Valkyrior

• Core Identity: The Valkyrior are the elite, sword-wielding warrior-goddesses of Asgard, divinely tasked with choosing the most worthy mortal souls slain in battle—the Einherjar—and guiding them to the glorious afterlife of Valhalla.
• Key Takeaways:
  • Role in the Universe: As Asgardian psychopomps, they are the living arbiters of honor and glory, serving as the essential link between the battlefields of the living and the eternal feast of the warrior dead in valhalla. They are both an elite military force and a sacred order, embodying the noblest ideals of the Asgardian way of life and death.
  • Primary Impact: The Valkyrior's presence has profoundly shaped the destinies of countless heroes and villains. Their judgment determines who joins Odin's celestial army for Ragnarok, and their intervention has turned the tide in cosmic wars. The mantle of “Valkyrie” itself, particularly held by brunnhilde and later jane_foster, has become a powerful symbol of resilience, redemption, and heroism.
  • Key Incarnations: In the Prime Comic Universe, the Valkyrior is a semi-divine sisterhood, a standing order that has existed for millennia. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), they were a legendary legion of elite royal guards who were tragically massacred by hela, with “Valkyrie” now surviving as a title and legacy carried by a single individual.

The Valkyrior made their thunderous debut in the Silver Age of comics, first appearing in Thor #133 in October 1966. They were brought to life by the legendary creative duo of writer-editor stan_lee and artist-plotter jack_kirby. Drawing directly from the rich tapestry of Norse mythology, Lee and Kirby envisioned the Valkyries not merely as background figures but as a core component of their burgeoning Asgardian lore. They were the “Choosers of the Slain,” majestic and fearsome figures on winged steeds, a concept that added immense depth and a sense of mythological authenticity to the world of Thor. Their introduction was a masterstroke in world-building, establishing the mechanics of the Asgardian afterlife and raising the stakes for mortal heroes who might prove worthy of their attention. The most prominent among them, Brunnhilde, would later be developed into a complex and compelling character in her own right, most notably by writer Steve Englehart in the pages of The Defenders, cementing her place as a major Marvel hero far beyond the confines of Asgard.

The creation and history of the Valkyrior diverge significantly between the primary comic book continuity and the cinematic universe, reflecting different narrative priorities and themes.

In the ancient past of Earth-616, odin, the All-Father of the Asgardians, foresaw the coming of Ragnarok—the apocalyptic cycle of death and rebirth. To prepare an army for this final, cataclysmic battle, he established Valhalla, a golden hall where the spirits of the greatest mortal warriors could feast and train for eternity. But he needed a way to select and transport these souls. To this end, Odin fathered the Valkyrior. The exact nature of their creation has been depicted in various ways, but the most common origin holds that they were manifested by Odin's will and divine power, angelic beings shaped to be the perfect warrior-maidens. Led by Brunnhilde, they were given a sacred and solemn charge: to fly invisibly over the battlefields of mortals, primarily on Midgard (Earth). They were gifted with a unique form of perception, the ability to see a “death-glow” surrounding those about to die with exceptional honor, courage, and valor. They were forbidden from interfering in the battles themselves. Their duty was not to cause death, but to attend it. At the precise moment a worthy warrior fell, a Valkyrie would reveal herself, offering the dying hero a place in Valhalla. Upon acceptance, she would escort their ethereal spirit from the mortal plane to the gates of Odin's hall. This sisterhood, traditionally numbering nine, became a cornerstone of the Asgardian spiritual and military structure. Over the millennia, their existence has been fraught with peril. They have clashed repeatedly with Hela, the Asgardian Goddess of Death, and Pluto, the Olympian god of the underworld, both of whom view the Valkyrior as rivals encroaching on their dominion over the souls of the dead. Their history is also deeply intertwined with Brunnhilde's personal saga, including a long period where her spirit was separated from her body by the Amora the Enchantress and trapped within a series of mortal women on Earth, leading to her unlikely role as a founding member of the superhero team, the defenders. Following a devastating massacre during the War of the Realms, the Valkyrior was all but extinct until Jane Foster, the former Mighty Thor, inherited the mantle and began to rebuild the order.

The MCU presents a starkly different and more tragic origin for the Valkyrior. As revealed in a poignant flashback sequence in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), the Valkyries were not psychopomps but were, in fact, Asgard's most elite military force—a legion of legendary female warriors who served as Odin's personal guard. They were renowned throughout the Nine Realms for their unparalleled skill and ferocity in combat, riding their winged steeds into battle as the ultimate special forces unit of a conquering Asgard. Their downfall came when Odin's firstborn child, Hela, grew too ambitious and violent. Her bloodlust became a threat to the cosmos, forcing Odin to imprison her. When she attempted to escape her confinement in Hel, Odin dispatched the entire Valkyrior legion to force her back. The ensuing battle was a slaughter. Hela, a being of immense power, single-handedly annihilated the greatest warriors Asgard had ever produced. Only one warrior, the woman who would later be known on Sakaar simply as “Valkyrie” (revealed to be named Brunnhilde in supplementary materials and subsequent films), survived the massacre. She was saved by a fellow Valkyrie who sacrificed herself to shield her from Hela's final blow. Traumatized, disillusioned with Odin's leadership, and haunted by the loss of her sisters-in-arms, she abandoned Asgard entirely. She fled into self-imposed exile on the junk planet Sakaar, becoming a hard-drinking bounty hunter known as Scrapper 142, hoping to forget the pain of her past. In the MCU, the Valkyrior's legacy is one of tragic martyrdom, with their name and spirit now carried on by this lone, reluctant survivor who must rediscover her sense of duty and honor.

The purpose, organization, and abilities of the Valkyrior are tailored to their specific origins within each universe.

The core mandate of the 616 Valkyrior is spiritual and eschatological. They are the Choosers of the Slain. Their primary function is to populate Valhalla with the Einherjar, the “worthily dead,” in preparation for the final battle of Ragnarok. This duty involves several key responsibilities:

• Observation: They patrol the battlefields of mortals and gods alike, remaining unseen by the living.
• Judgment: Using their death-perception, they identify individuals who exhibit supreme courage, self-sacrifice, and honor in the face of death. This is not a judgment of morality, but of martial spirit. A noble villain dying bravely could theoretically be chosen.
• Conveyance: At the moment of death, they offer the chosen soul a place in Valhalla and physically guide the spirit across the dimensional planes.
• Defense: They are also sworn defenders of Asgard and Valhalla, protecting the realm of the dead from incursions by demons, rival death gods, and other cosmic threats.

The Valkyrior is a sisterhood, operating as a sacred order.

• Leadership: For most of its history, the de facto leader has been Brunnhilde, the first and greatest of their number. Following her death and the order's destruction, the mantle of “The Valkyrie” was passed to Jane Foster, who acts as the leader of the newly forming Valkyrior.
• Membership: While the traditional number is nine, this has fluctuated. Membership is typically granted by Odin or a subsequent leader. It requires immense martial skill, unwavering honor, and a connection to the divine duties of the role. Members reside either in a dedicated wing of Valhalla or in Asgard proper.

As Asgardian demigoddesses, all Valkyries possess:

• Superhuman Physiology: They have superhuman strength (lifting 25-35 tons), speed, stamina, and durability far exceeding human limits. They are also virtually immortal, not aging past their prime.
• Death-Perception: Their most unique ability is seeing the “death-glow” or “death-sense,” a luminous aura that surrounds beings on the verge of a glorious death. This allows them to make their judgment.
• Interdimensional Travel: They can transport themselves, their steeds, and the souls of the deceased between dimensions, most notably between a battlefield and Valhalla.
• Master Combatants: They are among the most skilled warriors in all of Asgard, masters of swordplay, unarmed combat, and ancient warfare.

Their standard equipment includes:

• Winged Steeds: Magical flying horses, often of a specific breed native to Asgard. Brunnhilde's steed, Aragorn (gifted to her by the Black Knight), is the most famous.
• Enchanted Weapons: Most carry enchanted swords, spears, and shields. Brunnhilde wields the mythical blade Dragonfang, carved from the tusk of an extradimensional dragon. Jane Foster wields Undrjarn the All-Weapon, an artifact that can shapeshift into any weapon she desires.
• Asgardian Armor: Forged by Asgardian dwarves, their armor is incredibly durable and provides excellent protection.

• Brunnhilde: The original, iconic Valkyrie. A fierce warrior, loyal friend to Thor, and one-time member of the Defenders.
• Jane Foster: After her death from cancer following her time as the Mighty Thor, Jane was deemed worthy to carry the mantle. As the new Valkyrie, she can transform from her mortal form into her powered state.
• Danielle Moonstar: The Cheyenne mutant and New Mutant known as Mirage. Her ability to manifest psionic images of fear or desire brought her to Hela's attention. For a time, she served as a Valkyrie, gaining their powers and a winged steed named Brightwind, a role that has defined much of her adult life.
• Rūna: An ancient, original Valkyrie from a forgotten era, known for her rebellious spirit. She was trapped for centuries inside the cursed sword Crescent and was recently freed by Jane Foster.
• Sif, Hildegarde, Krista, Leiptra: Other notable Asgardian goddesses who have served in the Valkyrior at various points in its long history.

• Past Mandate: In the MCU's ancient history, the Valkyries' mandate was purely martial. They were the Asgardian Royal Guard, the most elite fighting force in the kingdom, answering only to Odin. Their purpose was to be the tip of the spear in Asgard's most difficult battles and to protect the throne.
• Present Mandate: With the original order destroyed, the mandate now rests with its sole survivor, Brunnhilde. Her purpose has evolved dramatically. Initially a self-serving scrapper, she rediscovers her heroic purpose and becomes a key defender of the Asgardian people. After the events of Avengers: Endgame, Thor abdicates the throne, crowning her King Valkyrie. Her new mandate is to lead and protect the refugee settlement of New Asgard on Earth, blending her warrior past with the new responsibilities of a monarch and diplomat.

The formal structure of the Valkyrior is extinct in the MCU. It exists now only as a legacy.

• Leadership: King Valkyrie (Brunnhilde) is the sole inheritor of the title and its legacy. She is the absolute leader of New Asgard.
• Membership: There is no active order. The title “Valkyrie” is now synonymous with Brunnhilde herself. While Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor was briefly welcomed to Valhalla upon her death in Thor: Love and Thunder, this positioned her as one of the Einherjar, not as a Chooser of the Slain.

Brunnhilde demonstrates the peak potential of an elite Asgardian warrior.

• Superhuman Physiology: As an Asgardian, she possesses immense strength, durability, and longevity. She is shown trading blows with figures like Hela and Hulk, and surviving injuries that would kill lesser beings. She has lived for thousands of years.
• Supreme Combatant: Her fighting skills are depicted as being in the absolute highest tier of Asgardian warriors, likely surpassing even the Warriors Three and Sif. She is a master of various weapons and fighting styles.

Her key equipment includes:

• Dragonfang: Her personal enchanted sword.
• Valkyrie Armor: The iconic blue, silver, and black armor of her fallen sisters.
• Winged Steed: She eventually acquires a new winged horse, which she also names Aragorn.
• Zeus's Thunderbolt: After the events of Thor: Love and Thunder, she comes into possession of the master bolt of the Olympian king, a powerful energy-wielding weapon.

• odin: In Earth-616, Odin is the creator and All-Father of the Valkyrior. Their relationship is one of duty and fealty; they carry out his most sacred command. In the MCU, his decision to send them against Hela led to their destruction, a choice that caused Brunnhilde to lose her faith in him for centuries.
• thor: Thor holds the Valkyrior in the highest esteem. He and Brunnhilde have been frequent allies on the battlefield in the comics. In the MCU, their relationship is one of mutual respect and camaraderie. Thor is instrumental in helping Brunnhilde reclaim her heroic identity, and she, in turn, becomes one of his most trusted friends and the eventual ruler of his people.
• defenders: Brunnhilde's time trapped in a mortal body led her to become a founding member of the “non-team” known as the Defenders. Her friendships with doctor_strange, the hulk, namor, and the silver_surfer are a defining part of her comic book history, grounding the celestial warrior with street-level heroics.

• hela: The rivalry between the Valkyrior and the Goddess of Death is fundamental. In the comics, it is a professional rivalry over the souls of the dead. Hela commands the souls of the dishonorably slain in Hel, while the Valkyries claim the honored for Valhalla. In the MCU, the animosity is far more personal and devastating. Hela is the literal butcher of the Valkyrior, the monster from Brunnhilde's past who must be confronted.
• malekith: The Dark Elf king, during his rampage in the War of the Realms storyline, was directly responsible for the final massacre of the entire Valkyrior legion. He saw them as a symbol of Asgard's strength and honor and made their destruction a priority, succeeding in wiping them out to the last warrior.
• The Serpent (Cul Borson): During the Fear Itself event, Odin's long-forgotten brother returned and waged war on Asgard and Earth. The Valkyries were entrusted with hiding powerful Asgardian weapons from him, and they fought and died bravely against his forces, suffering tremendous losses.

• Asgardians: As an institution of Asgard, their primary allegiance is to their realm and its people.
• The Defenders: Brunnhilde's membership is a core part of her identity, linking her to Earth's most powerful and eclectic heroes.
• The Fearless Defenders: A short-lived, all-female team founded and led by Brunnhilde and Misty Knight, continuing her legacy as an Earth-bound hero.

For a significant portion of her publication history, the Brunnhilde fans knew was not the original. In a complex plot by Amora the Enchantress, the true Valkyrie's spirit was separated from her body and placed into a succession of mortal women, starting with socialite Barbara Norris. This “Valkyrie” had Brunnhilde's powers and personality but was trapped, with no memory of her true self. This led to her joining the Defenders, where she fought alongside Earth's mightiest heroes for years. The long-running subplot of her trying to discover her true identity and reclaim her Asgardian body was a central arc for the character and the team, exploring themes of identity, memory, and what it means to be a hero.

When the Asgardian God of Fear, The Serpent, was unleashed on Earth, the Valkyrior played a crucial, if tragic, role. Tasked by Odin to secure and hide a cache of powerful, cursed weapons forged for his enemies, the Valkyries became targets for The Serpent's forces. They fought valiantly to defend their charge but were ultimately outmatched. Many of them were slain, demonstrating both their incredible bravery and the sheer, overwhelming power of this new threat. Their sacrifice bought precious time for the heroes of Earth and Asgard to rally.

This storyline represents the darkest chapter for the Valkyrior. As Malekith the Accursed launched his multi-pronged invasion across the Ten Realms, one of his first strategic moves was the complete eradication of the Valkyries. Leading an army of Dark Elves and other monsters, he ambushed and slaughtered the entire sisterhood. The event was a shocking display of Malekith's cruelty and a massive blow to Asgard's morale. This genocide served as the catalyst for the next evolution of their legacy, as the universe was now left without its Choosers of the Slain, a vacuum that only Jane Foster could fill.

With Knull, the god of the symbiotes, covering the galaxy in darkness during the King in Black event, Jane Foster, in her new role as the sole Valkyrie, found herself overwhelmed. To combat the god of the void, she had to reforge the Valkyrior. She journeyed into the underworld to retrieve the spirits of the fallen Valkyries, but was only able to bring back one—the ancient, long-lost Rūna. She also recruited Dani Moonstar and a previously unknown Kree warrior who had been transformed by a Celestial's energies into a Valkyrie-like figure. This series re-established the Valkyrior as a concept, showing that it could be rebuilt and adapted for a new age.

• Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610): In this darker, more grounded reality, the “Valkyrie” was not an Asgardian but a 19-year-old human girl from New York named Barbara Norris. She was a superhero fangirl who, through mysterious circumstances, was granted superhuman strength, a sword, and the ability to teleport. She declared herself Thor's bodyguard, believing him to be the genuine god of thunder. Tragically, she was killed by Magneto's catastrophic flood during the Ultimatum event.
• Marvel Adventures: In this all-ages continuity, the Valkyries are portrayed closer to their classic 616 roles as Choosers of the Slain, often appearing to assist Thor and the Avengers in a more lighthearted, mythological context.
• MCU's What If…?: In the animated series exploring alternate MCU timelines, Valkyrie (Brunnhilde) is shown in various roles. In Captain Carter's reality, she is seen fighting alongside her in the final battle against Thanos. In another episode, she is a participant in Thor's out-of-control party on Earth, showcasing her more hedonistic side. These appearances reinforce her status as a premier warrior across the multiverse.

• asgard
• brunnhilde
• defenders
• hela
• jane_foster
• odin
• thor
• valhalla
• war_of_the_realms

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