Valkyrior
The Valkyrior is a fictional organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Based on the Valkyries of Norse mythology, the group, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appeared in Thor #133. Within the context of Marvel's shared universe, the Valkyrior is a group of female warriors led by Brunnhilde / Valkyrie that was originally designated by Odin to bring the souls of slain heroes to Valhalla. In 2013, the team became the subject of the short-lived series, The Fearless Defenders.
Publication history
The Valkyrior, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appeared in Thor #133. The team, led by Valkyrie and Misty Knight is the subject of the 2013 series, The Fearless Defenders by Cullen Bunn and Will Sliney. Bun said about his book: "The basic idea of the book is that Valkyrie is choosing a new team of Valkyrior, and she's been asked to choose all these women from the heroes of Midgard, instead of from Asgard. She has completely failed in this task. Valkyrie has been unable to choose anyone that she feels is worthy to be one of the hosts of the shield maidens. So she just hasn't done it. She's dropped the ball. Because she's not done what she said she would do, nature—or supernature, as it is—abhors a vacuum. The absence of the Valkyrior has opened the door to something terrible. Something awful is waking, and Valkyrie finds that it's really her fault that she's put everything at risk".Fictional history
The Valkyrior are warrior goddesses of Asgard who ride winged horses. Originally, under the leadership of Brunnhilde, they took mortally wounded human heroes from German and Scandinavian battlegrounds and brought them to Valhalla, an area of the Asgardian dimension where the astral forms of the dead Asgardians and human heroes eternally feast and compete in friendly battles. The Valkyries were no longer able to perform this task when Odin, ruler of Asgard, vowed to the Celestials a millennium ago that he would restrict Asgardian contact with Earth.In later years, Brunnhilde became a member of Earth's Defenders. The other Valkyries all died when Odin and Hela went to war over who would rule Valhalla. Odin restored the Valkyries to life after he regained possession of Valhalla, but these Valkyries only have physical form within Valhalla; outside it, they exist only in astral form. Valtrauta has taken Brunnhilde's place as ruler of the Valkyrior, and Hildegarde's sister Krista has filled the role of the ninth Valkyrie, left open since Brunnhilde's departure.
During the "War of the Realms" storyline, Brunnhilde and the rest of the Valkyrior, save Mirage, are massacred by Malekith and his forces invading New York. During the battle, Brunnhilde is beheaded by Malekith. Afterwards, Jane Foster then takes up the mantle of Valkyrie.
Members
Asgard Valkyrior
Axe – a member of the ValkyriorBrunnhilde – former leader of the Valkyrior- Danielle Moonstar / Mirage – an original member of the New Mutants, she joined the ValkyriorFreya – a former member of the ValkyriorGerda – a member of the ValkyriorGrimgerta – a member of the ValkyriorGruenhilda – a member of the ValkyriorHercara – a member of the ValkyriorFatal Sisters – an elite trio of the Valkyrior
- * Hilda – a member of the Valkyrior
- * Mista – a member of the Valkyrior
- * Sangrida – a member of the ValkyriorHildegarde – a member of the ValkyriorKrista – a member of the Valkyrior, she invited Danielle to join with the ValkyriorLeita – a member of the ValkyriorRossveissa – a member of the Valkyrior, but forced to serve HelaSvava – a member of the Valkyrior, but forced to serve HelaSygnet – a member of the ValkyriorValtrauta – current leader of the ValkyriorJane Foster – first of a new generation of the Valkyrior, she wields Undrajarn the All-Weapon, a weapon that can change its shape and be whatever she needs, such as a sword, mace, or pair of wings
- Rūna – one of the original nine Valkyries and the original wielder of Jarnbjorn