====== The Valkyrior ======
===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary =====
  *   **Core Identity: The Valkyrior are Odin's elite sisterhood of Asgardian warrior-goddesses, divinely charged with the sacred duty of choosing the souls of the worthiest mortal warriors slain in battle and guiding them to the halls of Valhalla.**
  *   **Key Takeaways:**
  * **Role in the Universe:** They are the celestial psychopomps of the [[marvel_universe]], serving as the bridge between mortal battlefields on [[midgard|Midgard (Earth)]] and the glorious afterlife in [[asgard]]. As the "Choosers of the Slain," they are essential to populating [[valhalla]] with the Einherjar, an army of the honored dead destined to fight for Asgard during [[ragnarok]].
  * **Primary Impact:** The Valkyrior embody the highest ideals of Asgardian honor and martial prowess. Their presence on a battlefield is a sign of a warrior's ultimate validation, and their absence or demise often signals a grave cosmic imbalance. Their leader, [[brunnhilde|Brunnhilde]], has also been a long-standing hero on Earth as a member of the [[defenders]].
  * **Key Incarnations:** The core difference is one of presence versus memory. In the **Earth-616** comics, the Valkyrior are an enduring, albeit often beleaguered, sisterhood that is periodically rebuilt. In the **Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)**, they are a legendary, historical force that was tragically annihilated by [[hela]], with [[brunnhilde]] being the sole, traumatized survivor for centuries.
===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution =====
==== Publication History and Creation ====
The Valkyrior made their first official appearance in the pages of **//Thor// #133** in October 1966. Created by the legendary duo of writer-editor [[stan_lee|Stan Lee]] and artist-plotter [[jack_kirby|Jack Kirby]], their introduction was a direct and powerful adaptation of the valkyries from Norse mythology. Lee and Kirby, in their grand project of transposing the Norse pantheon into a space-faring, super-heroic context, envisioned the Valkyrior as more than just mythological figures; they were an active and formidable military and spiritual force within the cosmic hierarchy of Asgard.
Their creation came during the Silver Age of comics, a period defined by an explosion of mythological and cosmic storytelling. The Valkyrior added a layer of profound spiritual and martial depth to the world of Thor, establishing the stakes of life, death, and honor that would become central themes in his mythology. While initially depicted as a collective, the concept was soon personified by its most famous member, Brunnhilde, who would go on to have a rich history of her own, particularly after being integrated with Earth's heroes in the //Defenders// series.
==== In-Universe Origin Story ====
The origin of the Valkyrior differs significantly between the prime comic continuity and the cinematic universe, reflecting their distinct roles in each narrative.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
In the ancient past of the Earth-616 universe, [[odin|Odin]], the All-Father of Asgard, foresaw the coming of Ragnarok, the cyclical twilight of the gods. To prepare for the final, cataclysmic battle, he required an army of the greatest warriors ever to have lived. He decreed the creation of a special cadre of warrior-goddesses who would be tasked with combing the battlefields of Midgard (Earth) and other realms to find mortals who died with exceptional valor. These chosen souls would be escorted to Valhalla, the Hall of the Honored Dead, where they would be reborn as the **Einherjar** and feast and train until the end of time.
Odin selected the fiercest and most noble goddesses of Asgard to form this sisterhood, appointing **[[brunnhilde]]** as their leader. He bestowed upon them enchanted winged steeds and granted them the ability to perceive the "death-glow" of a mortally wounded warrior who was worthy of Valhalla. This was not a grim duty but a sacred honor. To be chosen by a Valkyrie was the highest aspiration for any Viking or warrior who worshipped the Asgardian pantheon.
The Valkyrior's history is marked by cycles of glory, disbandment, and reformation. At one point, Odin was forced to strip them of their powers and physical forms after Brunnhilde defied his orders. For centuries, they existed only in spirit. Brunnhilde's own essence was later manipulated by the sorceress [[enchantress|Amora the Enchantress]] and trapped within the mortal body of Barbara Norris, leading to her long tenure on Earth as a member of the Defenders. Over the decades, the sisterhood has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, most notably after being slaughtered during the events of //Fear Itself//. Each time, a new generation, often led by a veteran like Brunnhilde or a new champion like [[jane_foster|Jane Foster]], rises to answer the call, proving the Valkyrior to be an eternal and essential institution of Asgard.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ===
The origin of the Valkyrior in the MCU is portrayed as a singular, tragic, and legendary event. As revealed in a dramatic flashback sequence in **//Thor: Ragnarok// (2017)**, the Valkyrior were not primarily psychopomps but were **Odin's personal elite guard**, the most formidable fighting force in Asgard's history. Clad in gleaming silver armor and riding magnificent winged steeds, they were the "Legion of Asgard," renowned and feared across the Nine Realms.
Their doom came when Odin's firstborn child, Hela, the Goddess of Death, grew too ambitious and violent. Her lust for conquest threatened the very fabric of the cosmos, forcing Odin to imprison her. When she resisted, Odin dispatched his ultimate weapon—the entire legion of Valkyrior—to subdue her and drive her back to her prison in Hel. The ensuing battle was a massacre. Hela, a warrior of unparalleled power, single-handedly slaughtered the Asgardian goddesses.
Only one Valkyrie survived. A young warrior (later identified as Brunnhilde, portrayed by Tessa Thompson) was saved by a comrade's sacrifice and was the sole warrior to escape the carnage. Traumatized by the slaughter of her sisters and disillusioned with Odin's rule, she abandoned Asgard entirely. She fled to the chaotic junk planet of [[sakaar]], where she drowned her sorrows in alcohol and became a bounty hunter known only as **Scrapper 142**. For millennia, the Valkyrior ceased to exist, becoming a lost legend in Asgard. Their story was transformed from an ongoing sacred duty into a cautionary tale of hubris and a symbol of Asgard's hidden, bloody history. This adaptation provided a powerful and personal backstory for the character of Valkyrie, making her journey of rediscovering her nobility a central theme of the film.
===== Part 3: Mandate, Structure & Key Members =====
The purpose, organization, and notable members of the Valkyrior vary dramatically between the comics and the films, reflecting their different narrative functions.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
**Mandate and Abilities:**
The primary directive of the Valkyrior is to serve as the **//Choosers of the Slain//**. Their mandate is twofold:
  * **Selection:** They possess the mystical ability to perceive a "death-glow" around mortally wounded individuals. This aura signifies that the person is dying with supreme courage and honor, making them a candidate for Valhalla. The choice is not arbitrary; it is a sacred judgment of a warrior's final moments.
  * **Transportation:** Upon choosing a soul, a Valkyrie can manifest on the physical plane as an ethereal, angelic figure. They guide the spirit from its mortal shell and escort it across the dimensional planes to the gates of Valhalla.
Beyond this, they are among Asgard's most skilled warriors. Each Valkyrie possesses the standard superhuman attributes of an Asgardian, including:
  * **Superhuman Strength, Durability, and Longevity:** Capable of lifting many tons and withstanding immense physical punishment. They are not truly immortal but age at an incredibly slow rate.
  * **Master Combatants:** They are experts in swordsmanship, spear-fighting, and unarmed combat.
  * **Mystical Steeds:** Each Valkyrie rides a winged horse, a gift from Odin. The most famous of these is Brunnhilde's steed, [[aragorn|Aragorn]].
**Structure:**
The Valkyrior is a sisterhood, bound by oath and duty. While their numbers have fluctuated, they are traditionally led by a single figure, the **All-Valkyrie**, who is often the most powerful and experienced among them. For most of their history, this leader has been Brunnhilde. They operate from **Valfreya**, a citadel on Asgard, and are considered a distinct branch of Asgard's divine forces, separate from the regular Einherjar or armies.
**Key Members:**
  * **[[brunnhilde|Brunnhilde]]:** The archetypal Valkyrie. As the original leader, her name is synonymous with the organization. Her long and complicated history, including her fusion with mortal women and her time as an Earth-based superhero with the Defenders, makes her one of Asgard's most complex characters. She wields the enchanted sword Dragonfang.
  * **[[danielle_moonstar|Danielle Moonstar (Mirage)]]:** A Cheyenne mutant and a core member of the [[new_mutants]]. After a series of adventures in Asgard, Hela granted her the powers of a Valkyrie. This created a unique hybrid: Dani's mutant power to manifest a person's greatest fear or desire now works in concert with her Valkyrie ability to perceive and battle death, making her a formidable and unique "angel of death."
  * **[[jane_foster|Jane Foster]]:** After her time as the Mighty Thor and her subsequent death and resurrection, Jane was offered the chance to become the new Valkyrie. Wielding the shapeshifting weapon **Undrjarn the All-Weapon**, Jane now serves as the primary Valkyrie, helping souls find peace and defending Midgard from supernatural threats.
  * **Rūna:** An ancient, powerful Valkyrie from the original sisterhood who was trapped in a cursed vambrace for centuries. Freed during the events of //King in Black//, she is a wilder, more aggressive Valkyrie who struggles to adapt to the modern world.
  * **The Fearless Defenders:** A short-lived but impactful team that was effectively a new iteration of the Valkyrior on Earth. Led by Brunnhilde and [[misty_knight|Misty Knight]], this all-female group included members like Dani Moonstar and Hippolyta, acting as a shield for humanity.
=== Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ===
**Mandate and Abilities:**
In the MCU, the Valkyrior's mandate was purely martial. They were **Odin's elite special forces**. Their purpose was not to choose the slain but to be the force that created them. They were deployed in the most critical battles when Asgard's supremacy needed to be asserted without question.
Their abilities were those of elite Asgardian warriors, amplified to the highest degree:
  * **Peak Asgardian Physiology:** As shown in the flashback, they possessed immense strength, speed, and agility, capable of leaping from their winged steeds onto Hela's massive constructs.
  * **Master Warriors:** Their combat proficiency was considered the stuff of legend, likely surpassing even the Einherjar.
  * **Winged Steeds:** Like their comic counterparts, they rode winged horses into battle, using them for aerial superiority.
**Structure:**
They were a unified legion, a formal military unit within the Asgardian army. There is no evidence of a specific internal hierarchy beyond their collective status as an elite force serving Odin directly. Their uniforms and equipment were standardized, emphasizing their role as a cohesive unit rather than a collection of individuals.
**Key Members:**
  * **'Valkyrie' (Brunnhilde):** As the sole survivor, she is the only member seen in detail. After escaping Hela's massacre, she repressed her identity and past, adopting the moniker "Scrapper 142." Her journey in //Thor: Ragnarok// is about reclaiming her heroic legacy. By the end of //Avengers: Endgame//, [[thor]] abdicates the throne of New Asgard, naming her **King Valkyrie**, making her the formal leader of the Asgardian people. She is defined by her incredible combat skill, her pragmatic (and often cynical) worldview, and her deep-seated trauma and loyalty.
===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network =====
==== Core Allies ====
  * **[[odin|Odin]]:** In Earth-616, Odin is their creator and commander-in-chief. Their relationship is one of profound, sworn duty. However, leaders like Brunnhilde have not hesitated to question or even defy the All-Father when his commands conflict with their moral code, creating a dynamic of respectful but firm tension.
  * **[[thor|Thor Odinson]]:** As the God of Thunder and Asgard's greatest champion, Thor shares a deep bond of mutual respect with the Valkyrior. They are frequent comrades-in-arms, fighting side-by-side to defend Asgard and the Nine Realms. They understand each other on the fundamental level of the warrior's spirit.
  * **[[the_defenders|The Defenders]]:** This applies specifically to Brunnhilde in the comics. For a significant portion of her history, her primary allies were not Asgardians but the "non-team" of Earth heroes known as the Defenders, including [[doctor_strange|Doctor Strange]], [[hulk|Hulk]], and [[namor|Namor the Sub-Mariner]]. This grounded her and gave her a unique perspective on Midgard.
==== Arch-Enemies ====
  * **[[hela|Hela]]:** The Asgardian Goddess of Death. The conflict between Hela and the Valkyrior is fundamental and existential. The Valkyrior ferry worthy souls to Odin's hall of Valhalla, while Hela is the ruler of Hel and Niflheim, the realm for the souls of the dishonored and the vast majority of Asgardians. They are cosmic rivals competing for the spirits of the dead. This rivalry is made brutally literal in the MCU, where Hela personally exterminated the entire sisterhood.
  * **[[cul_borson|The Serpent (Cul Borson)]]:** During the //Fear Itself// storyline, Odin's long-forgotten brother, the God of Fear, was unleashed upon the Nine Realms. In the climactic battle for Midgard, his dark forces, the Worthy, overwhelmed and slaughtered the entire Valkyrior, leaving Brunnhilde as the sole survivor. This event directly mirrored the MCU's backstory, making The Serpent one of their most devastating foes.
==== Affiliations ====
  * **[[asgardians|Asgardians]]:** As a divine institution of Asgard, this is their primary and most defining affiliation. They are a symbol of Asgard's power and honor.
  * **[[the_defenders|The Defenders]]:** Brunnhilde was a core, long-standing member of the classic Defenders team, cementing her status as an Earth-based hero.
  * **[[secret_avengers|Secret Avengers]]:** Valkyrie (Brunnhilde) also served a tenure on Captain America's covert Secret Avengers team, lending her Asgardian power to their black-ops missions.
  * **[[new_mutants|New Mutants]]:** Through the membership of Danielle Moonstar, the Valkyrior have a direct and powerful link to the next generation of mutant heroes.
===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines =====
==== The Defenders Saga (1970s - 1980s) ====
Brunnhilde's introduction to the wider Marvel Universe was not in Asgard, but on Earth. In a convoluted scheme, the [[enchantress]] trapped Brunnhilde's spirit and repeatedly placed it into the bodies of mortal women, most notably socialite Barbara Norris, to use as a pawn against Thor and his allies. As part of the Defenders, "Valkyrie" was a tortured hero, a goddess trapped in a mortal form, fighting to regain her memories and true identity. This decades-long arc defined the character for a generation, exploring themes of identity, free will, and the clash between divine responsibility and human connection. It was here that she truly became a hero of two worlds.
==== Fear Itself (2011) ====
This line-wide event saw the return of The Serpent, the Asgardian God of Fear. As his armies swept across the globe, the Valkyrior descended upon the battlefields of Earth to do their sacred duty: escort the souls of fallen heroes, including mortals, to the afterlife. In a gut-wrenching sequence in //Fear Itself// #7, they are shown being completely overwhelmed and massacred by The Serpent and his forces. The event effectively wiped out the sisterhood, leaving Brunnhilde as the sole survivor and setting the stage for her mission to rebuild. This storyline was a dark turning point, showing the vulnerability of the celestial warriors and raising the stakes for Asgard's future.
==== War of the Realms (2019) ====
During the dark elf Malekith's invasion of the Ten Realms, the Valkyrior played a crucial, if tragic, role. The few remaining Valkyries, led by Brunnhilde, fought valiantly but were ultimately all killed during the invasion of Midgard. Brunnhilde herself was decapitated by Malekith, a shocking moment that saw the death of the original Valkyrie. However, her spirit, along with the spirits of all her fallen sisters, rose one last time to help Jane Foster defeat Malekith's forces. In the aftermath, the spirits of the Valkyrior offered Jane Foster the mantle of the lone Valkyrie, recognizing her unparalleled heroism and worthiness. This event marked the definitive end of Brunnhilde's story (for a time) and the heroic beginning of Jane Foster's new chapter.
===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions =====
  * **Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610):** In this grounded, modernized reality, the Valkyrie was not an ancient goddess. She was Barbara Norris, a 19-year-old girl who dreamed of being a superhero. She was seemingly granted Asgardian powers by [[loki]] to serve as a public-facing member of the Ultimates and act as Thor's bodyguard. She possessed superhuman strength and wielded a large sword, but her powers were unstable and her origins mysterious. She was ultimately killed in action during the "Ultimatum" event.
  * **King in Black: Return of the Valkyries (2021):** While taking place in Earth-616, this miniseries introduced a new "variant" team dynamic. To combat Knull, the King in Black, Jane Foster (the new Valkyrie) is joined by the long-lost original Valkyrie Rūna, the mutant Valkyrie Dani Moonstar, and the spirit of the Asgardian warrior Hildegarde. This series essentially established a new, diverse generation of the Valkyrior, showing that the title is an adaptable mantle rather than a static group.
  * **//What If...?// (MCU):** In the animated series, variants of the Valkyrior can be seen. For instance, in the "What If... Thor Were an Only Child?" episode, Valkyrie is shown among the many cosmic partygoers on Earth, suggesting a reality where the massacre by Hela never occurred and she remained an active Asgardian warrior.
===== See Also =====
  * [[brunnhilde]]
  * [[asgard]]
  * [[thor]]
  * [[odin]]
  * [[valhalla]]
  * [[hela]]
  * [[jane_foster]]
  * [[danielle_moonstar]]
===== Notes and Trivia =====
((The concept of the Valkyrior is drawn directly from Norse mythology, where the valkyrja ("chooser of the slain") were female figures who decided which soldiers died in battle and which lived, escorting the chosen to Valhalla, the afterlife hall of the slain, ruled over by Odin.))
((Brunnhilde's winged steed is named Aragorn. This is widely considered to be a homage by its creator, writer Steve Englehart, to J.R.R. Tolkien's character from //The Lord of the Rings//.))
((Tessa Thompson's portrayal of Valkyrie in the MCU was a breakout role. The character's immense popularity led to significant changes in the comics, with Brunnhilde's physical appearance often being redesigned to more closely resemble Thompson.))
((In the comics, there is a clear distinction between Valhalla, reserved for honorable mortal warriors chosen by the Valkyrior, and Hel, the realm for the souls of most Asgardians who do not die in glorious battle. This distinction is less pronounced in the MCU.))
((Key Reading: //Thor// #133 (First Appearance), //Defenders// (1972) #4 (Brunnhilde joins), //Fear Itself// (2011) #1-7 (Destruction of the Valkyrior), //The Fearless Defenders// (2013) #1 (Reformation), //War of the Realms// (2019) (Death of Brunnhilde, Jane Foster's ascension).))