Asgard
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Asgard
is a fictional realm and its capital city appearing in
American comic books
published by
Marvel Comics
. 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
.
Contents
[
hide
]
Fictional history
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 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
|
|---|
|
Niflheim
|
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.
|
|
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
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,
[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]
Fafnir
2
,
[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
Skurge the Executioner
from its roots, an action that nearly tore apart the fabric of reality.
[30]
Fauna
-
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,
[31]
and
Níðhöggr
; who feeds on the roots of Yggdrasil.
[28]
-
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,
[32]
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.
[28]
-
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.
[33]
-
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.
[34]
-
Huginn and Muninn
are Odin's pet ravens. They guided Thor to find the means to end the Ragnarök cycle
[35]
and again through Hel to find Odin.
[36]
-
Midgard Serpent
; an immense serpent that lives in the
Sea of Space
circling Midgard, ready to eat unwary sailors.
[1]
-
Rattatosk
; 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.
[28]
[29]
-
Sleipnir
; Odin's eight-legged steed.
[37]
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.
[19]
-
Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder
; two mystical goats that pull Thor's chariot.
[20]
In other media
Television
Film
Asgard as depicted in the 2011 feature film
Thor
.
-
Asgard is the setting of
Marvel Animation
film
Hulk vs. Thor
.
[38]
-
Asgard is the setting of the animated film
Thor: Tales of Asgard
.
[39]
-
Asgard and
Jotunheim
appear in the 2011 live-action
Marvel Studios
film
Thor
, directed by
Kenneth Branagh
.
[40]
-
Asgard,
Svartalfheim
,
Vanaheim
, and Jotunheim appear in the 2013 sequel
Thor: The Dark World
, directed by
Alan Taylor
.
Muspelheim
is also seen briefly through a dimensional rift.
[41]
[42]
-
Asgard and Muspelheim appear in the 2017 sequel
Thor: Ragnarok
, directed by
Taika Waititi
. The film opens in Muspelheim, where Thor defeats Surtur before returning to Asgard. In the finale, Thor and Loki summon Surtur to destroy the Asgard planetoid, in order to defeat Hela. Thor leads the Asgardian people on a spaceship headed for Earth, to create a new homeland to settle in.
Hel
is also seen briefly when Hela is released and in flashback when she fights the
Valkyries
in an attempt to escape.
-
Nidavellir
appears in the 2018 film
Avengers: Infinity War
, directed by the
Russo brothers
. Thor, along with
Rocket
and
Groot
, travel there to ask the dwarf
Eitri
to forge a new weapon that can kill
Thanos
. In the film, Nidavellir is a
neutron star
surrounded by a forge which the dwarves used to craft weapons.
Video games
Theme parks
-
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.
[47]
