The Heart of Dixie has been given its own Avenging hero, and you probably recognize her name even if she looks very different than you remember.

The upcoming U.S. Avengers series from Marvel Comics tells the story of a newly defined effort to organize the work of super-powered beings for the protection of America. As part of the launch, there will be more than 50 variant covers of the first issue of U.S. Avengers, highlighting a hero tied to that state.

While many of the Marvel heroes have roots in New York City, Luke Cage got the honors for the Empire State. (Other heroes from the Big Apple ended up on the covers for Delaware, Connecticut and Indiana.)

Alabama does not have a famous hero with a no-brainer connection to the state, but we did end up with a heavy-hitter: Thor.

And she (yes, a she) may have some better connections to the state than we previously thought.

“We did extensive research through Marvel’s history to be able to align a particular Avenger with each individual state,” said Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort. “Beginning with places of birth, and expanding outward to key stories featuring the character in that particular location, we were able to hone in on a specific and unique Avengers character with a connection to each of the 50 states — and more!”

So, which was it?

• that Thor is the Norse god of thunder and storms?
• that the town of Thorsby in Chilton County was founded by Scandinavians, who named it “Thor’s Village?”
• that the current Thor, Jane Foster, is an astrophysicist who might have a side gig in Huntsville?

Noted comic geek Ike Pigott sat down with his brother, Jacob, and talked through what the selection could say about Alabama in the comics.

The story arc for these comics will not actually bring heroes to the states, as was done years ago with the post-Civil War 50-State Initiative. (Alabama was one of 19 states that did not get a named team, as the Initiative fizzled.) U.S. Avengers #1 will hit the comic racks in January 2017.

Comic expert Jacob Pigott previously appeared in “The Dark Reaches,” by Rus Wooten.