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Jarnbjorn was the Dwarven-forged battle axe composed of Asgardian Steel and created for Rūna, one of the original members of the Valkyrior.[2] After she mysteriously disappeared, having been assimilated by the Headless Celestial,[2] it was stored in Asgard's armory and eventually taken up by Thor long before he obtained Mjolnir.[3]

In the 9th Century, unable to lift Mjolnir despite many attempts, Thor used Jarnbjorn as his regular weapon. With it he fought many foes on Earth, including frost giants,[3] trolls and dragons.[4]

During the 11th Century, Thor faced off with the Celestial-powered being called Apocalypse. Seeking revenge, Thor blessed Jarnbjorn with his own blood, giving it the power to pierce Celestial armor. Eventually Thor lost Jarnbjorn. Kang the Conqueror recovered Jarnbjorn from Baron Mordo's tomb in Brazil.[5]

The axe was then stolen from Kang by the Apocalypse Twins during their training under him. Uriel and Eimin used the weapon to kill a Celestial Gardener outside the Starcore Station, and became the new Apocalypse.[6] This murder was part of an elaborate plot concocted by the twins to frame Earth for the death of the Celestial Gardener so the Celestial Exitar would destroy it.[7] The Twins then convinced Scarlet Witch to cast a spell that transported every Mutant on Earth to their ark so mutant-kind would survive while humanity was destroyed with the Earth.[8]

In a divergent universe, their plan would have succeeded, but from the said universe, the remaining members of the Avengers Unity Division arrived and thwarted the Twins' plans.[9] Thor reclaimed Jarnbjorn and used it to kill Exitar by striking him in the neck.[1]

Jarnbjorn was replaced in the Asgardian armory. When Thor could no longer wield Mjolnir after his battle with Nick Fury on the Moon,[10] Thor took up Jarnbjorn once again.[11] While fighting Malekith and a force of Frost Giants under the sea, Malekith took Jarnbjorn from Thor and used it to cut off his left arm.

The axe was eventually returned to Asgard's armory; and after escaping the pocket dimension he'd been imprisoned in, Donald Blake stole and wielded Jarnbjorn in his crusade to hunt down and murder everyone else who had borne Thor's power.[12] Shortly following Blake's defeat, the divine axe wound up in Vanaheim, where it was found by King Vanlandi - the leader of a notorious band of thieves. Despite having had a premonition that its original wielder would come to reclaim it and kill him if he tried to stop her, Vanlandi lined up a buyer and disregarded his advisers' warnings to just give the Valkyrie her axe.[2] Rūna reclaimed her axe as prophesied,[13] and used it to help destroy the Headless Celestial's physical form.[14]

Properties

Forged by Dwarves, Jarnbjorn is naturally sharper than almost any Earthly weapon, and can cut virtually anything. In addition, Jarnbjorn has a charm placed on it that makes it indestructible, and it can be used to defend against any attack, even bursts of energy like Apocalypse's optic beam. Thanks to Thor's own enchantment, Jarnbjorn can pierce the armor of Celestials or armor created using Celestial technology.[5]

Alternate Reality Versions

Image Description Issue
Jarnbjorn from King Thor Vol 1 3 001

Home to King Thor (Earth-14412)[]

In the far future, Jarnbjorn is wielded by Atli Wodendottir.
Thor: God of Thunder #22
Jarnbjorn from Gwen Stacy Vol 1 1 001

Unknown Reality[]

Jarnbjorn doubled as Gwen Stacy's guitar.
Gwen Stacy #1

Trivia

  • "Jarnbjorn" means "Iron Bear" in Old Norse (Járnbjǫrn), as well as some modern nordic languages, although in modern Norwegian/Swedish it would be spelled Jernbjørn/Järnbjörn.
  • The weapon's name might be a reference to Járnsaxa, Thor's giantess lover from Norse myth.

See Also

Links and References

References

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