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 and artist-plotter 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.
The origin of the Valkyrior differs significantly between the prime comic continuity and the cinematic universe, reflecting their distinct roles in each narrative.
In the ancient past of the Earth-616 universe, 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 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, rises to answer the call, proving the Valkyrior to be an eternal and essential institution of Asgard.
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.
The purpose, organization, and notable members of the Valkyrior vary dramatically between the comics and the films, reflecting their different narrative functions.
Mandate and Abilities: The primary directive of the Valkyrior is to serve as the Choosers of the Slain. Their mandate is twofold:
Beyond this, they are among Asgard's most skilled warriors. Each Valkyrie possesses the standard superhuman attributes of an Asgardian, including:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.