Balder the Brave
Balder the Brave | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Journey into Mystery #85 (October 1962) |
Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Balder Odinson |
Species | Asgardian |
Place of origin | Asgard |
Abilities |
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Balder the Brave is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the deity Baldr from Norse mythology.
Publication history
Created by editor-plotter Stan Lee and penciller Jack Kirby, Balder first appeared in Journey into Mystery #85 (October 1962).[1]
Fictional character biography
Balder is the son of
Balder is beloved by most who know him. When he is threatened with execution for ignoring the call of battle for the sake of a fallen bird, his men beg Odin to take one of their lives instead.[9]
As in mythology, the death of the Marvel version of Balder is the
Balder also has a love-hate relationship with
Balder later accepts his warrior aspect and saves Karnilla's people from a rogue giant's spell.[17] Balder and the other Asgardians (with the exception of Thor) eventually perish during the final Ragnarok,[18][19] though Balder is later found inhabiting the armor of the Destroyer.[20]
Loki reveals that Balder is the son of Odin and
Balder meets a diner owner named Bill[
During the Siege storyline, Loki warns Balder that Norman Osborn is rallying an army to invade Asgard following the incident with Volstagg and the U-Foes at Soldier Field.[30][31] Balder is later informed about the situation with Volstagg by Hogun and Fandral.[32] When Captain America arrives with the New Avengers and the Secret Warriors, Balder is pleased that Thor's allies have joined the battle.[33][34] Balder remains King of Asgard after the failed Siege but is stricken with great guilt, believing his rule has led to nothing but ruin. However, Thor persuades him to remain monarch and accept him as his new Chief Advisor.[35]
Balder attends the Council of Godheads convened to counter the imminent universal threat of the Chaos King and his impending
After Mikaboshi overthrows the Underworld, and Hela and Pluto are overwhelmed by his devastating forces, Balder calls for the Council to fight alongside him against the Chaos King. The Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu seals the throne room of the Celestial Axis, claiming that if he[who?] went now, Mikaboshi would be able to trace him back to the Axis and subsequently invade all their realms. However, Mikaboshi breaks into the Celestial Axis after Hercules pierces the veil shielding it and launches an assault on all of Earth's pantheons, seemingly slaying all of them with brutal ease and slaughtering many deities, although Balder is one of the survivors.[37]
Powers and abilities
Balder is said to be the fastest and most agile of all the Asgardian warriors, his speed rivaled only by Hermod. Thor notes that Balder can move faster than the "speed of light" and is too fast to strike, so Thor must use his lightning to disarm him (and break the spell three troll witches had cast upon him).
Being the Asgardian god of light, Balder could, after a period of intense training, also generate low light as well as heat strong enough to melt the entire fortress of Utgard-Loki and reduce him and his fellow Frost Giants to a tiny size.
Balder becomes a member of Earth's Council of Godheads following Thor's banishment.[46]
Reception
- In 2022, Screen Rant included Balder the Brave in their "10 Marvel Comics Gods Who Should Join The MCU Next" list.[47]
Other versions
Earth X
In the alternate Earth X reality, the Asgardians were aliens that were manipulated by the Celestials into believing they were the Gods of Norse myth. When the lie was revealed, "Balder" and the other Asgardians briefly resumed their alien form but later returned to their Asgardian records.[48] Thor and Loki plotted to overthrow Odin through the legendary Ragnarok, which foretold that Balder would fall in battle against the Midgard Serpent. However, Odin foiled their plot and kept Balder alive.[49]
Marvel Zombies
In the
MC2
An older version of Balder existed in the MC2 universe, who died to protect Thor in his battle against Galactus.[51]
Ultimate Marvel
Balder first appears in the
In other media
Television
- Balder appears in "The Mighty Thor" segment of The Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Chris Wiggins.[citation needed]
- Balder made a cameo appearance in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "The Vengeance of Loki!".[citation needed]
- Balder appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Nolan North.[55]
- Balder appears in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Lo, How the Mighty Hath Abdicated", voiced by Travis Willingham.[citation needed]
- Balder appears in the M.O.D.O.K. via a shredder.[citation needed]
Film
Balder appears in
Video games
Balder appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, voiced by Dave Wittenberg.
Merchandise
Balder received a figurine in The Classic Marvel Figurine Collection.
Collected editions
Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
Thor: Balder The Brave | Balder the Brave #1-4 and Thor #360-362 | September 2009 | 978-0785138853 |
Thor by Walt Simonson Omnibus | Balder the Brave #1-4 and Thor #337-355, #357-369, #371-382 | October 2017 | 978-0785146339 |
Thor by Walter Simonson Vol. 3 | Balder the Brave #1-4 and Thor #357-363 | May 2018 | 978-1302909017 |
References
- ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ^ Journey Into Mystery #111 (Dec. 1964)
- ^ Journey Into Mystery #116 (May 1965)
- ^ Thor #143-145 (Aug. - Oct. 1967)
- ^ Thor #148-150 (Jan. - Mar. 1968)
- ^ Thor #154-157 (July - Oct. 1968)
- ^ a b Journey Into Mystery #104 (May 1964)
- ^ Thor #255 (Jan. 1977)
- ^ Journey into Mystery #107 (Aug. 1964)
- ^ Thor #274-275 (Aug. - Sept. 1978)
- ^ a b Thor #301-302 (Nov. - Dec. 1980)
- ^ Thor #360
- ^ Thor #341 (March 1984)
- ^ Thor #189-201 (June 1971 - July 1972)
- ^ Thor #350-351 (Dec. 1984 - Jan. 1985)
- ^ Thor #305-306 (March - Apr. 1981)
- ^ a b Balder the Brave #1-4 (Nov. 1985 - May 1986)
- ^ Thor vol. 2, #85 (Dec. 2004)
- ^ It is stated in the comic that the "Asgardians embraced a singular, inevitable death"
- ^ Thor vol. 3, #5 (Jan. 2008)
- ^ Thor vol. 3, #10 (Sept. 2008)
- ^ Thor #600 (Apr. 2009)
- ^ Thor #601 (June 2009)
- ^ Thor #602 (Aug. 2009)
- ^ Thor #603 (Nov. 2009)
- ^ Thor Giant-Size Finale (Jan. 2010)
- ^ Thor #604 (Feb. 2010)
- ^ Thor #605 (Jan. 2010)
- ^ Thor #606 (Mar. 2010)
- ^ Siege #1 (Mar. 2010)
- ^ Richards, Dave (January 7, 2010). "STORMING HEAVEN: "Siege" #1". Comic Book Resources News. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ Thor #607 (Apr. 2010)
- ^ Siege #3 (May 2010)
- ^ Richards, Dave (March 29, 2010). "STORMING HEAVEN: "Siege" #3". Comic Book Resources News. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
- ^ Thor #610 (July 2010)
- ^ Chaos War #1 (Dec. 2010)
- ^ Chaos War #3-4 (Jan. - Feb. 2011)
- ^ Thor #369
- ^ Journey into Mystery #106-107 (July - Aug. 1964)
- ^ Thor #305 (Mar. 1981)
- ^ Thor #609 (June 2010)
- ^ Thor #179 (Aug. 1970)
- ^ Thor #147 (Dec. 1967)
- ^ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Hardcover Vol. 14
- ^ Journey into Mystery Annual #1 (Oct. 1965)
- ^ Heroic Age: Prince of Power #1 (July 2010)
- ^ Prom, Bradley (2022-07-19). "10 Marvel Comics Gods Who Should Join The MCU Next". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
- ^ Earth X #12 (Apr. 2000)
- ^ Earth X #X (June 2000)
- ^ Marvel Zombies: Dead Days #1 (July 2007)
- ^ Last Planet Standing #1-5 (Aug. - Dec. 2005)
- ^ Ultimate Comics: Thor #2 (Jan. 2011)
- ^ Ultimate Comics: Thor #3-4
- ^ Ultimate Comics: Ultimates #2
- ^ Busch, Jenna (2010-02-08). "AVENGERS Animated Assembling w/ Phil Lamarr". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
- ^ Mel Valentin (January 28, 2009). "Movie Review - Hulk Vs". efilmcritic.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
External links
- Balder at the Marvel Universe wiki
- The Official Site for Thor Comics