Asgard | |
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Cover of Tales of Asgard #1 (October 1968) showing Asgard and some of the inhabitants of the Asgardian dimension Artist Jack Kirby |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Journey into Mystery #85 (October 1962) |
Created by | Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby |
In story information | |
Type | Dimension |
Notable races | Asgardians |
Asgard is a fictional realm within the Marvel Comics universe based on the Asgard of Norse mythology and is home to the Asgardians and other beings of Norse mythology. Asgard features prominently in tales of Thor.
Contents |
Fictional history
According to Asgardian legend in the begining 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, the middle 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 streched a rainbow bridge and called it Bifröst.[1]
It was prophesied that Odin's son Loki would lead Asgard's enemies in a final conflict known as Ragnarök that 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 entirity of Asgard and its inhabitants are destroyed in resulting battle.[2]
After Ragnarök Donald Blake awakens Thor from the "Void of Non-Existance". 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.[3]
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 expell 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.[4]
Regions
The Asgardian dimension contains several distinct regions.
The Nine Worlds
World | Notes |
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Alfheim | Home of the Light Elves (Ljósálfar). Alfheim is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid. |
Asgard | Home of the Asgardians. Asgard is the name of both the planetoid and its capital city. |
Hel | Realm of the dead who are neither honored nor dishonored. It is ruled by Hela. |
Jotunheim | Home of the Giants (Jötunn). |
Midgard | Midgard is the Earthly plane of existence. Although technically not a part of the Asgardian dimension, it is considered one of the Nine Worlds by the Asgardians because of its significant connections to Asgard. |
Muspelheim | Home of the Demons. It is ruled by Surtur. |
Nidavellir | Home of the Dwarves. Nidavellir is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid. |
Svartalfheim | Home of the Dark Elves (Svartálfar). |
Vanaheim | Home of the Vanir who are the sister race of the Asgardians. Vanaheim is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid. |
Other regions
Region | Notes |
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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. |
The six races
The six races of intellegent humanoid beings known to reside within the Asgardian dimension.
Race | Known members | |
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Asgardians | Æsir | Amora the Enchantress, Balder, Borr[5], Búri[5], Brunnhilde, Fandral, Frigga, Heimdall, Hermod, Hildegarde, Hoder, Kelda, Lorelei, Magni, Mimir, Odin, Skurge the Executioner, Sif, Thor, Tyr, Vidar, Vili[5], Ve[5], Volla, Volstagg |
Vanir | Frey, Freya[6], Idunn, Njord[7], Sigyn | |
Demons | Hrinmeer[8], Skulveig[8], Surtur | |
Dwarves | Alfrigg[9], Brokk, Dvalin[9], Eitri, Grerr[9], Throgg[10] | |
Elves | Dark Elves | Alflyse[11], Grendell[12], Kurse, Malekith |
Light Elves | Aeltri[8], Hrinmeer[8] | |
Giants | Angerboda[13], Fafnir1 [14], Fasolt[14], Gerd[15], Gymir[15], Hela, Laufey[16], Loki, Skadi[17], Skurge the Executioner, Solveig, Utgard-Loki, Vidar, Ymir | |
Trolls | Geirrodur, Ulik | |
Other | Hogun, Hrimhari, Karnilla, Mogul of the Mystic Mountain, Three Norns (Urd, Skuld, and Verdandi) |
^1 Not to be confused with the dragon Fafnir.
Racial attributes
All Asgardians posses certain superhuman physical attributes. They are extremely long-lived (though not truly immortal like the Olympians), aging at an extremely slow rate upon reaching adulthood (through the periodic consumption of the golden apples of Idunn). Asgardian flesh and bone is about three times denser than similar human tissue, contributing to the Asgardians superhuman strength and weight. An average Asgardian male can lift about 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. The metabolism of the Asgardians gives them superhuman endurance in all physical activities.[18]
Demons are beings of fire and tend to be about the same stature as the Asgardians.[18]
Dwarves are smaller in stature than the Asgardians, and have short, stocky bodies. Their averave height is four feet (1.2 meters).[18]
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.[18]
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.[18]
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.[18]
Flora and Fauna
Flora
- 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.[18] In the limited series Thor: Blood Oath, Thor and the Warriors Three are sent to retrieve golden apples from the branches of the tree.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21]
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[22], and Níðhöggr; who feeds on the roots of Yggdrasil.[19]
- Eagles are giant sapient versions of their Earthly counter-parts. 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[23], 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.[19]
- 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.[24]
- 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.[25]
- Huginn and Muninn are Odin's pet ravens. They guided Thor to find the means to end the Ragnarök cycle[26] and again through Hel to find Odin.[27]
- Midgard Serpent; an immense serpent that lives in the Sea of Space circling Midgard, ready to eat unwary sailors.[1]
- Rattatosk; a squirel 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.[19][20]
- Sleipnir; Odin's eight-legged steed.
- Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder; two mystical goats that pull Thor's chariot.[10]
In other media
Television
- Asgard appears in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "The Vengeance of Loki." Thor shows the Spider-Friends what Asgard is like.
- Asgard is featured in The Super Hero Squad Show. It is shown as a floating city with Bifröst Bridge going from Asgard to Super Hero City. In "Oh Brother," Loki persuades Doctor Doom into lending some of his Lethal Legion members into helping him invade Asgard.
Film
- Asgard is the setting of Marvel Animation film, Hulk vs. Thor.
- Asgard will appear in upcoming live-action Marvel Studios film, Thor directed by Kenneth Branagh.
- Asgard is schedule to be the setting of the upcoming animated film, Thor: Tales of Asgard.
Video games
- Asgard is featured in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Loki attacks Asgard with an army of super-soldiers while Odin battles the Frost Giants and Thor is on earth. In order to release a conquered Asgard, the heroes open the doors of Bifröst Gate so that reinforcements can arrive and release Balder, Tyr, and Heimdall before going to look Odin in Niffleheim.
- Asgard is featured in the Marvel Super Hero Squad video game.
References
- ^ a b Thor Annual vol. 1, #4 (1976)
- ^ Thor vol. 2, #80-85 (Aug. - Dec. 2004)
- ^ Thor vol. 3, #1-5 (Sept. 2007 - Jan. 2008)
- ^ Siege, #1-4 (Mar. - June 2010)
- ^ a b c d Journey Into Mystery, #97 (October 1963)
- ^ Marvel Super Heroes vol. 2, #15 (1993)
- ^ Thor vol. 1, #274 (August 1978)
- ^ a b c d Thor Annual, #18 (1993)
- ^ a b c Thor: Reign of Blood, #1 (August 2008)
- ^ a b Thor, #339 (January 1984)
- ^ Incredible Hercules, #132 (October 2009)
- ^ Thor vol. 1, #377 (March 1987)
- ^ Thor, #360 (October 1985)
- ^ a b Thor vol. 1, #294 (April 1980)
- ^ a b Balder the Brave, #1 (November 1985)
- ^ Journey Into Mystery, #112 (January 1965)
- ^ X-Force and Cable Annual 1997
- ^ a b c d e f g Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition, #1: Abomination to Batroc's Brigade (August 1985)
- ^ a b c d Thor: Blood Oath, #2
- ^ a b Thor vol. 2, #84
- ^ Thor: God-Size, #1
- ^ Thor: Son of Asgard, #2
- ^ Thor: Son of Asgard, #3
- ^ Thor vol. 2, #85
- ^ Thor vol. 2, #74
- ^ Thor vol. 2, #83-85
- ^ Thor vol. 3, #7-8
External links
- Asgard at the Marvel Universe wiki
- Asgard at the Marvel Comics Database
- Marvel Directory - Asgard
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