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Asgard (comics)

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This article is about fictional realm in Marvel comics. For other uses, see Asgard (disambiguation).
Asgard
Asgard and some of the inhabitants of the Asgardian dimension on the cover of Tales of Asgard #1 (October 1968)
Art by Jack Kirby.
First appearanceJourney into Mystery #85
(October 1962)
Created byStan Lee
Larry Lieber
Jack Kirby
In-universe information
TypeRealm
Race(s)Asgardians
PublisherMarvel Comics

Asgard is a fictional realm and its capital city appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, the realm first appeared in Journey into Mystery #85 (October 1962).[1][2] Based on the realm of the same name from Germanic mythology (particularly Norse), Asgard is home to the Asgardians and other beings adapted from Norse mythology. It features prominently in stories that follow the Marvel Comics superhero Thor.

Asgard has appeared in comics and various media adaptations, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and the Disney+ series Loki (2021). Eventually, Asgard was relocated to Earth in Norway and appeared in Avengers: Endgame and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

Fictional history

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According to Asgardian 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 ice 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.[3]

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.[4] Loki later usurped the throne of Asgard by taking the Odinring, but fled again when Asgard was invaded by the fire demon, Surtur.[5]

The throne of Asgard later passes to Thor after Odin is killed in battle by Surtur, when the demon invades Earth.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

When Thor is forced to abdicate the throne and is exiled for killing his grandfather Bor, who was brought from the past and driven mad by Loki, control of Asgard passes to Thor's half-brother, Balder.[10]

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 the Siege of Asgard. 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.[11]

Thor restores Odin to the throne when the nine realms are invaded by "the World Eaters".[12] 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.[13] Tony Stark's company, Stark Resilient then rebuilds Asgard over Broxton, Oklahoma, where it is rechristened as "Asgardia".[14]

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.[15]

Asgard later established the Congress of Worlds which consists of the representatives of the Nine Realms.[16] After Heven was reintegrated with the other Realms, representatives of Heven started appearing as members of the Congress of Worlds.[17]

Regions

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The Asgardian dimension contains several distinct regions.[18]

The Nine Realms

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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.
Helheim 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 Fire Giants/Demons. Ruled by the Fire Giant 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

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Region Notes
Niflheim Realm of the cold and ice; another place for the dishonoured dead, closely connected with Helheim.
Valhalla Odin's great palace of the honoured dead and is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid.
Nornheim Realm of the Asgard planetoid ruled by Karnilla.
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

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

Race Known members
Asgardians Æsir Aldrif Odinsdottir, Amora the Enchantress, Balder, Bor, Búri,[19] Brunnhilde, Fandral, Hermod, Hildegarde, Hoder, Kelda, Lorelei, Magni, Mimir, Odin, Siriana, Skurge the Executioner, Thor Odinson, Tyr, Vidar, Vili,[19] Ve,[19] Volla, Volstagg
Vanir Frey, Freya, Frigga, Heimdall, Idunn, Njord,[20] Sigyn, Sif
Demons Hrinmeer,[21] Skulveig [21]
Dwarves Alfrigg,[22] Brokk, Dvalin,[22] Eitri, Grerr,[22] Throgg[23]
Elves Dark Elves Alflyse,[24] Grendell,[25] Kurse, Malekith
Light Elves Aeltri,[21] Hrinmeer[21]
Giants Angerboda,[26] Fafnir2,[27] Fasolt,[27] Gerd,[28] Gymir,[28] Hela, Laufey, Loki, Siingard, Skadi,[29] Skurge the Executioner, Solveig, Utgard-Loki, Vidar, Surtur, Ymir, Arkin the Weak[30]
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

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Although they look human, all Asgardians possess certain superhuman physical attributes. They are extremely long-lived (though not 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.[31]

Demons are beings of fire and tend to be about the same stature as the Asgardians.[31]

Dwarves are smaller in stature than the Asgardians, and have short, stocky bodies. Their average height is four feet (1.2 meters).[31]

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.[31]

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 (6.1 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.[31]

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.[31]

Flora and fauna

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There are different flora and fauna in Asgard:

Flora

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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.[31] In the limited series Thor: Blood Oath, Thor and the Warriors Three are sent to retrieve golden apples from the branches of the tree.[32] 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.[33] Later Amora the Enchantress attempt to destroy the tree in an effort to free the body of Skurge the Executioner from its roots, an action that nearly tore apart the fabric of reality.[34]

Fauna

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  • Dragons are ancient creatures that are stated to live in Nastrond. These include Fafnir, Hakurel; a dragon Thor slew during one of his earliest adventures,[35] and Níðhöggr; who feeds on the roots of Yggdrasil.[32]
  • Eagles are giant sapient versions of their Earthly counterparts. These include Gnori; king of snow eagles whom a young Thor, Sif and Balder sought for one of his feathers as part of a quest,[36] and Lerad; an eagle that guards the magic apples of Yggdrasil. Volstagg was able to steal an apple by first beating Lerad in a drinking contest.[32]
  • Fenris Wolf; a giant wolf that is said to be the offspring of Loki and the giantess Angrboda. During Ragnarök Fenris swallowed all that remained of Asgard following the final battle.[37]
  • Geri and Freki are Odin's pet wolves. Freki stopped an assassination attempt on Thor's life during a time known as the Reigning when Thor assumed the throne of Asgard and ruled both Asgard and Midgard with an iron fist.[38]
  • Huginn and Muninn are Odin's pet ravens. They guided Thor to find the means to end the Ragnarök cycle[39] and again through Hel to find Odin.[40]
  • Midgard Serpent; an immense serpent that lives in the Sea of Space circling Midgard, ready to eat unwary sailors.[3]
  • Ratatosk; a squirrel that lives on Yggdrasil and carries messages between Lerad and Níðhöggr. As a child Thor would go to Yggdrasil to visit Rattatosk and listen to his stories.[32][33]
  • Sleipnir; Odin's eight-legged steed.[41] Thor had eight steeds Firegnaw, Mudbrute, Slaughterbit, Smokemare, Snow Harpy, Stormbringer, Swamptooth and Warhoof. During a famine on earth, some humans ate the horses over Thor's request that they not do so. The God of Thunder took the bones back to Asgard. Using magics, he reformed them into Sleipnir.[22]
  • Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder; two mystical goats that pull Thor's chariot.[23]
  • "The War of the Realms" storyline featured a race of Swamp Mammoths that live in a swamp somewhere in Asgard. Due to their appearance, there is no confirmation on if they are either covered in plants or made from plants.[42]

Reception

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Accolades

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  • In 2019, CBR.com ranked Asgard 6th in their "10 Most Iconic Superhero Hideouts In Marvel Comics" list.[43]

In other media

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Television

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Film

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Asgard as depicted in the 2011 feature film Thor.

Video games

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Theme parks

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  • The Disneyland attraction "Treasures of Asgard", located inside Innoventions in Tomorrowland, opened on November 1, 2013, and features displays of Asgardian relics and transports guests to Odin's throne room in Asgard, where they are greeted by Thor.[55]

References

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  1. ^ Dodge, John (2022-06-11). "Thor Just Destroyed Asgard's Most Important Monument". CBR. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  2. ^ Crye, John (2020-09-25). "The Untold Truth Of Marvel's Asgard". Looper. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  3. ^ a b Thor Annual #4 (1976). Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ Thor #154-157 (July-Oct. 1968). Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ Thor #175-177 (Apr.-June 1970). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ Thor vol. 2 #40 (Oct. 2001). Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Thor vol. 2 #80-85 (Aug.-Dec. 2004). Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Thor vol. 3 #1-5 (Sept. 2007-Jan. 2008). Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ Secret Invasion: Thor #1-3 (Oct.-Dec. 2008). Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ Thor #600 (Apr. 2009). Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ Siege #1-4 (Mar.-June 2010). Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ Thor #618 (Dec. 2010). Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Fear Itself #7.2 (2011). Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ The Mighty Thor #11 (Feb. 2012). Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Original Sin #5.1. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ The Mighty Thor #10. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Loki: Agent of Asgard #14. Marvel Comics.
  18. ^ Migalla, Sean (2022-09-25). "Asgard And The Other Realms, Ranked By Their Rulers". CBR. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  19. ^ a b c Journey into Mystery, #97 (Oct. 1963)
  20. ^ Thor #274 (Aug. 1978)
  21. ^ a b c d Thor Annual #18 (1993)
  22. ^ a b c d Thor: Reign of Blood, #1 (Aug. 2008)
  23. ^ a b Thor #339 (Jan. 1984)
  24. ^ The Incredible Hercules #132 (Oct. 2009)
  25. ^ Thor #377 (March 1987)
  26. ^ Thor #360 (Oct. 1985)
  27. ^ a b Thor #294 (April 1980)
  28. ^ a b Balder the Brave #1 (Nov. 1985)
  29. ^ X-Force and Cable Annual 1997
  30. ^ Scarlet Witch #8 (2023)
  31. ^ a b c d e f g The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition, #1: Abomination to Batroc's Brigade (Aug. 1985). Marvel Comics.
  32. ^ a b c d Michael Avon Oeming (w), Scott Kolins (p), Thor: Blood Oath #2 (Oct. 5 2005), New York, NY: Marvel Comics
  33. ^ a b Thor vol. 2 #84. Marvel Comics.
  34. ^ Thor: God-Size #1. Marvel Comics.
  35. ^ Thor: Son of Asgard #2
  36. ^ Thor: Son of Asgard #3. Marvel Comics.
  37. ^ Thor vol. 2 #85. Marvel Comics.
  38. ^ Thor vol. 2 #74. Marvel Comics.
  39. ^ Thor vol. 2 #83-85. Marvel Comics.
  40. ^ Thor vol. 3 #7-8. Marvel Comics.
  41. ^ Thor #274 (Aug. 1978). Marvel Comics.
  42. ^ Mighty Thor Vol. 3 #2. Marvel Comics.
  43. ^ Avina, Anthony (2019-09-06). "10 Most Iconic Superhero Hideouts In Marvel Comics, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  44. ^ Fritz, Steve (2008-07-26). "SDCC '08, Marvel's Craig Kyle on Future of Animation, p2". Newsarama. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  45. ^ "Release Dates Confirmed For "Planet Hulk," "Thor: Tales Of Asgard" Animated Features". Archived from the original on 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  46. ^ "Marvel Studios Update: Loki Officially Cast in 2011 Thor Movie". Marvel Comics. 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  47. ^ 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 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  48. ^ Jolin, Dan (August 7, 2013). "Thor: The Dark World Second Trailer Breakdown". Empire. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  49. ^ Giese, Andrew (2006-11-13). "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Review - GBA". Gamer 2.0. Archived from the original on 2012-08-18. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  50. ^ Casamassina, Matt (2009-05-28). "Pre-E3 2009: Marvel Super Hero Squad Story Details". IGN. Archived from the original on June 12, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  51. ^ "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.
  52. ^ "SDCC17 Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite: Live Blog".
  53. ^ Thwaites, Sarah (2022-11-17). "Every Marvel Snap location (and what they do)". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  54. ^ Arnold, Matt (2022-10-22). "Marvel Snap: Complete Locations Guide". TheGamer. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  55. ^ Graser, Marc (August 20, 2013). "Thor Is Headed to Disneyland". Variety. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
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