Midgard Serpent (Marvel)
The Midgard Serpent is a comic entity who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Jormungand
According to the prophecy of Ragnarok, the Midgard Serpent was expected to awaken in the final days of Asgard where it would appear and herald the end of the world. All-Father Odin to prepare the Asgardians for that fated day had the prophecy told to them by the seer Volla. (Thor v1 #127) Jormungand coiled around the roots of the World Tree in ancient times battled an eternal battle with Odin. (Thor v6 #9)
As part of their scheme to overthrow Odin, Loki and Tyr captured the Golden Apples of Idunn and fed them to the Midgard Serpent, whom they found gnawing upon the roots of Yggdrasil. (Thor v1 #325) To complete Odin's defeat, Loki had the serpent stretch itself to Earth so that his armies could follow Odin and those loyal to him. As they fought, the serpent wound itself around the Earth and began to crush it within its coils. Thor quickly enlisted the giant Hamir to assist him in baiting the serpent with an ox on a fishing pole. The serpent took the bait, and Thor dragged it free from the Earth and fought it. The serpent finally asked Thor to cease their fighting as they were evenly matched, and Thor agreed on the condition that the serpent returns the golden apples. The serpent did so, and Thor then lashed it to Yggdrasil so that it could continue to gnaw upon its root. (Thor v1 #327) Seeking the downfall of Thor, the Frost Giant Grundroth sought out the Midgard Serpent in the oceans of Earth, and used one of his men as bait to raise the serpent to the surface. The serpent took the appearance of the alien dragon Fin Fang Foom to communicate with the giants, and learned from them that Thor had been cursed by Hela to have old, brittle bones without the ability to heal his wounds. Seeing an opportunity to destroy Thor utterly in order to spare himself from death in Ragnarok, the serpent sought Thor out and came upon him in a park in Brooklyn. However, the serpent did not recognize Thor because of the armor he had donned to protect his damaged bones. Thor informed the serpent that he would oppose him, and the serpent responded that if he could lift one of his feet from the ground, he would face him in combat in a place away from innocent bystanders. Thor succeeded, and the two flew off to a secluded valley for combat. There, the serpent dropped the form of Fin Fang Foom and appeared before Thor in its true form. At that instant, all time on Earth stood still. Thor then informed the serpent who he was, and swore to destroy him. (Thor v1 #379) The two enemies engaged in a ferocious battle, during which Thor broke the serpent's teeth when it tried to swallow him. Finally, the serpent launched itself at Thor for its death strike, but Thor came back at it, unleashing the unfettered might of Mjolnir. The energies unleashed slew the serpent, while simultaneously reducing Thor's body to pulp. (Thor v1 #380)
For sometime, the Serpent had become aware of a pocket realm that had been created by Odin with this being a world created for the human Donald Blake back when he was host to Thor's power. Whenever he transformed into Thor, Blake would be transported into an idyllic world until they switched places again. In this time, the Midgard Serpent had long sought to break into this world but failed to do so. This changed when the Odin-Force was passed to Thor who became the new King of Asgard with such a move weakening the protective barrier around Donald Blake's world. Gaining entry, the Midgard Serpent found Blake and attempted to turn him against Odin by revealing his fabricated existence to him and that he was simply a pawn of Odin. Seeking to turn to mortal to his side, the great serpent offered a share of his own power where together they would get their revenge on Thor and all of Asgard. Taking the power, he came to learn of a fragment of the Odin-Power within him and this combined with the revelations of his existence drove Donald Blake mad. He slit the Midgard Serpent's throat and tore his hide that he fashioned into his armour leading the gigantic beast in a near dying state. Afterwards, Thor who was seeking answers about his powers weakening resumed his connection with Blake and switched places with him. However, he found himself in the ruined world of Donald Blake who had butchered all the inhabitants created to keep him company. He then found the Midgard Serpent who revealed the events that had occurred and that Donald Blake had attained his power which he intended to use to destroy all Asgardians. (Thor v6 #10)
Overview
Personality and attributes
Powers and abilities
The World Serpent's was said to be deathless as his destiny was tied to the death of the Thunder God Thor. (Thor v1 #378)
He was adept at using illusions which he used to wander the worlds thus masking his true form. (Thor v1 #378)
Notes
- The Midgard Serpent was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby where it made its first appearance in Thor v1 #127 (April, 1966).
- The character was based on Jörmungandr from Norse Mythology.
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Midgard Serpent appeared briefly in the setting of the animated television series. After Loki's defeat, Odin banished him to a world where he was tortured regularly by the Midgard Serpent.
- In Avengers Assemble, the Midgard Serpent makes an appearance in the episode "Serpent of Doom" where its arrives on Earth as part of a plot by Ulik the Troll to fulfill the prophecy that spoke of Thor's demise. Thus, he arrived on Earth with a powerful enchanted hammer which Thor recognizes as being the one that will summon the Serpent. Ulik was defeated but his hammer falls to the ground where HYDRA agents attempt to acquire it only to be stopped by Doctor Doom. His study of it leads to him wielding the weapon and using it to summon the Midgard Serpent though he struggles in attempting to control it. The Avengers battle the beast with Thor believing that prophecy meant that he would need to sacrifice himself to defeat the creature. However, Iron Man manages to track the portal that brought Ulik to Earth and they herd the Serpent into the gateway with Doom who attempted to control the beast which led to both being trapped in the Asgardian underworld. In "The Doomstroyer", the Serpent was shown to guard Doctor Doom in Helheim as he commanded the Destroyer Armor from the Helhorn throne until Thor managed to knock it unconscious into the lava.
Video games
- In Thor: Son of Asgard, the Midgard Serpent appeared as an antagonist in the setting of the mobile video game.
Appearances
- Thor v1: (1966)
- Loki: Agent of Asgard v1:
- Thor v6: (2020)
External Links
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