Valkyrie

• Core Identity: Valkyrie is the title of the chosen leader of the Valkyrior, Asgard's elite force of shield-maidens who guide the souls of worthy warriors to Valhalla, a role most famously embodied by the noble warrior Brunnhilde and more recently by the former Thor, Dr. Jane Foster.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: As the foremost of the Valkyrior, her primary function is a sacred and cosmic one: serving as a psychopomp for the souls of honorable combatants across the Nine Realms. This places her at the intersection of life, death, and honor, often acting as an arbiter of worthiness and a fierce defender of asgard's traditions.
• Primary Impact: In the comics, Valkyrie's most significant impact stems from her long-standing connection to humanity through mortal hosts, particularly during her tenure with the defenders, which gave her a unique perspective on Midgard. In the MCU, her impact is defined by her journey of recovery from profound trauma and her subsequent rise to become the King of New Asgard, representing a new future for her people.
• Key Incarnations: The fundamental difference lies in their origin and central conflict. The Earth-616 Brunnhilde's story is one of magical imprisonment and identity crisis, defined by her struggle against amora_the_enchantress. The MCU Valkyrie's story is one of post-traumatic stress and disillusionment, defined by her being the sole survivor of hela's massacre of the Valkyrior.

The character of Valkyrie has a layered and somewhat complex introduction into the Marvel Universe. The persona first appeared in The Avengers #83 in December 1970, created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema. However, this was not the true Brunnhilde but rather a magical guise adopted by the Asgardian sorceress, Amora the Enchantress, to manipulate and divide the Avengers. This version was a co-founder of the all-female team, the Lady Liberators, in a storyline that reflected the burgeoning second-wave feminism of the era. The genuine Valkyrie, Brunnhilde, was properly introduced later in The Defenders #4 in February 1973, by writer Steve Englehart and artist Sal Buscema. Englehart separated the character from the Enchantress's manipulations, establishing Brunnhilde as a distinct Asgardian warrior whose spirit had been trapped within the mortal body of a woman named Barbara Norris. This decision provided the character with a rich internal conflict—an immortal goddess trapped in a mortal form, struggling with amnesia and a fractured identity. This duality became the cornerstone of her character for decades, particularly during her long and defining run with the Defenders, making her one of Marvel's most prominent female heroes of the Bronze Age of Comic Books.

A critical aspect of understanding Valkyrie is recognizing the profound differences between her comic book origins and her adaptation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They are, for all narrative intents and purposes, two separate characters sharing a name, a title, and a warrior spirit.

In the prime Marvel continuity, Brunnhilde was an Asgardian from the dawn of its history. Chosen personally by Odin, the All-Father, she was tasked with leading the Valkyrior, an elite unit of nine warrior goddesses. Their sacred duty was to traverse battlefields, particularly on Midgard (Earth), and observe combatants. When a worthy warrior, whether Asgardian or mortal, fell in honorable combat, it was the Valkyrior's charge to escort their spirit to valhalla, the glorious afterlife where they would become Einherjar and feast until the final battle of ragnarok. Brunnhilde performed this duty flawlessly for centuries, a paragon of Asgardian honor and martial prowess. Her fate was irrevocably altered through her encounters with Amora the Enchantress. On one occasion, Odin promised Brunnhilde's hand to Sigmund, a mortal hero he sponsored. However, Sigmund was later killed due to Odin's own political machinations. Defying the All-Father, Brunnhilde protected Sigmund's pregnant lover and was punished for her insubordination. Odin stripped her of her powers and immortality, placing her in a trance-like sleep. She was eventually awakened and had her powers restored, but her path would cross with the Enchantress's again. Centuries later, Amora trapped Brunnhilde's spirit in a mystical crystal and began using her physical form and powers for her own schemes. The Enchantress would grant the power of Valkyrie to various mortal women to serve her will. The first was Samantha Parrington, a socialite manipulated into fighting the Hulk. The most significant host, however, was Barbara Norris. When a group of female supervillains, including the Enchantress, were trapped in another dimension, a desperate Barbara Norris freed them. Amora, in a cruel act of “gratitude,” merged the amnesiac spirit of Brunnhilde with Barbara's catatonic body. This new Valkyrie, believing herself to be the real Brunnhilde but trapped in a human's form and with a fragmented memory, was discovered by the Defenders. She joined their ranks and became a core member, all the while struggling to uncover the truth of her past. This internal journey defined her character for years. Eventually, with the help of doctor_strange, she was able to separate her essence from Barbara Norris's body and have her own original Asgardian form restored, finally becoming whole again. More recently, after Brunnhilde's death during the War of the Realms, the mantle of “the Valkyrie” passed to jane_foster, who uses the mythical weapon Undrjarn the All-Weapon to become the last of her kind.

The MCU's Valkyrie, portrayed by Tessa Thompson, has a starkly different and more self-contained backstory, first revealed in the film Thor: Ragnarok. She was a member of a legendary legion of Asgardian female warriors—the Valkyries—personally sworn to protect the throne. They were considered the most elite fighting force in Asgard's history. Her defining trauma occurred millennia ago when Odin's firstborn child, Hela, the Goddess of Death, turned against him and sought to conquer the cosmos. Odin dispatched the entire legion of Valkyries to Hel to stop her. The ensuing battle was a slaughter. Hela, immensely powerful, single-handedly annihilated the entire force. Brunnhilde watched as her sisters-in-arms were massacred, and was only saved when another Valkyrie sacrificed herself to shield her from Hela's final blow. As the sole survivor, she was left shattered by grief and post-traumatic stress. Disgusted with Asgard and Odin for sending them on what she viewed as a suicide mission, she forsook her duty and went into self-imposed exile. She eventually found her way to the chaotic junk planet of sakaar, a place governed by the hedonistic grandmaster. To survive and bury her past, she became a bounty hunter, or “Scrapper,” capturing contenders for the Grandmaster's Contest of Champions. It was in this capacity, as “Scrapper 142,” that she captured thor after he was cast out of Asgard. Her journey throughout Thor: Ragnarok is one of redemption. Initially a cynical, hard-drinking, and self-interested survivor, she is slowly convinced by Thor and the memory of her fallen sisters to reclaim her heritage. She ultimately embraces her identity as a Valkyrie once more, aiding Thor in the fight against Hela and helping to evacuate the Asgardian people. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Thor abdicates the throne, bestowing upon her the title of King of New Asgard, making her the ruler of her people's settlement on Earth.

While both versions are elite Asgardian warriors, the specifics of their powers, gear, and characterization differ significantly, reflecting their unique histories.

• Asgardian Physiology: As an Asgardian, Brunnhilde possesses the conventional attributes of her race, but honed to a level far exceeding the average citizen.
  • Superhuman Strength: Valkyrie is superhumanly strong, capable of lifting approximately 45-50 tons.
  • Superhuman Stamina: Her Asgardian metabolism grants her immense stamina, allowing her to exert herself at peak capacity for days before fatigue begins to set in.
  • Superhuman Durability: Her body is far more resistant to physical injury than a human. She can withstand high-caliber bullets, great impact forces, falls from tremendous heights, and extreme temperatures without sustaining injury.
  • Dense Tissue: Her bodily tissues are about three times denser than a human's, contributing to her strength and durability.
  • Longevity: Like all Asgardians, she is not immortal but ages at an extremely slow rate and is immune to all terrestrial diseases.
• Death Perception: This is Valkyrie's most unique and signature ability. She can perceive a luminous aura, a “death-glow,” surrounding a person who is in mortal danger or on the verge of death. This allows her to know when someone's demise is imminent, though not how it will occur.
• Mystical Soul Transport: As a Valkyrie, she can transport herself and a dying or dead soul from a physical body to the afterlife. She typically uses this to guide souls to Valhalla, but it does not function as a standard teleportation ability.
• Master Combatant: Brunnhilde is one of the most skilled warriors in Asgard's history, second perhaps only to Sif. She is a master of armed and unarmed combat, with centuries of experience on countless battlefields. Her expertise in swordsmanship, spear-fighting, and horseback riding is unparalleled.

• Dragonfang: Valkyrie's primary weapon is the enchanted sword known as Dragonfang. It was carved by an ancient wizard from the tusk of an extra-dimensional dragon. The sword is virtually indestructible. For a time, it was in the possession of the Ancient One and later Doctor Strange, who returned it to Valkyrie after she proved her identity.
• Unnamed Enchanted Spear: She frequently carries an iron spear as a secondary weapon.
• Valkyrior Armor: She wears traditional Asgardian armor, which offers excellent protection in battle.
• Aragorn: Her steed is a mystical winged horse, given to her by the current Black Knight (Dane Whitman). Aragorn is incredibly strong, fast, and capable of flight.

Brunnhilde is the embodiment of the Asgardian ideal: noble, proud, and fiercely loyal to her code of honor. Her duty is sacred to her, and she carries herself with a regal and commanding presence. However, her long, traumatic experience of being trapped in mortal hosts has tempered her Asgardian pride with a deep empathy and understanding for humanity. She is not above questioning authority, even Odin's, when she believes it to be unjust. She is a loyal friend, a determined leader, and a relentless foe.

• Asgardian Physiology: Her physical abilities are portrayed as being at the absolute peak for an Asgardian, rivaling or even exceeding Thor's in some areas of pure combat skill. Her on-screen feats include fighting Hela, taking on numerous Sakaaran guards, and battling the forces of thanos. Her strength, speed, reflexes, and durability are depicted as being exceptionally high.
• Exceptional Longevity: She is thousands of years old, having fought against Hela in a war that took place millennia before the events of the first Thor film.
• Master Combatant: The MCU Valkyrie is presented as one of the most formidable warriors in the universe. Her fighting style is practical, brutal, and highly effective. She seamlessly integrates hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship, and gunplay (when using Sakaaran blaster rifles). She proved capable of holding her own against Hela for a short time and was a key combatant in the final battle of Avengers: Endgame. The Death Perception ability from the comics has not been explicitly demonstrated in the MCU.

• Valkyrie Armor: She retains her traditional silver and blue armor from her time as a Valkyrie, wearing it in major battles.
• Dragonfang: She is seen wielding her signature sword, Dragonfang, most prominently in Thor: Love and Thunder. She also uses various other Asgardian blades.
• Zeus's Thunderbolt: During the battle against Gorr the God Butcher in Omnipotence City, she temporarily obtains and effectively wields Zeus's master weapon, the Thunderbolt, showcasing her ability to handle powerful mystical artifacts.
• Aragorn: She summons a winged steed, whom she calls Aragorn, during the Battle of Earth in Avengers: Endgame, demonstrating that her connection to her past as a Valkyrie and its associated powers remains intact.

When first introduced, the MCU Valkyrie is a deeply traumatized and disillusioned individual. She is cynical, sarcastic, and has buried her heroic past under layers of alcohol and self-interest. Her personality is a coping mechanism for the immense survivor's guilt and grief she carries. Her journey is one of healing and rediscovering the hero within. Over time, she lets her guard down, revealing a fiercely loyal and protective nature. As King of New Asgard, she is a capable, if somewhat bored, leader who longs for the thrill of battle but accepts the responsibilities of leadership for the good of her people. Her bisexuality is explicitly confirmed, reflecting her actress Tessa Thompson's own interpretation and push for representation.

• Thor: In both universes, Thor is a crucial ally. In Earth-616, they are comrades-in-arms, fellow Asgardians with a deep, mutual respect forged over centuries of defending their home. In the MCU, their relationship is more dynamic; Thor is the catalyst for her redemption, and they develop a close friendship built on shared loss and a warrior's bond. She becomes his successor as the ruler of their people.
• The Defenders (Earth-616): For much of her history, the Defenders were her primary family. Her bonds with Doctor Strange, the Hulk, Nighthawk, and Hellcat were foundational. They helped her navigate her identity crisis and accepted her as one of their own, grounding her on Earth in a way few other Asgardians have ever been.
• Jane Foster: This relationship is pivotal in modern comics. Brunnhilde's spirit chooses Jane to become the new Valkyrie, passing the torch and entrusting her with the sacred duty. In the MCU, they are allies and friends who fight together against Gorr, with Valkyrie showing great admiration for Jane's strength as The Mighty Thor.
• Heimdall: In the comics, Brunnhilde and Heimdall have a long history of mutual respect and a sometimes-romantic connection. As two of Asgard's most dedicated protectors, they share a deep understanding of duty.

• Amora the Enchantress (Earth-616): Without question, Amora is Brunnhilde's arch-nemesis. For decades, Amora's selfish and cruel actions defined Valkyrie's existence. She stole Brunnhilde's body, trapped her soul, and used her power for petty schemes, creating a deeply personal and bitter rivalry rooted in violation and imprisonment.
• Hela (MCU): Hela is the source of all of the MCU Valkyrie's trauma. By slaughtering her sisters, Hela not only defeated Valkyrie physically but also shattered her spirit, her sense of purpose, and her faith in Asgard. The confrontation with Hela in Ragnarok is not just a battle, but the culmination of a millennium of grief and a necessary step for Valkyrie to heal.
• Pluto: The Olympian God of the Dead has often clashed with Valkyrie, as his attempts to conquer Valhalla or claim the souls of Earth's heroes put him in direct opposition to her sacred duties.

• The Valkyrior: The sisterhood of shield-maidens she was born to lead. In both canons, this is her foundational identity. In the comics, she strives to rebuild it; in the MCU, she is its last living memory.
• The Defenders: A core member of the classic “non-team,” her power and nobility provided a vital anchor for the often-chaotic group of solo heroes.
• The Secret Avengers: During the Fear Itself event, Valkyrie served on Captain America's covert team, showcasing her willingness to protect Earth alongside its greatest mortal heroes.
• The Revengers (MCU): She was a founding member of the informal team assembled on Sakaar by Thor to escape and defeat Hela, alongside the Hulk and Loki.

This isn't a single event but a long-running storyline that defined Valkyrie's character from her introduction in The Defenders #4 through much of the 1970s and early 1980s. Trapped in the body of Barbara Norris and with only fractured memories of her Asgardian life, Valkyrie's central arc was a quest for identity. She constantly battled the influence of the Enchantress and struggled with the limitations and emotions of her mortal form. This era cemented her relationships with the Defenders and explored themes of identity, memory, and what it means to be a hero when you don't even know who you are. Her eventual separation from Barbara and restoration to her true Asgardian body was a triumphant culmination of years of storytelling.

During this major crossover event, Odin's long-lost brother, Cul Borson (The Serpent), is freed and unleashes his “Worthy” upon Earth, transforming heroes and villains into avatars of fear. In response, Odin commands all Asgardians to abandon Earth and return to Asgard to make a final stand. Valkyrie, having developed a deep love for Midgard, defies the All-Father's command. She remains on Earth to stand with its heroes, believing it is her duty to protect the worthy, regardless of their realm of origin. Her arc involves creating a new group of Valkyries from the spirits of fallen Asgardian shields-maidens to help turn the tide of battle, a direct act of rebellion that underscores her evolved loyalties.

This tie-in to the King in Black event serves as a pivotal transition for the Valkyrie mantle. After Brunnhilde's death, Jane Foster is brought to the gates of Valhalla but cannot enter. A mysterious force has corrupted the afterlife. The spirit of Brunnhilde and another lost Valkyrie guide Jane, teaching her the true nature and responsibility of being a Valkyrie. The series establishes that “Valkyrie” is a legacy title and that Jane, with her unique compassion and experience as both mortal and god, is the perfect successor. It respectfully retires Brunnhilde while elevating Jane Foster to a new, vital role in the cosmos.

This film is the definitive story for the MCU incarnation. It single-handedly establishes her entire backstory, motivation, and personality. The narrative masterfully presents her as a fallen hero, drowning her sorrows on a garbage planet, before slowly peeling back the layers of her trauma to reveal the noble warrior within. Her arc from cynical scrapper to redeemed hero is the emotional core of the film's “Revengers” subplot. It is here that she confronts the source of her pain (Hela), reclaims her heritage, and chooses to fight for her people again, setting the stage for her to become the King of New Asgard.

• Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610): This version is a tragic deconstruction of the character. A 19-year-old girl named Barbara Norris appears, claiming to be the superhero Valkyrie. She has superhuman strength and flight but lacks combat training. She joins the Defenders, a group of well-meaning but powerless vigilantes. It's later revealed her powers were granted by loki as part of a scheme. She is tragically killed by the Hulk during Magneto's Ultimatum wave, a grim end for a young woman manipulated by forces beyond her control.
• Jane Foster (Earth-616): While a mainline character, her assumption of the Valkyrie role makes her the most significant “variant” of the mantle. After dying a hero's death as The Mighty Thor, Jane is resurrected. When the Valkyrior are all killed during the War of the Realms, their spirits merge into the single mystical weapon Undrjarn the All-Weapon, which seeks out Jane. By accepting it, she becomes the new, and only, Valkyrie, capable of transforming into her armored form and using Undrjarn, which can reshape itself into any weapon she needs.
• Danielle Moonstar (Earth-616): The New Mutants member, for a significant period, held the powers of a Valkyrie. During an adventure in Asgard, she saved a winged horse, who became her steed, Brightwind. This bond, along with a deal with Hela, granted her the ability to perceive and fight specters of death, making her a “Valkyrie of Death” for the mutants and giving her a similar death-glow perception as Brunnhilde.
• Exiles: A version of Valkyrie from an alternate reality appeared briefly as a member of the Exiles. This version was a ruthless and bloodthirsty warrior, a dark reflection of the noble Brunnhilde.

• asgard
• thor
• defenders
• amora_the_enchantress
• hela
• jane_foster

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