Asgard (Realm)

Asgard
Name	Asgard
Aliases	Asgard-Space, Celestial Asgard, GodWorld, Golden Realm, Heaven's Realm, The Nine Worlds, The Realm Eternal, Jazzgard, Beachgard, Razzgard, Arfgard
Location Details
Reality	Earth-616
Dimension	Inner Planes, God Realms,
Planet	Asgard
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby
First	Journey Into Mystery #85 (August, 1962)
First	Journey Into Mystery #85 (August, 1962)

Asgard properly refers to the land in which the Aesir reside, but is used as a blanket term for the entire world inhabited by the Norse Gods, including specific locales such as Valhalla or Skarnheim.

It was one of the God Realms, among the Inner Planes, and was considered a small "pocket" dimension.

History

Drawn directly from Norse mythology, Asgard is the home of a powerful pantheon of gods, including Thor. It is a small other-dimensional planetoid (its surface area being about the same as the Continental United States) whose nature and physics are different from those of planetary bodies in the Earthly dimension. Asgard is a part of the Ten Realms.

Asgard is not a sphere like Earth, but a relatively flat landmass suspended in space. Asgard does not rotate about its axis, nor does it revolve around a sun. Asgard does have intervals of night and day (of undisclosed duration), so some object or force functions as a sun. There is no evidence of changing seasons; however, portions of Asgard are in perpetual winter while others are in perpetual summer.

Asgard's gravity apparently radiates from somewhere below it (assuming gravity works there as it does here): there is a "top" and a "bottom" to Asgard. At the edges of Asgard's landmass, a being or object can fall into a void, but some unknown force apparently keeps the edges themselves from eroding.

The same force also prevents the bodies of water along Asgard's boundaries from pouring into the void and prevents Asgard's atmosphere from escaping. Asgard has been described as floating on a "Sea of Space." This sea apparently has a surface, one that is navigable by Asgardian ships, which resemble Viking longboats. The exact nature of space within the Asgardian dimension is unknown.

While Asgard's gravity is roughly analogous to Earth's, common matter is considerably denser on average. For example, a chair made of Asgardian wood is heavier and stronger than a chair made of Earthly wood. Rock, water, flesh, bone, steel: all matter is denser and thus more durable.

The Asgardian dimension includes other areas. The inhabitants refer to the totality as the Nine Worlds. Four of them are located on the main landmass: Asgard, the home of the Aesir; Vanaheim, the home of their sister race, the Vanir; Nidavellir, the home of the Dwarves; and Alfheim, the home of the Light Elves. The others are in nearby (i.e., easily accessible) dimensions. (For the sake of creating a comprehensible diagram, the Nine Worlds are placed in a multi-leveled configuration. These levels do not represent any real physical distances or relationships. Instead, they represent the interdimensional relationships between the Realms. Jotunheim, the home of the Giants, is a flat ring-shaped realm with high mountains along its inner edge. Svartalfheim, the home of the Dark Elves, is another planetoid, smaller than Asgard. There are several dimensional portals between the mountains of Jotunheim and Svartalfheim and the mountains of Asgard, permitting easy passage by the denizens of each Realm. These portals make Jotunheim and Svartalfheim seem like "underworlds" of the Asgardian continent itself. In Asgardian cosmology, Muspelheim and Niffleheim existed first, separated from one another by Ginnungagap, the Yawning Void.)

Asgard: The Continent

Another of the Nine Worlds is Hel, the Realm of the Dead, and its sister Realm, Niffleheim. In the Asgardian afterlife, heroes and the honored dead go to Valhalla, a special region of Asgard; the common dead go to Hel; and the dishonored dead (murderers and other evildoers) go to Niffleheim.

The continent of Asgard has many regions, such as Nornheim, Gundershelm, Varinheim, Ringsfjord, Thryheim, Hindi, Skornheim, Gymirsgard, Nastrond. There are also smaller kingdoms such as Harokin and Jolena.

Asgard is honeycombed with portals to the other parts of the Nine Worlds, making the Worlds (with the exception of Earth) sometimes seem like they are on a contiguous plain; indeed, early cartographers of Asgard mapped it this way. The only permanent portal to Earth, Bifrost the Rainbow Bridge, has recently been shattered, severing Asgard's connection with Earth and making passage between the two Realms difficult. There is a special passageway from Asgard to the extradimensional realm of Olympus, home of the Greek Gods. Since Olympus is not a part of the Asgardian cosmology, this portal is believed to be an artificial rather than a natural phenomenon. Another unique feature of Asgard is the Cavern of Time, an apparently natural phenomenon through which passage to other times is possible.

Midgard (Earth) does not appear to be physically affected by the motions of any of the other physical bodies in the Asgardian cosmology, although Earth's axis (the imaginary pole around which it rotates) is in alignment with one of the roots of Yggdrasil, the cosmic ash tree that stands in Asgard.

Somewhere in Asgard's outlying Sea of Space there may be floating portals to Earth's space, because Earth beings have been able to travel from Earthly to Asgardian space. There may also be an edge to Asgard's Sea of Space, perhaps at the perimeter of the "Dome of the Sky" extending from the outer edge of ringed Jotunheim. At the edge of the Sea there would exist "dimensional borderlands", which serve as transitional areas between discrete dimensions.

Asgard and its sister Realms are populated by six distinct humanoid races, described under Asgardians. Besides these, there are several singular creatures that exist in the Nine Worlds. The first is Jormungand the Midgard Serpent, an immense snake or dragon whose body encircles the inner edge of the mountains of Jotunheim closest to Midgard. The Midgard Serpent lies at the very edge of the dimensional boundary between Jotunheim and Midgard and prevents easy passage between dimensions. The second is the winged dragon Nidhogg, who lives in Niffleheim and gnaws at one of the three roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. The third is the giant Wolf-God Fenris, who was responsible for the War-God Tyr losing a hand. Fenris is imprisoned in the distant land of Varinheim. The fourth creature is the primordial Ice Giant Ymir.

After Thor's return to Earth following the events of Ragnarok, the God of Thunder recreated the capital City of Asgard on Earth itself.

The Asgardians later returned to the Realm briefly during the War of the Serpent, led by Odin to be prepared to confront the Serpent. However, after the Serpent was killed, Odin exiled himself in Asgard, leaving the rest of the Asgardians on Earth, where they would rebuild the fallen City of Asgard into Asgardia.

By manipulating the Angels from Heven, Loki made available once more the passage from Midgard to Asgard, and found the self-exiled Odin in the now-decrepit City of Asgard.

Alternate Versions

A.D. 2099 (Earth-928)

Some citizens of Earth-928 worship the Asgardian Gods. For example, the Punisher 2099 is a member of the Church of Thor. Later, Alchemax created a flying city called Valhalla, and also its own Aesir, genetically enhancing humans and brainwashing them into believe they are actually gods. The Aesir will be composed of Thor, Heimdall, Hela, Loki and Baldur (a Sif was also planned, but the subject did not make it).

Crossoververse (Earth-7642)

On Earth-7642, Asgard seemingly had a similar history as its New Earth counterpart. Known as GodWorld, this planet was home to the Old Gods and the Asgardian Dragons. The planet and its inhabitants were destroyed during a civil war; in its place two planets, Apokolips and New Genesis, were created by the released energies.

Earth-8096

Wolverine and the X-Men and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Earth-8096)

Asgard appears in the animated series Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Larval Earth (Earth-8311)

In Larval Earth, the Dogs live in Arfgard.

Home to Cookies & Milk (Earth-9047)

The version of Asgard from the Humorverse is alternatively known as Jazzgard and Razzgard.

Wagner's Earth (Earth-10190)

Asgard appears in Earth-10190.

What If? Thor (Earth-22260)

In Earth-22260, Asgard lost its war with Jotunheim. The Frost Giants then proceeded to destroy both the Realm and its inhabitants.

Marvel vs. Capcom (Earth-30847)

Asgard exists on Earth-30847, appearing very similar to its Earth-616 counterpart.

As a result of the Convergence caused by Ultron Sigma, Asgard was fused with Abel City, a city from an alternate universe, and was renamed "Xgard". Xgard was used as Ultron Sigma's main base of operations for some time, and many of its citizens were augmented with the Sigma Virus, becoming known as "Xgardians". The city was eventually freed after the destruction of Ultron Sigma at the hands of the resistance. However, due to the cracking of the Reality Stone by Thanos the Mad Titan during a battle with Ultron Sigma, the two universes could not be separated, leaving Asgard fused with Abel City permanently. Two of the Infinity Stones were kept on Asgard afterwards so that their power could not be used again unless absolutely necessary.

Cat Thor (Earth-53147)

Loki Triumphant (Earth-94001)

In this universe, Loki succeeded in conquering Asgard and imprisoning the Asgardians.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999)

Asgard was the home of the Asgardians, and from where Odin banished Thor to Midgard. It is connected to the other Realms by Heimdall's Observatory. Asgard was destroyed by Surtur during Ragnarok.

Points of Interest

• City of Asgard - The capital of the Realm, with which it shares its name
  • Hlidskjalf - Odin's throne room
• Bifrost - The Rainbow Bridge that connects Asgard with Midgard
• The Halls of Fear - The chamber where the Lurking Unknown can be summoned
• Nornheim - The Asgardian province where dwell the Norns and Karnilla
• The Sea of Mist - The body of water connecting Asgard with the Isle of Silence
• The Tower of Solitude - The building where the Grand Vizier was confined by Odin
• The Plains of Ida – The center of Asgard
• The Fields of Frigga
• Vingolf
• Gladsheim
• The Realm Below - Home of the insanely savage Rock Trolls, located beneath Asgard
• Valhalla - Place of the honored dead
• The Chamber of Ludicrously Unnecessary Ostentation (Earth-9047 only)

The Ten Realms

Malekith the Accursed explains the Ten Realms

• Asgard: Home of the Aesir, later forming the Asgardians with the Vanir
  • Valhalla: Realm of the honored dead which is distinct from, but closely connected to, Asgard
  • Nornheim: Home of the Norns and Karnilla
  • The Realm Below: Home of the insanely savage Rock Trolls, located beneath Asgard
• Vanaheim: Home of the Vanir, the sister race of the Asgardians
• Heven: Home of the Angels. A Paradisal Realm, Heven was cut off from the other nine by Odin during a brutal war against Asgard. It was re-opened by Thor and Loki.
• Jotunheim: Home of the Jötunn (Giants)
• Alfheim (Ljosalfheim): Home of the Light Elves
• Nidavellir ("The Dark Fields"): Home of the Dwarves
• Midgard (Earth): Home of the Humans
• Svartalfheim ("The Dark World"): Home of the Dark Elves
• Muspelheim (Muspel): Home of the Fire Demons, a realm of eternal fire
• Niffleheim ("Mist-Home"): Realm of the dishonored dead, a realm of eternal ice, mist, and cold
  • Hel: A region of Niffleheim where the dead who are neither honored nor dishonored reside

See Also

• 1089 appearance(s) of Asgard (Realm)
• 10 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Asgard (Realm)
• 64 minor appearance(s) of Asgard (Realm)
• 502 mention(s) of Asgard (Realm)
• 14 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Asgard (Realm)
• 20 invocation(s) of Asgard (Realm)
• 107 image(s) of Asgard (Realm)
• 56 article(s) related to Asgard (Realm)

Links and References

• Asgard (Realm) at Marvel.com
• Asgard (Realm) on the

• Asgard (Realm) at Wikipedia.org