Asgard is a fictional realm and its capital city appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, the realm first appeared in Journey into Mystery #85 (October 1962). Based on the realm of the same name from Germanic mythology (particularly Norse), Asgard is home to the Asgardians and other beings adapted from Norse mythology. It features prominently in stories that follow the Marvel Comics superhero Thor.

Asgard has appeared in comics and various media adaptations, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and the Disney+ series Loki (2021). Eventually, Asgard was relocated to Earth in Norway and appeared in Avengers: Endgame and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

Fictional history

Asgard consists of nine primary realms. The first two, Niflheim and Muspelheim, formed on their own some time after the universe was created. The deity Odin and his brothers, Vili and Ve, killed Ymir and used his bones to create the realm of Midgard between Niflheim and Muspelheim. The siblings went to create mountains and trees using Ymir's bones and hair respectively, then raised his skull upon four pillars to create the heavens. Sparks from Muspelheim were used to create the Sun, Moon, and stars. When Midgard was complete, Odin and his brothers created a home for themselves above it called Asgard. Between the two worlds, they formed a rainbow bridge called the Bifröst.

Once a year Odin must undertake the Odinsleep to regain his strength. During this time Asgard is vulnerable to attack from its many enemies. Among them is Loki, who has usurped the throne of Asgard twice.

It is prophesied that Loki would lead Asgard's enemies in a final conflict known as Ragnarök, which will lead to Asgard's destruction. This comes to pass when Loki obtains the forge that created Mjolnir and creates new uru hammers for his army. Asgard and its inhabitants are destroyed in the resulting battle. After Ragnarök, Thor returns to Earth and rebuilds Asgard outside of Broxton, Oklahoma. He then gathers the Asgardians, who had been reborn as mortals.

Asgard is destroyed yet again after Norman Osborn seizes control of S.H.I.E.L.D. following the Secret Invasion as he seeks to expel the Asgardians. Osborn's forces are defeated with help from the reunited Avengers, although Asgard is toppled by Sentry. Immediately following the Siege, Thor erects Heimdall's observatory atop Stark Tower as sign of solidarity with Midgard and appreciation for the Avengers' aid.

During the "Original Sin" storyline, it is revealed that there is a Tenth Realm in Asgard called Heven that is inhabited by angels. It was cut off from the rest of the realms following the Angels' attack on Asgard, which led to the apparent death of Angela.

Regions

The Asgard dimension contains several distinct regions.

The Nine Realms

WorldNotes
AsgardHome of the Asgardians. Asgard is the name of the planetoid, a distinct region on the planetoid and its capital city.
VanaheimHome of the Vanir who are the sister race of the Asgardians. Vanaheim is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid.
AlfheimHome of the Light Elves. Alfheim is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid.
NidavellirHome of the Dwarves. Nidavellir is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid.
MidgardThe Earthly plane. Although not technically a part of the Asgardian dimension, it is considered one of the Nine Worlds because of its significant connections to Asgard.
JotunheimHome of the Frost Giants.
SvartalfheimHome of the Dark Elves.
HelheimRealm of the dead who are neither honored nor dishonored. Ruled by Hela.
MuspelheimHome of the Fire Giants/Demons. Ruled by the Fire Giant Surtur.

Other worlds and regions

RegionNotes
HevenThe tenth world of Asgard and home of the Angels which is paradisal, it was cut off from the rest of Asgard by Odin long ago and not rediscovered until the 2014 Original Sin storyline.
ValhallaOdin's great palace of the honoured dead and is a distinct region on the Asgard planetoid.
NornheimRealm of the Asgard planetoid ruled by Karnilla.
NiflheimRealm of the cold and ice; another place for the dishonoured dead, closely connected with Helheim.

The six races

The six races of intelligent humanoid beings known to reside within the Asgard dimension.

RaceKnown members
AsgardiansÆsirAldrif Odinsdottir, Amora the Enchantress, Balder, Bor, Búri, Brunnhilde, Fandral, Hermod, Hildegarde, Hoder, Kelda, Lorelei, Magni, Mimir, Odin, Siriana, Skurge the Executioner, Thor Odinson, Tyr, Vidar, Vili, Ve, Volla, Volstagg
VanirFrey, Freya, Frigga, Heimdall, Idunn, Njord, Sigyn, Sif
DemonsHrinmeer, Skulveig
DwarvesAlfrigg, Brokk, Dvalin, Eitri, Grerr, Throgg
ElvesDark ElvesAlflyse, Grendell, Kurse, Malekith
Light ElvesAeltri, Hrinmeer
GiantsAngerboda, Fafnir2, Fasolt, Gerd, Gymir, Hela, Laufey, Loki, Siingard, Skadi, Skurge the Executioner, Solveig, Utgard-Loki, Vidar, Surtur, Ymir, Arkin the Weak
TrollsUlik, Geirrodur, Ulla, Askella, Gaark, Garrg, Glagg, Grak, Grundor, Kryllk, Muthos, Olik, Targo,
OtherHogun, Hrimhari, Karnilla, Mogul of the Mystic Mountain, Three Norns (Urd, Skuld, and Verdandi)

^2Not to be confused with the dragon Fafnir.

Racial attributes

Although they look human, all Asgardians possess certain superhuman physical attributes. They are extremely long-lived (though not immortal like their Olympian counterparts), aging at an extremely slow rate upon reaching adulthood (through the periodic consumption of the golden apples of Idunn). Asgardian flesh and bone is three times denser than similar human tissue, contributing to their superhuman strength and weight. An average Asgardian male can lift 30 tons (27.2 metric tons); an average Asgardian female can lift about 25 tons (22.7 metric tons). Asgardians are immune to all terrestrial diseases and resistant to conventional injury (however this resilience seems relatively incapable of defeating the zombie plague in Earth-2149 that affects even Asgardians). The metabolism of the Asgardians gives them superhuman stamina in all physical activities.

Fire Demons are beings of fire and tend to be about the same stature as the Asgardians.

Dwarves are smaller in stature than the Asgardians, and have short, stocky bodies. Their average height is four feet (1.2 meters).

Elves vary greatly in size from four to eight feet (1.2 to 2.4 meters). They tend toward slender bodies and proportionately longer limbs. The dark elves tend to be darker in color than the light elves. Both types have natural proclivity towards magic.

Giants are humanoid in appearance and color, although they tend toward the neanderthalic in body and bone structure. Their most distinguishing feature is their height. The average giant is twenty feet (6.1 meters) tall, although some may reach thirty feet (9.1 meters). On occasion giants will produce stunted offspring who look similar to the Asgardians. Loki and the Executioner are both children of giants despite their diminutive six or seven foot (1.8 or 2.1 meter) stature. The Giants of Jotunheim consist of the Frost Giants, the Ice Giants, the Storm Giants, the Rime Giants, the Mountain Giants, the Rock Giants, and the Wind Giants.

Trolls are the least human-looking of the denizens of Asgard, possessing body characteristics that are almost simian. Trolls are stocky and massive, have thick body hair (almost fur) and tend toward a ruddy orange color. They are on average taller than the Asgardians but shorter than giants, around seven feet (2.1 meters) tall, although some trolls are considerably taller. Trolls tend to be extremely strong, stronger than the average Asgardian, dwarf or elf and on par with giants. Trolls like Ulik rival Thor in strength. The Trolls of Asgard consist of the orange-skinned Rock Trolls, the stone-skinned Rock Trolls, the Flying Trolls of Thryheim, the Forest Trolls, the Fire Trolls, the Ice Trolls, and the Dark Trolls.

The Angels of Heven are depicted as being bird-winged humanoids who are extremely materialistic and selfish as well as the fact that honor is among the things that they consider meaningless.

Flora and fauna

Flora

Yggdrasil; the world tree is an immense ash tree that is central to the Asgardian dimension. The tree is supported by three roots that extended far into the other worlds; one to the spring of Hvergelmir in Niflheim, one to the well of Mimir in Jotunheim, and another to the well of Wyrd in Asgard. Though Midgard is not physically connected to Yggdrasil, it is said that the Earth's axis is in alignment with the tree. In the limited series Thor: Blood Oath, Thor and the Warriors Three are sent to retrieve golden apples from the branches of the tree. Odin once hung himself from the tree for nine days and nights as a sacrifice to gain knowledge of the runes. Thor repeated this action during Ragnarök. Later Amora the Enchantress attempt to destroy the tree in an effort to free the body of Skurge the Executioner from its roots, an action that nearly tore apart the fabric of reality.

Fauna

  • Dragons are ancient creatures that are stated to live in Nastrond. These include Fafnir, Hakurel; a dragon Thor slew during one of his earliest adventures, and Níðhöggr; who feeds on the roots of Yggdrasil.
  • Eagles are giant sapient versions of their Earthly counterparts. These include Gnori; king of snow eagles whom a young Thor, Sif and Balder sought for one of his feathers as part of a quest, and Lerad; an eagle that guards the magic apples of Yggdrasil.
  • Fenris Wolf; a giant wolf that is said to be the offspring of Loki and the giantess Angrboda.
  • Geri and Freki are Odin's pet wolves. Freki stopped an assassination attempt on Thor's life during a time known as the Reigning when Thor assumed the throne of Asgard and ruled both Asgard and Midgard with an iron fist.
  • Huginn and Muninn are Odin's pet ravens. They guided Thor to find the means to end the Ragnarök cycle and again through Hel to find Odin.
  • Midgard Serpent; an immense serpent that lives in the Sea of Space circling Midgard, ready to eat unwary sailors.
  • Ratatosk; a squirrel that lives on Yggdrasil and carries messages between Lerad and Níðhöggr. As a child Thor would go to Yggdrasil to visit Rattatosk and listen to his stories.
  • Sleipnir; Odin's eight-legged steed. Thor previously had eight steeds: Firegnaw, Mudbrute, Slaughterbit, Smokemare, Snow Harpy, Stormbringer, Swamptooth and Warhoof. The horses were killed by humans during a famine and reborn as Sleipnir.
  • Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder are mystical goats who pull Thor's chariot.
  • "The War of the Realms" storyline featured a race of Swamp Mammoths who live in a swamp somewhere in Asgard.

Reception

Accolades

  • In 2019, CBR.com ranked Asgard 6th in their "10 Most Iconic Superhero Hideouts In Marvel Comics" list.

In other media

Television

Film

Asgard as depicted in the 2011 feature film Thor.
  • Asgard appears in Hulk vs. Thor.
  • Asgard appears in Thor: Tales of Asgard.
  • Asgard and Jotunheim appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe live-action film Thor (2011), directed by Kenneth Branagh.
  • Asgard, Svartalfheim, Vanaheim, and Jotunheim appear in Thor: The Dark World (2013). Muspelheim is also seen briefly through a dimensional rift.
  • Asgard and Muspelheim appear in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), where Asgard is devastated by Surtur. Following Asgard's destruction, Thor and the surviving Asgardians leave Asgard to find a new home.
  • Nidavellir appears in the live-action film Avengers: Infinity War (2018). This version is a neutron star surrounded by a forge which the dwarves used to craft weapons.
  • An alternate version of Asgard appears in Avengers: Endgame (2019). Thor and Rocket travel to an alternate 2013 timeline and visit Asgard to retrieve the Reality Stone.

Video games

Theme parks

Asgard appears in the Disneyland attraction "Treasures of Asgard".

External links

  • at Marvel.com
  • Asgard at the Marvel Database wiki
  • at the Marvel Directory
  • from Marvel Cinematic Database