Balder is the son of Odin, the ruler of the Norse gods of Asgard, and the half-brother of Thor. He is companion to the Warriors Three and often aids Thor against his foes, which include Loki,[2] their adopted brother, the Executioner and Enchantress,[3] the Enchanters Three,[4] the Wrecker[5] and Mangog.[6] At the request of Heimdall, Balder warns Thor when the Storm Giant Skagg and the fire demon Surtur are released by Loki in a plot to kill Odin.[7] Balder is also briefly named ruler of Asgard during Thor's quest to find a then-missing Odin.[8]
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 catalyst for Ragnarök and the destruction of Asgard. To prevent this, Odin casts a spell to make Balder vulnerable again[further explanation needed]. Ragnarök is nearly triggered when Loki has the blind god Hoder accidentally kill Balder with a mistletoe arrow but is averted by Odin, who creates a shield around Balder's pyre.[10][11][12] Odin later restores Balder to life when the Asgardians, after being slain in a battle with the Celestials, are resurrected by Thor using portions of energy donated by other gods.[13] On a second occasion, Balder is traumatized by a near-death experience as he sees the souls of those he has slain in battle. He then renounces killing.[13] It is later revealed that to escape Hel, Balder was forced by Hela to again kill all of those "tens of thousands" he had previously slain in battle.[10] This epic confrontation lasts so long that Balder's hair has turned white when he finally emerges victorious.[11][14]Volstagg of the Warriors Three takes it upon himself to become Balder's boon friend in an attempt to lift him out of his long depression. While Balder treasures the friendship, Volstagg's efforts do little to soothe him.[15]
Balder also has a love-hate relationship with Karnilla, the Queen of the Norns, who aids both Loki and Asgard at times.[11] On one occasion, Karnilla forces Balder to renounce Odin and serve her,[16] whilst on another she joins forces with Asgard against Surtur at Balder's request.[17] Her emotions are roused by Balder's deep depression as she feels Loki has ruined a unique member of the Asgardians. Karnilla's lust for Balder inadvertently causes the death of Balder's love, Nanna—an act that Balder does not forget.[18]
Balder later accepts his warrior aspect and saves Karnilla's people from a rogue giant's spell.[19] Balder and the other Asgardians (with the exception of Thor) eventually perish during the final Ragnarok,[20][21] though Balder is later found inhabiting the armor of the Destroyer.[22]
Loki reveals that Balder is the son of Odin and Frigga and the half-brother of Thor, making him a prince of Asgard.[23] When Thor is forced to kill his reborn grandfather, Bor, Loki coerces Balder—now a royal prince—to exile the Thunder God. Balder then assumes the throne of Asgard.[24] When Loki has the Asgardians moved to Latveria, he is shown at a banquet held by Doctor Doom. Balder asks why they could not invite Thor since the Asgardians were now in Latveria. Loki calmed Balder down to prevent Doctor Doom from reacting to the comment[further explanation needed].[25]
Balder meets a diner owner named Bill[further explanation needed] (who fell in love with Kelda and followed her to Latveria) and gives him a cloak to keep warm.[26] Balder later witnesses Bill's assault by Loki's henchmen due to Bill's discovery of the evil nature of Loki's scheme with Doctor Doom[further explanation needed].[27] After fending them off, [who?]Bill dies in Balder's arms after revealing Loki's plot and asking Balder to tell Kelda that he loves her.[28] Balder and the other Asgardians retaliate even after Doctor Doom kills Kelda. Balder and the other Asgardians are forced to fight Endrik (who has been modified with technological implants) and many other mutilated Asgardians.[29] Balder and the other Asgardians continue their fight with the mutilated Asgardians while Thor battles Doctor Doom.[30] Balder kills the mutilated Asgardians to get to Kelda's heart. After Loki restores Kelda to life and Thor defeats Doctor Doom's Destroyer armor, Balder leads the Asgardians back to Broxton, Oklahoma. Back in Asgard, Balder is concerned about his foolishness over allowing what transpired in Latveria. Loki assures him he is a fine king.[31]
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.[32][33] Balder is later informed about the situation with Volstagg by Hogun and Fandral.[34] When Captain America arrives with the New Avengers and the Secret Warriors, Balder is pleased that Thor's allies have joined the battle.[35][36] 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.[10][37]
Balder attends the Council of Godheads convened to counter the imminent universal threat of the Chaos King and his impending Chaos War to decide which mortal paragon they would choose to combat Mikaboshi. Vali Halfling later appears to the Council and challenges them to disprove their impotence by stopping him before he attains godhood. Balder tells Anansi that Halfling was the son of Loki and banished to Midgard long ago. When the Chaos War eventually nears Earth, the Council summons Hercules, Amadeus Cho and Delphyne Gorgon before them and commands them to bow before the Council's authority. In return, the newly restored and empowered Hercules fights and easily bests most of them, including Balder.[38]
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.[39]
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).[40] Balder possesses superhuman strength superior to the average Asgardian male and, like all Asgardians, superhuman endurance and longevity (via the Golden Apples of Idunn). He is immune to all Earthly diseases and has some resistance to magic. Courtesy of a spell cast by his mother and Asgardian goddess Frigga to try to avert Ragnarök, Balder is almost invulnerable while within the Asgardian dimension, unable to suffer harm from virtually any living or non-living being.[41] Only weapons made of mistletoe wood can harm or cause fatal injury to him, or he can will himself to be vulnerable.[42] Balder can also die in the Asgardian dimension through means that do not involve weaponry: for example, he could starve to death or be asphyxiated. It is unknown whether Balder also becomes vulnerable when he is in dimensions other than Asgard or Earth.
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.[10][19] He is shown to retain this ability even on Midgard after many months, as shown in the events of Siege, albeit possibly with the aid of his enchanted blade.[43] He can communicate with animals,[10] and has also demonstrated minor magical talents on rare occasions, such as shielding himself from mortal eyesight while flying to Earth on Odin's steed in one instance when he sensed that Thor[7] was in danger on Earth while Balder was in Asgard,[44] or teleporting himself and Sif (without the use of the latter's enchanted sword) to Earth from Asgard in another.[45] Though Balder can project some degree of energy, unlike most of his brethren, his ability to do so is far less than that of the other gods of light in other pantheons (namely Apollo, who can control at least double the amount of energy as Balder).[46] He is also a highly skilled weapons master, wielding the enchanted sword of Frey, capable of fighting of its own accord, with millennia of extensive experience and training, and is a proficient tactician and master horseman, having been entrusted with several special missions by Odin.[10][47]
Balder becomes a member of Earth's Council of Godheads following Thor's banishment.[48]
Reception
In 2022, Screen Rant included Balder the Brave in their "10 Marvel Comics Gods Who Should Join The MCU Next" list.[49]
Other versions
Earth X
An alternate universe variant of Earth-9997 appears in Earth X. This version is an alien who the Celestials manipulated into believing that he was a god.[50][51]
An alternate universe variant of Balder from Earth-982 who was killed battling Galactus appears in Last Planet Standing #2.[53]
Ultimate Marvel
An alternate universe variant of Balder from Earth-1610 appears in the Ultimate Marvel universe.[54] After he is killed by Loki, Odin resurrects him in the human form of Donald Blake.[55][56]
The Asgardians or Gods of Asgard are a fictional humanoid race of gods appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Some are taken from mythology while others are original creations.
Asgard is a fictional realm and its capital city appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, the realm first appeared in Journey into Mystery #85. Based on the realm of the same name from Germanic mythology, Asgard is home to the Asgardians and other beings adapted from Norse mythology. It features prominently in stories that follow the Marvel Comics superhero Thor.
Odin Borson, the All-Father is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. First mentioned in Journey into Mystery #85, the character first appears in Journey into Mystery #86, and was adapted from the Odin of Norse mythology by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The character is depicted as the father of Thor and, traditionally, as the king of Asgard.
The Executioner is the name of different fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Loki Laufeyson is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby, he is based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name. Although a version of Loki debuted in Venus #6, his characterization as the adoptive brother and nemesis of the superhero Thor was introduced with the version that debuted in Journey into Mystery #85, which has persisted to the modern age.
In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Thorlief "Thor" Golmen is a fictional superhero based on the Marvel Universe version of Thor, who is the Asgardian God of Thunder and a founding member of the Ultimates. Also known as "Ultimate Thor", Golmen is an anarchist who discovers he is the reincarnated form of the Norse warrior god Thor. The "Ultimate" redesign of the character reduces the number of Thor's powers, and reduces the character's reliance upon his hammer. Perhaps most significantly, the Thunder God's long-established personality is drastically altered, changing him from an eager and willing divine combatant into an ecocentric, arguably unstable, and reluctant warrior.
Heimdall is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the Norse deity Heimdall. Heimdall is described as all-seeing and all-hearing and is the sole protector of the Bifröst in Asgard.
The Destroyer is a fictional magical character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Usually depicted as an opponent of the Thunder God and hero Thor, it is a suit of Asgardian armor created and animated by magic. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #118 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Volstagg is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a charter member of the Warriors Three, a trio of Asgardian adventurers and supporting cast of Thor. He is known for having multiple children. These include, but are not limited to, Hilde, Rolfe, and the adopted Midgardians Kevin and Mick.
Fandral the Dashing is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a charter member of the Warriors Three, a trio of Asgardian adventurers consisting of Fandral, Hogun the Grim, and Volstagg the Valiant. They are members of the supporting cast in Thor comics and usually provide comic relief and side-adventures.
Hogun the Grim is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a charter member of the Warriors Three, a trio of Asgardian adventurers and supporting cast of Thor in the Marvel Universe.
Sif is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #102. She is based on the Norse goddess Sif. As an Asgardian warrior and lover of Thor, Sif often accompanies him into battle. She has also battled alongside Balder, who has developed an unrequited attraction to her, as she never shows affection for anyone but Thor and certain individuals who have proved worthy to wield his hammer, Mjolnir, such as the noble alien warrior Beta Ray Bill, and the mortal Eric Masterson.
Surtur is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly as an enemy of Thor. Based on the fire giant Surtr from Norse mythology, he was adapted by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Journey into Mystery #97. The character was once described as one of "The Ten Most Heinous Enemies of the Mighty Thor".
Frigga is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character appears in particular in those featuring the superhero Thor, who is Frigga's son. Based on both Frigg and Freyja of Norse mythology, she was created by writers Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein and artist Joe Sinnott, and first appeared in Journey into Mystery #92.
Tyr is a fictional character, an Asgardian god appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the Norse god of the same name. Along with Thor and Balder, he is one of Odin's biological sons.
The Cabal is a secret society of supervillains and antiheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. As a more villainous counterpart to the Illuminati, the group was formed in the "Dark Reign" storyline very shortly after the Secret Invasion event.
Kelda is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is an Asgardian first introduced in Thor vol. 3 #6. Kelda is an original creation by J. Michael Straczynski, not based in Norse mythology. She is most often seen in the company of her human lover, Bill.
The Norn Stones are fictional powerful magical items appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Stones are depicted as being from Asgard, and are featured in the Marvel Universe.
1 2 3 "Balder Voices (Thor)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 2, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
↑ Mel Valentin (January 28, 2009). "Movie Review - Hulk Vs". efilmcritic.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
