Asgard (comics)

Asgard

Cover of Tales of Asgard #1 (October 1968) showing Asgard and some of the inhabitants of the Asgardian dimension
Artist Jack Kirby
Race(s) Asgardians
First appearance Journey into Mystery #83 (October 1962)
Publisher Marvel Comics

Asgard is the name of a fictional realm and its capital city within the Marvel Comics universe. Based on the realm of the same name from Norse mythology, Asgard is home to the Asgardians and other beings adapted from Norse mythology. Asgard first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (October 1962) by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, and features prominently in stories that follow the Marvel Comics superhero, Thor.

Fictional history

According to Asgardian (more accurately Æsir) legend, in the beginning there was nothing, but in time two worlds came into being on opposite sides of the void. The one to the north was named Niflheim, a world of clouds and shadows in whose center surged the fountain Hvergelmir, from which flowed twelve rivers of ice. The one to the south was named Muspelheim, which teemed with rivers of fire. Eventually the warm air from the south carved out the frost giant Ymir from the ice in the north. Ymir became the father of all the giants, and his cow Auðumbla licked out of the ice the first Asgardian, Buri. Buri had a son named Borr, who married the giantess Bestla. Borr and Bestla had three sons named Odin, Vili, and Ve, who were known as the Æsir. Odin and his brothers grew to hate the giants and slew Ymir, and his blood formed a great sea. Odin and his brothers then raised Ymir's body from the sea and created Midgard between Niflheim and Muspelheim. With Ymir's bones they created mountains, and with his hair they created trees. They then raised Ymir's skull upon four pillars to create the heavens. Within the skull contained sparks from Muspelheim, which became the sun, moon, and stars. When Midgard was complete, Odin and his brothers created a home for themselves above it called Asgard. Between the two worlds they stretched a rainbow bridge and called it Bifröst.[1]

Once a year Odin must undertake the Odinsleep to regain his strength. During this time Asgard is vulnerable to attack from its many enemies, most notably Odin's adopted son, Loki. Loki first takes command of Asgard during the Odinsleep, using his right as the 'son' of Odin before Thor could claim it, but fled when Asgard was invaded by Mangog as he realized that this new foe was too powerful.[2] Loki later usurped the throne of Asgard by taking the Odinring, but fled again when Asgard was invaded by the fire demon, Surtur.[3]

The throne of Asgard later passes to Thor after Odin is killed in battle by Surtur, when the demon invades Earth.[4]

It was prophesied that Loki would lead Asgard's enemies in a final conflict known as Ragnarök, which would lead to its destruction. This comes to pass when Loki obtains the forge that created Mjolnir and creates new uru hammers for his army. The entirety of Asgard and its inhabitants are destroyed in the resulting battle.[5]

After Ragnarök, Donald Blake awakens Thor from the "Void of Non-Existence". Thor returns to Earth and rebuilds Asgard outside of Broxton, Oklahoma, purchasing the land with gold from the treasury. Thor then goes about restoring the Asgardians, who have been reborn in the bodies of mortal men and women.[6]

Asgard's location on Earth makes the city a target during the Secret Invasion by the Skrulls led by a Super-Skrull named Godkiller, whose powers mimic Thundra, Titania, Volcana and Battleaxe. The aliens are repelled with help from Thor's ally, Beta Ray Bill.[7]

When Thor is forced to abdicate the throne and is exiled for killing his grandfather Borr, who was brought from the past and driven mad by Loki, control of Asgard passes to Thor's half-brother, Balder.[8]

Asgard is destroyed yet again after Norman Osborn seizes control of S.H.I.E.L.D. following the Secret Invasion as he seeks to expel Asgard from U.S. soil in an effort to consolidate power. Osborn leads the Dark Avengers in an invasion against Asgard known as the Siege. The invading forces are defeated with help from the reunited Avengers, although Asgard itself is toppled by the Sentry. Immediately following the Siege, Thor reerects Heimdall's observatory atop Stark Tower as sign of solidarity with Midgard and appreciation for the Avengers' aid.[9]

Thor restores Odin to the throne when the nine realms are invaded by "the World Eaters".[10] However, after Thor and Odin's long-forgotten brother, Cul, kill each other in battle during the Fear Itself event, Odin passes control of Asgard to the Vanir, headed by the "All-Mother", a triumvirate of female deities consisting of Freyja, Gaea and Idunn.[11] Tony Stark's company, Stark Resilient then rebuilds Asgard over Broxton, Oklahoma, where it is rechristened as "Asgardia".[12]

During the Original Sin storyline, it is revealed that there is a Tenth Realm in Asgard called Heven that is inhabited by Angels. It was cut off from the rest of the realms following the Angels' attack on Asgard which led to the apparent death of an infant Angela.[13]

Asgard later established the Congress of Worlds which consists of the representatives of the Nine Realms.[14] After Heven was reintegrated with the other Realms, representatives of Heven started appearing as members of the Congress of Worlds.[15]

Regions

The Asgardian dimension contains several distinct regions.

The Nine Worlds

World Notes
Alfheim Home of the Light Elves. Alfheim is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid.
Asgard Home of the Asgardians. Asgard is the name of the planetoid, a distinct region on the planetoid and its capital city.
Hel Realm of the dead who are neither honored nor dishonored. Ruled by Hela.
Jotunheim Home of the Frost Giants.
Midgard The Earthly plane. Although not technically a part of the Asgardian dimension, it is considered one of the Nine Worlds because of its significant connections to Asgard.
Muspelheim Home of the Demons. Ruled by Surtur.
Nidavellir Home of the Dwarves. Nidavellir is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid.
Svartalfheim Home of the Dark Elves.
Vanaheim Home of the Vanir who are the sister race of the Asgardians. Vanaheim is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid.

Other worlds and regions

Region Notes
Niffleheim Realm of the dishonored dead which is distinct but closely connected to Hel.
Valhalla Realm of the honored dead and is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid.
Heven The tenth world of Asgard and home of the Angels, it was cut off from the rest of Asgard by Odin long ago and not rediscovered until the 2014 storyline Original Sin.

The six races

The six races of intelligent humanoid beings known to reside within the Asgardian dimension.

Race Known members
Asgardians Æsir Amora the Enchantress, Balder, Bor, Búri,[16] Brunnhilde, Fandral, Frigga, Heimdall, Hermod, Hildegarde, Hoder, Kelda, Lorelei, Magni, Mimir, Odin, Sif, Skurge the Executioner, Thor, Tyr, Vidar, Vili,[16] Ve,[16] Volla, Volstagg
Vanir Frey, Freya, Idunn, Njord,[17] Sigyn
Demons Hrinmeer,[18] Skulveig,[18] Surtur
Dwarves Alfrigg,[19] Brokk, Dvalin,[19] Eitri, Grerr,[19] Throgg[20]
Elves Dark Elves Alflyse,[21] Grendell,[22] Kurse, Malekith
Light Elves Aeltri,[18] Hrinmeer[18]
Giants Angerboda,[23] Fafnir2,[24] Fasolt,[24] Gerd,[25] Gymir,[25] Hela, Laufey, Loki, Siingard, Skadi,[26] Skurge the Executioner, Solveig, Utgard-Loki, Vidar, Ymir
Trolls Ulik, Geirrodur, Ulla, Askella, Gaark, Garrg, Glagg, Grak, Grundor, Kryllk, Muthos, Olik, Targo,
Other Hogun, Hrimhari, Karnilla, Mogul of the Mystic Mountain, Three Norns (Urd, Skuld, and Verdandi)

^2 Not to be confused with the dragon Fafnir.

Racial attributes

Although they look human, all Asgardians possess certain superhuman physical attributes. They are extremely long-lived (though not purely immortal like their Olympian counterparts), aging at an extremely slow rate upon reaching adulthood (through the periodic consumption of the golden apples of Idunn). Asgardian flesh and bone is three times denser than similar human tissue, contributing to their superhuman strength and weight. An average Asgardian male can lift 30 tons (27.2 metric tons); an average Asgardian female can lift about 25 tons (22.7 metric tons). Asgardians are immune to all terrestrial diseases and resistant to conventional injury (however this resilience seems relatively incapable of defeating the zombie plague in Earth-2149 that affects even Asgardians). The metabolism of the Asgardians gives them superhuman stamina in all physical activities.[27]

Demons are beings of fire and tend to be about the same stature as the Asgardians.[27]

Dwarves are smaller in stature than the Asgardians, and have short, stocky bodies. Their average height is four feet (1.2 meters).[27]

Elves vary greatly in size from four to eight feet (1.2 to 2.4 meters). They tend toward slender bodies and proportionately longer limbs. The dark elves tend to be darker in color than the light elves. Both types have natural proclivity towards magic.[27]

Giants are basically humanoid in appearance and color although they tend toward the neanderthalic in body and bone structure. Their most distinguishing feature is their height. The average giant is twenty feet (6 meters) tall, although some may reach thirty feet (9.1 meters). On occasion giants will produce stunted offspring who look similar to the Asgardians. Loki and the Executioner are both children of giants despite their diminutive six or seven foot (1.8 or 2.1 meter) stature.[27]

Trolls are the least human-looking of the denizens of Asgard, possessing body characteristics that are almost simian. Trolls are stocky and massive, have thick body hair (almost fur) and tend toward a ruddy orange color. They are on average taller than the Asgardians but shorter than giants, around seven feet (2.1 meters) tall, although some trolls are considerably taller. Trolls tend to be extremely strong, stronger than the average Asgardian, dwarf or elf and on par with giants. Trolls like Ulik rival Thor in strength.[27]

Flora and fauna

Flora

Diagram showing the relationship of Yggdrasil with the nine worlds of Asgard. Art by Eliot R. Brown.

Yggdrasil; the world tree is an immense ash tree that is central to the Asgardian dimension. The tree is supported by three roots that extended far into the other worlds; one to the spring of Hvergelmir in Niflheim, one to the well of Mimir in Jotunheim, and another to the well of Wyrd in Asgard. Though Midgard is not physically connected to Yggdrasil, it is said that the Earth's axis is in alignment with the tree.[27] In the limited series Thor: Blood Oath, Thor and the Warriors Three are sent to retrieve golden apples from the branches of the tree.[28] Odin once hung himself from the tree for nine days and nights as a sacrifice to gain knowledge of the runes. Thor repeated this action during Ragnarök.[29] Later Amora the Enchantress attempt to destroy the tree in an effort to free the body of Skruge the Executioner from its roots, an action that nearly tore apart the fabric of reality.[30]

Fauna

In other media

Television

Film

Asgard as depicted in the 2011 feature film Thor.

Video games

Theme parks

References

  1. 1 2 Thor Annual vol. 1, #4 (1976)
  2. ↑ Thor #154-157 (July - Oct. 1968)
  3. ↑ Thor #175-177 (Apr. - June 1970)
  4. ↑ Thor #40 vol. 2, (October 2001)
  5. ↑ Thor vol. 2, #80-85 (Aug. - Dec. 2004)
  6. ↑ Thor vol. 3, #1-5 (Sept. 2007 - Jan. 2008)
  7. ↑ Secret Invasion: Thor, #1-3 (Oct. - Dec. 2008)
  8. ↑ Thor #600 (Apr. 2009)
  9. ↑ Siege, #1-4 (Mar. - June 2010)
  10. ↑ Thor #618 (December 2010)
  11. ↑ Fear Itself #7.2 (2011)
  12. ↑ The Mighty Thor #11 (February 2012)
  13. ↑ Original Sin #5.1
  14. ↑ The Mighty Thor #10
  15. ↑ Loki: Agent of Asgard #14
  16. 1 2 3 Journey Into Mystery, #97 (October 1963)
  17. ↑ Thor vol. 1, #274 (August 1978)
  18. 1 2 3 4 Thor Annual, #18 (1993)
  19. 1 2 3 4 Thor: Reign of Blood, #1 (August 2008)
  20. 1 2 Thor, #339 (January 1984)
  21. ↑ Incredible Hercules, #132 (October 2009)
  22. ↑ Thor vol. 1, #377 (March 1987)
  23. ↑ Thor, #360 (October 1985)
  24. 1 2 Thor vol. 1, #294 (April 1980)
  25. 1 2 Balder the Brave, #1 (November 1985)
  26. ↑ X-Force and Cable Annual 1997
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition, #1: Abomination to Batroc's Brigade (August 1985)
  28. 1 2 3 4 Michael Avon Oeming (w), Scott Kolins (p), Thor: Blood Oath #2 (October 5, 2005), New York, NY: Marvel Comics
  29. 1 2 Thor vol. 2, #84
  30. ↑ Thor: God-Size, #1
  31. ↑ Thor: Son of Asgard, #2
  32. ↑ Thor: Son of Asgard, #3
  33. ↑ Thor vol. 2, #85
  34. ↑ Thor vol. 2, #74
  35. ↑ Thor vol. 2, #83-85
  36. ↑ Thor vol. 3, #7-8
  37. ↑ Thor, #274 (August 1978)
  38. ↑ Fritz, Steve (2008-07-26). "SDCC '08, Marvel's Craig Kyle on Future of Animation, p2". Newsarama. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  39. ↑ Release Dates Confirmed For "Planet Hulk," "Thor: Tales Of Asgard" Animated Features
  40. ↑ "Marvel Studios Update: Loki Officially Cast in 2011 Thor Movie". Marvel Comics. 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  41. ↑ Fleming, Mike (2012-08-01). "We Have A 'Thor 2′ Villain: Christopher Eccleston To Play Malekith The Accursed". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  42. ↑ Jolin, Dan (August 7, 2013). "Thor: The Dark World Second Trailer Breakdown". Empire. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  43. ↑ Giese, Andrew (2006-11-13). "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Review - GBA". Gamer 2.0. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  44. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (2009-05-28). "Pre-E3 2009: Marvel Super Hero Squad Story Details". IGN. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  45. ↑ "SEGA Inks Actors Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston to Star in the Video Game Thor: God of Thunder". Business Wire. 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  46. ↑ Graser, Marc (August 20, 2013). "Thor Is Headed to Disneyland". Variety. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.

External links

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