Odinsword

Latest revision as of 04:54, 31 March 2025

Odinsword is a sword that features in Marvel Comics.

History

The Odinsword

One version is also known as the Over Sword of Asgard. It is a special weapon; a giant-sized sword that, if ever unsheathed, it was said, that "the end of the Universe is at hand." One story on the origin of this weapon said that it was created from a cursed Nibelung ring of gold that would bring about the end of Asgard. Greed for the powerful ring had cost many lives, including that of a mortal incarnation of Thor, due to Odin's greed for it. Upon reviving Thor, Odin sacrificed himself to atone for putting Asgard at risk for his greed and split the ring to act as bands to hang himself on the Yggdrasil. But while so hanging, he learned of the coming of the Celestials. He freed himself, and to attempt to contain the ring's curse, he transformed it into the gigantic Odinsword, which he alone could draw safely, since the curse was too powerful for him to purify. (Thor v1 #300) Over the years that followed, several enemies of Asgard attempted to draw the Odinsword to destroy Asgard, and the Universe with it, including Mangog. (Thor v1 #157) Odin used the sword as a weapon for the Destroyer armor after it absorbed the souls of all of Asgard. Despite its overwhelming power, it proved to be completely ineffective against the Celestials. Thor threw it into the Celestial Arishem the Judge, Leader of the Celestials's Fourth Host, who was unharmed. Arishem analyzed the sword, then proceeded to melt it down, exorcising the Nibelung curse in the process. (Thor v1 #300)

The Odinsword features briefly at the climax of a story featuring the Thunder God Thor, the son of Odin and the villain Seidring, an Asgardian who has abused Odin's trust and now possesses the Odinforce. When Thor threatens to draw the Odinsword from its scabbard unless the power is returned to Odin, Seidring panics and concedes defeat. When the creature Mangog was accidentally awakened by the Rock Troll Ulik, it sought revenge against Odin as it was made from a race that was destroyed by Odin for their evil acts, and attempts to storm Asgard and draw the Odinsword. Although Thor and the Asgardians fail to stop the creature, it is dispelled at the last moment by Odin, who has just emerged from the Odinsleep.

The Asgardian Warriors Three attempt to draw the Odinsword when under the mental control of Infinity (a part of Odin's persona that was split from the character), but are stopped by Thor, who aids Odin in defeating Infinity.[4] Mangog returns - disguised as a currently missing Odin - and after banishing Thor from Asgard again attempts to draw the Odinsword, but is defeated when the deception is revealed and ceases to exist.

The Odinsword's origin was retconned during the "Celestial Saga", a storyline written by Roy Thomas; Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio in the title Thor. Crafted from the cursed Ring of Power, the sword is intended for future use against the Celestials, near-omnipotent aliens who visit Earth and humble the Skyfather figures of Earth (Odin, Zeus).

Odin enters the armor of the weapon the Destroyer, and after absorbing the essence of every god - with the exception of Thor - in Asgard and becoming 2,000 feet tall, draws the Odinsword. As the Destroyer Odin travels to the Celestials' base in the Andes region on Earth, and uses the Odinsword to penetrate a forcefield around their sanctum. The character confronts the Celestials (together with the gestalt entity (formed by several parts) the Uni-Mind) and uses the Odinsword to damage the armor of several opponents, but they regenerate immediately. After the Destroyer has been defeated, witness Thor lifts the discarded Odinsword and hurls it through Arishem, the Field Leader for the Celestial Fourth Host. Arishem recovers immediately, and after removing the Odinsword from its chest, studies it for a moment before vaporising the weapon. The sword's true name is Ragnarok, and is capable of slaying the Serpent, as revealed by Odin when he gave it to Thor.

Overview

Notes

• The Odinsword was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby where it made its first appearance in Journey into Mystery v1 #117 (June, 1965).
• It received an entry in Marvel Arms & Armor: The Mightiest Weapons and Technology in the Marvel Universe v1 #1 (2023).

In other media

Television

Appearances

• Journey into Mystery v1: (1965)

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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