locks have been cut short, and he’s traded in Mjölnir for a pair of swords. But there may be more to Thor’s new look than meets the eye, and today’s Nerdist News is breaking down the latest info about Thor: Ragnarok!

Join host, and heir to the Oldstrong power, Jessica Chobot, as she takes a closer look at the Odinson’s change in appearance. As much as we’re diggin’ Thor’s makeover, we can’t help but think that it may not have been something that he chose for himself. We already know that the film is partially inspired by the famous Planet Hulk storyline, and that Mark Ruffalo‘s Bruce Banner/Hulk will already be fighting in the gladiatorial games by the time that Thor gets there. Perhaps Thor’s new haircut was meant as a way to humiliate the Son of Odin as he is forced into the life of a slave. But that’s probably a bad idea for anyone, even Jeff Goldblum‘s Grandmaster.

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What do you think about the first pics from Thor: Ragnarok? Call down the lightning and let’s discuss in the comment section below!