Laufey (Marvel)
Laufey was a comic book supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Laufey was a male member of the race of Frost Giants that were native to the realm of Jotunheim. (Journey into Mystery v1 #112)
It was said that he felt nothing but shame for his newborn son Loki as his child was not born a giant like the other inhabitants of Jotunheim. Thus, despite being a prince, he kept his son's existence a secret with few aware of him. (Journey into Mystery v1 #112)
A time traveling Loki told his younger self the means of attaining further power that necessitated the death of his father. Thus, the young Loki tricked his father by goading him to attack King Odin who was a with a detachment of Asgardians by the river. An angry Laufey told his son that he did not fear anyone and attacked Odin only to be fatally wounded by the Asgardian. After his foes departed, the dying Laufey was visited by his son's future self who mercilessly killed his father and stated that he would never strike him again. (Thor v3 #12)
During the Age of Vikings, a group of Frost Giants looked to resurrect the fallen Laufey with them travelling to Midgard where a wizard began the ritual. The spell required many sacrifices that the giants provided from many villagers where their blood was used to create blood ice that was used to drag Laufey's soul back from Hel. Their activities drew the attention of a young Thor Odinson who led an army of Vikings on their ships who had come to end the attacks from the Frost Giants. Thus, the giants were thwarted where they were killed before the spell could be finished with the skull of Laufey being lost in the sea. (Thor: God of Thunder v1 #25)
Return
By the modern age, the skull emitted a unique energy signature that was detected by a Roxxon Energy Corporation submarine who managed to recover it for study. (Thor: God of Thunder v1 #25) The skull was taken to Roxxon Island along with other mystical relics that were kept for study. (Thor v4 #2) By this time, the Dark Elf king Malekith the Accursed forged an alliance between his people and the Frost Giants where he offered to resurrect their fallen king. A group of giants then accompanied the elf to Midgard where they froze the land below to create a stairway to the floating Roxxon Island. (Thor v4 #2) Malekith then confronted Dario Agger who was the head of Roxxon where he wanted to know the location of the skull with the two battling one another over the relic with their fight interrupted by a new Thor. (Thor v4 #3) During the fight, the skull was seemingly destroyed but in reality this was a decoy with the real one held somewhere safe in the facility. (Thor v4 #4) Despite their initial hostility, Agger and Malekith once again formed an alliance with one another with the Roxxon leader handing over the real skull of Laufey to the Dark Elf king. (Thor v4 #6) Using his magic, Malekith helped resurrect King Laufey in Jotunheim using the blood of a hundred murdered Light Elves thus allowing him to return to his position as leader of the Frost Giant race. (Thor v4 #8) Alongside Loki, he took his son to Bloodcicle Canyon as part of the scheme against the new Thor. (Mighty Thor v2 #2) He and Loki looked to gain the allegiance of the Mountain Giants though the pair were ambushed by them with King Laufey being badly injured from the encounter. (Mighty Thor v2 #700)
He joined the Dark Council as they sought to conclude the War of the Realms by invading Midgard itself. Laufey appeared where he helped break the heroes lines that gathered against him. This saw him being opposed by his son Loki who sought to defend his adoptive mother Freyja. This resulted in him being swallowed by Laufey who sought to remove his son after he deemed him an embarrassment to the Frost Giant race. (War of the Realms v1 #1) The heroes of Midgard managed to turn the tide leading to Laufey swallowing the Casket of Ancient Winters where he intended to betray his allies and freeze the entire Earth to become a frozen land for the giants. However, he was wounded by Daredevil empowered by Heimdall's sword and struck by the War Thor's hammer after which Loki cut himself free from his fathers belly thus killing him as well as ending his reign. (War of the Realms v1 #6)
Overview
Personality and attributes
He was referred to as being the King of the Giants. (Thor v4 #6)
He was shown to show scorn towards Loki not because of him aiding in the death of Laufey but rather because he did not stay and take the Frost Giant crown. To earn his respect, he desired his offspring to be a force of evil and thus showed derision for his talent in mischief. (Mighty Thor v2 #2)
Laufey believed that real giants fought face-to-face. Mighty Thor Vol 2 700
It was said that Laufey was both brutish and cruel. (Thor v3 #12)
He was note for being the mate of Farbauti who bore him a child named Loki. (Mighty Thor v2 #700)
Powers and abilities
The titanic Laufey came to rule as King of the Giant warriors of Jotunheim. (Journey into Mystery v1 #112)
He once swallowed the Casket of Ancient Winters allowing him to unleash the Blizzard Breath that could freeze those before him. Its power allowed him to kill foes and potentially freeze an entire world. (War of the Realms v1 #6)
Notes
- Laufey was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby where he made his first appearance in Journey into Mystery v1 #112 (January, 1965).
- He was based on Laufey of Norse Myth who was actually labelled as Loki's mother rather than his father.
Alternate Versions
- In Thor: Season One v1 (2013), a version of Laufey was shown to exist in an alternate universe that was designated as Earth-TRN563. He was the King of the Frost Giants and had ruled Jotunheim where he had a brother named Farbauti along with three children that included Loki, Byleister and Helbindi. Eons ago, it was noted that he was slain by All-Father Odin who took his son Loki to be raised as an Asgardian. In the aftermath, Jotunheim's rule fell to Farbauti who commanded the realm as Regent and planned to avenge his brother.
- In What If? Thor v1 #1 (2018), an alternate version of history was shown in a What If where Laufey had killed Odin long ago. With the Asgardian King's death, Asgard fell to the Frost Giants where Laufey took the young Thor who was raised as his own son. Laufey came to be proud of his adopted son over his own child Loki with Thor being named the Prince of Jotunheim as he was the God of Winter after being shown worthy of wielding the Frost Giant hammer Ice Crusher. Laufey came to learn that Loki had been secretly meeting with the captive Freyja and helped her escape so that the pair could depart for Midgard. This saw the Frost Giant along with Prince Thor ambushing the pair where Loki killed his father.
In other media
Television
- In Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., the character appeared as an antagonist in the episode "Hulks on Ice" where he was voiced by actor Enn Reitel. He was shown as being the leader of the Frost Giants that swore revenge on Thor as well as intended to rule the Nine Realms. Laufey travelled to Midgard after learning the location of Ymir who was imprisoned as a mountain. He was opposed by Thor but Laufey brought a planet wide winter and froze the Odinson in a block of ice but he was freed by the Hulk. Together, they battled Laufey along with the ice monsters he summoned but they were too late in stopping him from awakening Ymir. For his freedom, Ymir agreed to serve Laufey but they were defeated by the Hulks. As Ymir toppled, his maw opened a portal to Jotunheim drawing Laufey into it but not before swearing revenge against Thor once more.
Films
- In Thor, Laufey briefly appeared in the live-action film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he was voiced by actor Colm Feore.
Video games
- In Marvel: Avengers Alliance, Laufey was referenced as having been deceased in the Facebook video game.
- In Marvel: War of Heroes, Jotun King Laufey appeared as a playable card in the video game.
- In Marvel: Future Revolution, Laufey appeared as an antagonist in the setting of the mobile video game.
Appearances
- Journey into Mystery v1: (1965)
- Thor v3:
- Thor: God of Thunder v1:
- Thor v4:
- Mighty Thor v2:
- Thor v5:
- War of the Realms v1:
External Links
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