Valkyrior (Earth-616)

Valkyrior
Name	Valkyrior
Aliases	The Choosers of the Slain, The Handmaidens of Death, Valkyries
Members
Leader(s)	Jane Foster; formerly Valtrauta, Brunnhilda
Current Member(s)	Jane Foster
Former Member(s)	Original Nine: Brunnhilda, Valtrauta, Hildegarde, Grimgerta, Hecara, Leita, Ortlinda, Rossveissa, Sygnet Later Recruits: Freya, Krista Splinter Groups: Doom Maidens, Fatal Sisters
Affiliation and Identity
Identity	Secret
Allies	Aragorn, Gods of Asgard, Brightwind, Cloud-Rider, Danielle Moonstar, Mr. Horse
Origin and Status
Origin	Warrior Goddesses formed to bring souls to Valhalla
Status	Active
Reality	Earth-616
Base of Operations	Valhalla, Niffleheim
Place of Formation	Asgard
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Joe Sinnott
First	Journey Into Mystery #91 (February, 1963)
First	Journey Into Mystery #91 (February, 1963)

The Valkyries were female demigodesses who conducted the souls of Asgardian warriors slain in battle to Valhalla, an area of the Asgardian dimension. They consisted of nine warriors who rode winged horses, and were led by Brunnhilde. In ancient times, the Valkyries used to take the mortally wounded human heroes from German and Scandinavian battlegrounds as well. 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 severely restrict Asgardian contact with Earth.

Preface

It should be noted that the concept of warrior-women riding flying horses and conveying the souls of the worthy fallen warriors to the afterlife is frequent in mythology:

• Circa 500,000 BC, Father Gorm's War Maids rode, bearing the spirits of fallen warriors to him.
• During the Hyborian Age:
  • Until circa 10,000 BC, during the Age of Conan, Bori's Choosers of the Slain performed the same deed, and their last appearances were witnessed by Conan of Cimmeria.
  • The Frost Giant Ymir's daughter Atali also "acted as a sort of Valkyrie", appearing to those mortally wounded in battle, and appeared to Conan.
• Before Odin's rule, his father Bor Burison commanded his own Valkyrior, the Dísir.
  

History

The Valkyries' first appearance

In modern day, Brunnhilde became a member of Earth's superhero team known as the Defenders. The remaining Valkyries were killed in a war between Odin and Hela over rulership of Valhalla. Odin restored the Valkyries to life after he regained possession of Valhalla, but these Valkyries only had physical forms within Valhalla; outside it, they existed only in astral form. Valtrauta took Brunnhilde's place as the leader of the Valkyrior, and Hildegarde's sister Krista filled the role of the ninth Valkyrie, left open since Brunnhilde's departure.

By the time Malekith the Accursed waged his War of the Realms, the Valkyries had grown into an army. When Niffleheim was invaded by the queen of Muspelheim, Sindr, Thor had Loki use magic to fake his death in such a way he would still be sent to Valhalla. Once there, Thor recruited the Valkyries and the Einherjar to help fend off Sindr's forces.

During Malekith's assault on Manhattan, the Valkyries were summoned by Odin to help defend the island, having seemingly regained the ability to pass into the real world. Due to an evacuation spell gone awry, Doctor Strange accidentally teleported most of the combatants away from the fight, leaving the Valkyries to stand alone against Malekith's forces. They were all ultimately slain in battle, and Brunnhilde was the last Valkyrie to fall.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

The Valkyrior have inherent mystical powers allowing them to perceive supernatural phenomenon, especially to see astral spirits (ghosts) and sense when mortal beings are near death; a perception that appears as a glow around the form of a person about to die. Beyond Asgard, they appear only as shades (astral forms). They are extra-ordinary warriors wielding swords and shields and usually transport themselves aloft on winged horses which attain an astral form with them beyond Asgard.

Abilities

Odin granted the Valkyrior the ability to traverse the nine realms unhindered by physical boundaries that they might ferry the spirits of the noblest warriors into Valhalla.

Strength level

The Valkyrior possesses the conventional attributes of the Asgardian gods including superhuman strength (Class 40), stamina, resistance to injury and long life enchantments.

Paraphernalia

Equipment

The Valkyries wear Uru armor which protects them from harm.

Weapons

Each of the Valkyrie carries a sword.

Transportation

They usually transport themselves aloft on winged horses which attain an astral form with them beyond Asgard.

Notes

• Allegedly, the Valkyrior were kinswomen to Lilith.
• According to Torunn Grønbekk, one of the writers of Mighty Valkyries, the Valkyries don't require Iddun's Apples to sustain their youth, unlike the rest of the Norse Gods.
• During his travels across the Western Ocean, Conan visited a "winter isle of Valkyries", though the term might be used to describe young maiden of Nordic type rather than Asgardian matters.

See Also

• 55 appearance(s) of Valkyrior (Earth-616)
• 2 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Valkyrior (Earth-616)
• 9 minor appearance(s) of Valkyrior (Earth-616)
• 77 mention(s) of Valkyrior (Earth-616)
• 7 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Valkyrior (Earth-616)
• 15 image(s) of Valkyrior (Earth-616)
• 13 member(s) of Valkyrior (Earth-616)
• 2 item(s) used/owned by Valkyrior (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Valkyrior (Earth-616) at the Appendix to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe