Gungnir first appeared alongside its wielder, Odin, in Journey into Mystery #85, published in October 1962. Created by the legendary duo of writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the spear was directly lifted from its namesake in Norse mythology. In the original myths, Gungnir (“The Swaying One”) was a magical spear forged by dwarves that never missed its mark. Lee and Kirby brilliantly incorporated this mythological foundation into the burgeoning Marvel Universe, establishing Gungnir not just as a piece of Odin's regalia but as a tangible representation of his power and authority. Its visual design by Kirby, a golden, ornate, and often crackling spear, immediately conveyed a sense of ancient power far exceeding the technology of Earth. Over the decades, writers like Walter Simonson, J. Michael Straczynski, and Jason Aaron have further fleshed out its history and capabilities, solidifying its status as one of Asgard's most important artifacts.
The creation of Gungnir is a tale rooted in the ancient history of the Nine Realms, a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship of the Dwarves and the cosmic power of Odin.
In the prime Marvel continuity, the forging of Gungnir is a story that predates the creation of Mjolnir. The spear was crafted by the master Dwarven blacksmiths of Nidavellir, Eitri and Brokk, the same smiths who would later forge Thor's hammer. The narrative, as recounted in various Asgardian histories, states that the spear was created as one of three legendary gifts for Odin, alongside the golden boar Gullinbursti and the self-replicating golden arm-ring Draupnir. The materials used were of the highest possible quality. The spear's head was forged from a unique, cosmically-charged ingot of uru metal, a substance found only in the Nidavellir realm and known for its incredible durability and affinity for magical enchantments. The shaft is said to have been fashioned from the wood of yggdrasil, the World Tree itself, imbuing it with a connection to the very fabric of the Ten Realms. Upon receiving the unenchanted spear, Odin spent an immense amount of time and cosmic energy layering it with powerful spells and enchantments of his own design. He bound his own life force and the cosmic power he wields—the Odinforce—to the weapon. Key enchantments include:
This lengthy and arduous process transformed Gungnir from a masterfully crafted weapon into a divine artifact, a true extension of Odin's will and power.
The specific origin of Gungnir in the MCU has not been explicitly detailed on-screen, but its history can be inferred from its presence and function. It is presented as an ancient artifact, presumably forged by the Dwarves of Nidavellir at the behest of Odin's father, Bor, or Odin himself in the distant past. Its appearance in the prologue of Thor (2011), wielded by Odin during the war with the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, establishes its long history as the primary weapon and symbol of the Asgardian king. Unlike its comics counterpart, the MCU's Gungnir is depicted less as a throwing weapon and more as a combination of a melee weapon, a scepter of office, and a control rod for Asgard's most powerful technologies. Its primary function, especially during Loki's usurpation of the throne, was to act as a key in the Observatory, allowing the user to activate and control the bifrost_bridge. The MCU adaptation streamlined the spear's role for cinematic clarity. Instead of being one of several powerful weapons, it became the singular object representing the throne's power. This made Loki's possession of it a clear visual signifier of his stolen authority. The focus shifted from its intrinsic “never-miss” properties to its function as a key, a narrative choice that directly fueled the plot of the first Thor film. Gungnir was ultimately destroyed by hela in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), shattered along with Odin's throne room as she asserted her own dominance, symbolically ending the era of Odin's rule.
Gungnir's capabilities place it in the highest echelon of cosmic weaponry, rivaling artifacts like the Infinity Gauntlet (when un-gemmed) and the Ultimate Nullifier in sheer destructive potential when wielded by a being of sufficient power.
In the comics, Gungnir is a weapon of near-limitless power, its might directly tied to the wielder's ability to tap into the Odinforce.
The MCU's Gungnir, while still powerful, operates under a different and more limited set of rules, focusing on its role as a key and symbol.
The spear is visually composed of a golden, metallic material, which is implied to be Uru or a similar Asgardian alloy. It is shown to be highly durable, capable of withstanding the rigors of combat with Frost Giants and deflecting energy blasts. However, its ultimate destruction at the hands of Hela proves it is not truly indestructible in the MCU, unlike its 616 counterpart.
The core difference lies in Gungnir's primary purpose.
This change was likely made to simplify the narrative for film audiences. Making Gungnir the key to the Bifrost created a clear, tangible objective for the villain (Loki) and a direct threat (the destruction of Jotunheim) that was easy to understand visually. In contrast, the abstract, immense power of the comic version would have been more difficult to depict and could have potentially overshadowed Thor and Mjolnir.
While eternally known as Odin's spear, Gungnir has passed through several hands, each time heralding a major shift in the balance of power in Asgard.
The All-Father is Gungnir's primary and most powerful wielder. For millennia, he has used it to defend Asgard from countless threats, including Frost Giants, Fire Demons, and the Celestials themselves. In his hands, the spear is at its absolute peak, a tool with which he can rewrite reality and enforce his will across the Ten Realms. Odin's connection to the spear is so profound that it is considered an extension of his own being.
Odin's father and the former King of Asgard. In flashbacks and stories of the distant past, Bor is also shown to have wielded Gungnir. As the spear is the symbol of the Asgardian monarch, it stands to reason that it passes from ruler to ruler. It was from Bor that Odin inherited the throne and the spear.
On the rare occasions Odin has been incapacitated or in the Odinsleep, Thor has taken up Gungnir as the acting regent of Asgard. Wielding Gungnir in one hand and Mjolnir in the other, Thor becomes a force of nearly unstoppable power. However, he has always been hesitant to wield its full might, viewing it as his father's burden and weapon, not his own. During the period when he became “King Thor,” he wielded Gungnir as his primary symbol of authority.
Loki has wielded Gungnir on several occasions, most notably when he has usurped the throne of Asgard. In both the comics and the MCU, his seizing of the spear is the ultimate sign of his treachery. While a powerful magic-user, Loki cannot command the Odinforce through the spear as Odin or Thor can. He primarily uses its energy projection abilities and, in the MCU, its control over the Bifrost to further his schemes.
Odin's long-forgotten brother and the Asgardian God of Fear, Cul was the main antagonist of the Fear Itself storyline. After being freed from his underwater prison, he reclaimed his own version of Asgard's throne and wielded Gungnir against the heroes of Earth. His use of the spear was brutal and terrifying, a dark mirror of Odin's own power, proving that the weapon's intent is shaped by the morality of its wielder.
Gungnir's presence in a story often signifies that the stakes have been raised to a cosmic level, involving the fate of Asgard or the entire universe.
During the Siege of Asgard by Norman Osborn and his Dark Avengers, Odin was absent from the throne. Asgard, then located on Earth, was left vulnerable. While Gungnir itself was not the central focus, its absence—and the absence of its true wielder—was a critical factor in Asgard's initial downfall. The event underscored the idea that the physical defenses of Asgard are meaningless without the authority and power symbolized by Odin and his spear.
This storyline is arguably Gungnir's most significant role in the hands of a villain. Odin's brother, Cul, the Serpent, is released and wages a war of fear across the Earth. He establishes a dark, corrupted Asgard on Earth and sits on the throne, wielding Gungnir as his weapon. He uses it to battle the Avengers and, in a climactic confrontation, to mortally wound Thor. The image of Gungnir being used for such evil was a powerful perversion of its noble history and forced Odin to confront the darkest parts of his own family's past.
In this massive crossover event, Malekith the Accursed leads the forces of the Ten Realms in an invasion of Midgard (Earth). With Odin initially captured and humbled, the defense of the realms falls to Thor and Earth's heroes. Gungnir appears as a key artifact of Asgardian leadership. The battle for the throne of Asgard, and by extension the right to wield Gungnir, becomes a central part of the conflict, as a united Asgard is the only hope for turning the tide of the war. Odin, once freed, reclaims the spear to lead the final, desperate charge against Malekith's armies.
In the Ultimate Universe, Asgardian technology and magic are depicted differently, often as advanced, reality-bending technology rather than pure magic. Gungnir appears in this continuity, wielded by Odin, but is part of an advanced combat armor system. It functions as a high-tech energy weapon, capable of firing devastating blasts and coordinating military forces. Its design is more utilitarian and less ornate than its Earth-616 counterpart, reflecting the grittier tone of the Ultimate line.
In the 2020 video game Marvel's Avengers, Gungnir is mentioned as one of the legendary artifacts of Asgard. The game's lore files expand on its history, closely aligning it with the comic book origin. It is revered as the All-Father's spear and a symbol of his power, reinforcing its primary role for a new generation of fans through a different medium.
In the dystopian future of Earth-X, the Asgardians are revealed to be aliens who were manipulated by the Celestials into believing they were gods. Their weapons, including Gungnir, are pieces of advanced alien technology whose true nature has been masked by perception. Gungnir remains Odin's symbol of power, but its context is shifted from a magical artifact to a sophisticated piece of cosmic tech.