Dark Elves

History

The Dark Elves come from the world of Svartalfheim, one of the Nine Worlds of Norse Mythology.

They are ruled over by Malekith the Accursed, and the most powerful amongst their ranks was Algrim the Strong. However, Algrim was betrayed by Malekith in a bid to kill Thor. Algrim was dropped into lava and, though he survived, he was critically wounded. The Beyonder transformed Algrim into the monstrous Kurse,^[4] who seemingly killed Malekith for his betrayal.^[5]

The trio of Bitterhand, Wormwood, and Grendell served Malekith loyally and have attempted to destroy Thor on several occasions, including once while Mjolnir was being reforged.^[6]

Queen Alflyse's rule

Years later, Malekith revealed that he survived, and he set forth an ultimately unsuccessful plot for Hercules to kill Alflyse, the Dark Elf Queen of the Eastern Spires.^[7]

The Accursed/Svartalfheim Civil War

For more details on this, please consult the page of The Accursed/Svartalfheim Civil War.

Years later, Malekith was broken out of Hel by Dark Elves loyal to him and returned to Svartalfheim with the commando's sole survivor Scumtongue. Seeing that his people had grown weak and wouldn't accept him as their ruler, he and his followers began hunting his kind to make them strong again, starting in a village where they massacred all save for the woman Waziria. Thor and the Warriors Three soon came, but Malekith escaped. He began a civil war in Svartalheim, targeting the Dark Elf refugees in the Nine Realms.^[8] He tracked down Alfyse hiding in Nidavellir with the Dwarves and killed her, turning the Dark Elves into a state of civil war and chaos.^[9]

Malekith's men hunted and killed Dark Elves refugees in all Realms, and were opposed by the League of Realms, a team formed by the Congress of Worlds, led by Thor and including members of the Nine Realms, joined by Waziria.^[9]

He then showed up on Earth where the Council of the Unhallowed gathered, and after a fight, the council declared that they had decided to unite their people with Malekith as their ruler. Scumtongue was appointed senator in the congress of worlds.^[10]

Alternate Realities

Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999)

Dark Elves from Thor The Dark World 0001.jpg

The Dark Elves existed before the Nine Realms, in the primordial chaos. Their goal was to destroy the current universe and return existence back to that state. They were believed exterminated after an attempt to do that five thousand years ago, but in reality, Malekith and a number of warriors escaped on a stealth ship and went into stasis until another attempt would be possible.^[11] The Collector kept a member of the Dark Elves as part of his collection.^[12]

Appearance

The Dark Elves' appearances can vary a lot: They can have pink/"caucasian",^[13] blue,^[10] or orange skin.^[14]^[15]

Their stature vary also, from human-like to troll-like shape.^[15]

Religion

They worship "strange gods" (according to the Cat Elves), including Llan the Sorcerer.^[15]

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Dark elves possess gifted intellects, as well as superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes. Some Dark Elves, like Malekith, can use fairy magic do shapeshift, teleport, project energy blasts, and so on.^{[citation needed]} Dark Elves are also immortal, which means they live indefinitely but they can be killed by physical injury.^[16]

Weaknesses

All Dark Elves are vulnerable to the element of iron.^[17]

Miscellaneous

Type of Government

Monarchy

Level of Technology

Magic

Representatives

See Dark Elves

Notes

Any relation between the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim (or the Light Elves of Alfheim) and the Elves of Otherworld is unconfirmed,^[18] but both Light and Dark Elves are considered to be included among the Faerie of Celtic myth,^[19] while another account described only the Dark Elves as being of the same race as those Faerie (leaving no relation between Faerie and Light Elves).^[20]

Trivia

In early comics by Walter Simonson, The Dark Elves (save by Malekith) had normal skin color. They later came to have purple/blue skin tone.