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Midgard Serpent (comics)
Encyclopedia
Jormungand, also known as The Midgard Serpent or World Serpent, is a fictional character
that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics
. The character, which based on the creature of the same name
from Norse mythology
(often referred to as "Jormungand"), was created by Gerry Conway
and John Buscema
and first appears in in Marvel Tales
#105 (Feb. 1952), in the period between the Golden Age of Comic Books
and the Silver Age of Comic Books
.
#105 (Feb. 1952) and was later tied firmly to Marvel continuity in the Bronze Age of Comic Books
in Thor
Thor #200 (June 1972). As in Norse mythology, the Marvel version of the Midgard Serpent is the nemesis
of the Thunder God, who has two encounters with the creature - the events based directly on mythology - in Thor #272 - 273 (June - July 1978).
An attempt to cheat the fatal prophecy made regarding a final battle between Thor and the Serpent occurred in Thor #274 - 278 (July - Dec. 1978), although the creature returned in Thor #325 (Nov. 1982 - Jan. 1983). A "larger than life" battle between Thor and the Serpent was depicted in Thor #379 - 380 (May - June 1987), with writer-artist Walter Simonson using a splash page
to depict the creature's size, and then full pages to demonstrate the battle between the pair.
Although killed, the Serpent was resurrected in Thor #486 - 488 (May - July 1995), and featured in Avengers
vol. 3, #1 (Feb. 1998) before reappearing in Thor #80 vol. 2, (Aug. 2004).
from a statue of the serpent, the liquid becoming a deadly solvent
.
In the realm of Asgard
, the seer Volla makes a prophecy
that Thunder God Thor
will battle the Midgard Serpent during the Twilight of the Gods - Ragnarök
after it surfaces from the ocean and does terrible damage. Although the god will successfully kill the creature, he will only walk nine steps before dying from wounds carrying its deadly poison
.
Thor has two encounters with the creature that reflect the Norse myths. The first a visit to the castle
of the Storm Giant Utgard-Loki
, who excels in the use of illusion
s. Challenging Thor to lift his pet "cat
" - actually the Midgard Serpent - the Thunder God lifts all but one of the cat's feet off the ground, a feat which terrifies the Storm Giant. The second encounter occurs when Thor decides to cheat fate and kill the creature. Taking a fishing
boat with the giant Hymir, Thor uses the head of an ox
on a chain to draw the Midgard Serpent to the surface of the ocean. Although the creature takes the bait, the character is unable to deal the killing blow as Hymir, fearing for his life, cuts the chain.
Being aware of the prophecy regarding his son's death, Odin (King of the Norse gods) cheats fate during a false Ragnarok by replacing Thor with a surrogate known as Red Norvell, who, after gaining the power of Thor and his hammer, dies battling the Midgard Serpent after it dives into the ocean. The prophecy fulfilled, Thor drives off the creature. The Midgard Serpent reappears briefly when a group of Odin's enemies feed the Golden Apples of Idunn, intended for the Norse Gods, to the creature, intending to weaken the gods before an attack. It is used as a bridge by Tyr and Loki's army. Thor imprisons the creature and forces it to return the apples.
The character appears on Earth disguise
d as the monster
Fin Fang Foom
after some Giants summon him using one of them as bait on a giant fishing rod, and after the deception is revealed battles Thor to the death. He attacks Thor in a park still disguised as Fin Fang Foom, but does not recognize Thor who is wearing his Asgardian armor. After apologizing and talking to Thor, Fin Fang Foom says if Thor can lift his big toe, he will battle the "super hero" (Thor) away from the city. Thor is able to lift his toe, and Thor rides him away from the city. When he realizes he does not know his foe's name, Thor tells him. The presence of the Midgard Serpent on Earth causes time to stop for everything except the two opponents and other mythic creatures. Although Thor finally kills the creature, his body is pulped, suffering from the Curse of Hela: his bones become as brittle
as glass
but he is unable to heal or die (Thor "resurrects" himself by taking mental control of the Destroyer
and forcing Hela to recreate his body and free him from her curse ).
The Midgard Serpent is released from Hel (the land of the dead) by the Asgardian warrior Kurse
to use against Thor, who is swallowed by the creature. Together with ally Beta Ray Bill
, Thor blasts free of the creature's stomach
and kills it a second time.
The Midgard Serpent is apparently resurrected by sorceress
Morgan le Fay
, who summons the creature to Earth to distract superhero team the Avengers while she abducts heroine the Scarlet Witch
. The Midgard Serpent briefly reappears when the true Ragnarok
occurs.
form around the Earth. A huge serpent, the character has superhuman levels of strength, stamina and can generate both lethal fire and poison
, as well as projecting powerful illusions.
episode "A Day Unlike Any Other," Odin banished Loki
to a world where he is tortured by a creature that looks exactly like the Midgard Serpent.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. The character, which based on the creature of the same name
Jörmungandr
In Norse mythology, Jörmungandr , mostly known as Jormungand, orJörmungand , or Midgard Serpent , or World Serpent, is a sea serpent, and the middle child of the giantess Angrboða and the god Loki...
from Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
(often referred to as "Jormungand"), was created by Gerry Conway
Gerry Conway
Gerard F. "Gerry" Conway is an American writer of comic books and television shows. He is known for co-creating the Marvel Comics vigilante The Punisher and scripting the death of the character Gwen Stacy during his long run on The Amazing Spider-Man...
and John Buscema
John Buscema
John Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate...
and first appears in in Marvel Tales
Marvel Tales
Marvel Tales is the title of three American comic-book series published by Marvel Comics, the first of them from the company's 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics...
#105 (Feb. 1952), in the period between the Golden Age of Comic Books
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
and the Silver Age of Comic Books
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
.
Publication history
The Midgard Serpent debuted in Marvel TalesMarvel Tales
Marvel Tales is the title of three American comic-book series published by Marvel Comics, the first of them from the company's 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics...
#105 (Feb. 1952) and was later tied firmly to Marvel continuity in the Bronze Age of Comic Books
Bronze Age of Comic Books
The Bronze Age of Comic Books is an informal name for a period in the history of mainstream American comic books usually said to run from 1970 to 1985. It follows the Silver Age of Comic Books....
in Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
Thor #200 (June 1972). As in Norse mythology, the Marvel version of the Midgard Serpent is the nemesis
Archenemy
An archenemy, archfoe, archvillain or archnemesis is the principal enemy of a character in a work of fiction, often described as the hero's worst enemy .- Etymology :The word archenemy or arch-enemy originated...
of the Thunder God, who has two encounters with the creature - the events based directly on mythology - in Thor #272 - 273 (June - July 1978).
An attempt to cheat the fatal prophecy made regarding a final battle between Thor and the Serpent occurred in Thor #274 - 278 (July - Dec. 1978), although the creature returned in Thor #325 (Nov. 1982 - Jan. 1983). A "larger than life" battle between Thor and the Serpent was depicted in Thor #379 - 380 (May - June 1987), with writer-artist Walter Simonson using a splash page
Comics vocabulary
Comics vocabulary consists of many different techniques and images which a comic book artist employs in order to convey a narrative within the medium of comics....
to depict the creature's size, and then full pages to demonstrate the battle between the pair.
Although killed, the Serpent was resurrected in Thor #486 - 488 (May - July 1995), and featured in Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
vol. 3, #1 (Feb. 1998) before reappearing in Thor #80 vol. 2, (Aug. 2004).
Fictional character biography
The Midgard Serpent first appears when a scientist draws what he believes to be venomVenom
Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...
from a statue of the serpent, the liquid becoming a deadly solvent
Solvent
A solvent is a liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves another solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution that is soluble in a certain volume of solvent at a specified temperature...
.
In the realm of Asgard
Asgard (comics)
Asgard is a fictional realm within the Marvel Comics universe based on the Asgard of Norse mythology and is home to the Asgardians and other beings of Norse mythology...
, the seer Volla makes a prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
that Thunder God Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
will battle the Midgard Serpent during the Twilight of the Gods - Ragnarök
Ragnarök
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök is a series of future events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures , the occurrence of various natural disasters, and the subsequent submersion of the world in water...
after it surfaces from the ocean and does terrible damage. Although the god will successfully kill the creature, he will only walk nine steps before dying from wounds carrying its deadly poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
.
Thor has two encounters with the creature that reflect the Norse myths. The first a visit to the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
of the Storm Giant Utgard-Loki
Utgard-Loki (Marvel Comics)
Utgard-Loki is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:Utgard-Loki is the monarch of the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, the traditional enemies of the Asgardian gods....
, who excels in the use of illusion
Illusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
s. Challenging Thor to lift his pet "cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
" - actually the Midgard Serpent - the Thunder God lifts all but one of the cat's feet off the ground, a feat which terrifies the Storm Giant. The second encounter occurs when Thor decides to cheat fate and kill the creature. Taking a fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
boat with the giant Hymir, Thor uses the head of an ox
Ox
An ox , also known as a bullock in Australia, New Zealand and India, is a bovine trained as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals more tractable...
on a chain to draw the Midgard Serpent to the surface of the ocean. Although the creature takes the bait, the character is unable to deal the killing blow as Hymir, fearing for his life, cuts the chain.
Being aware of the prophecy regarding his son's death, Odin (King of the Norse gods) cheats fate during a false Ragnarok by replacing Thor with a surrogate known as Red Norvell, who, after gaining the power of Thor and his hammer, dies battling the Midgard Serpent after it dives into the ocean. The prophecy fulfilled, Thor drives off the creature. The Midgard Serpent reappears briefly when a group of Odin's enemies feed the Golden Apples of Idunn, intended for the Norse Gods, to the creature, intending to weaken the gods before an attack. It is used as a bridge by Tyr and Loki's army. Thor imprisons the creature and forces it to return the apples.
The character appears on Earth disguise
Disguise
A disguise can be anything which conceals or changes a person's physical appearance, including a wig, glasses, makeup, costume or other ways. Camouflage is one type of disguise for people, animals and objects...
d as the monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #89 Fin Fang Foom is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #89 Fin Fang...
after some Giants summon him using one of them as bait on a giant fishing rod, and after the deception is revealed battles Thor to the death. He attacks Thor in a park still disguised as Fin Fang Foom, but does not recognize Thor who is wearing his Asgardian armor. After apologizing and talking to Thor, Fin Fang Foom says if Thor can lift his big toe, he will battle the "super hero" (Thor) away from the city. Thor is able to lift his toe, and Thor rides him away from the city. When he realizes he does not know his foe's name, Thor tells him. The presence of the Midgard Serpent on Earth causes time to stop for everything except the two opponents and other mythic creatures. Although Thor finally kills the creature, his body is pulped, suffering from the Curse of Hela: his bones become as brittle
Brittle
A material is brittle if, when subjected to stress, it breaks without significant deformation . Brittle materials absorb relatively little energy prior to fracture, even those of high strength. Breaking is often accompanied by a snapping sound. Brittle materials include most ceramics and glasses ...
as glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
but he is unable to heal or die (Thor "resurrects" himself by taking mental control of the Destroyer
Destroyer (Thor)
The Destroyer is a fictional object that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The object first appears in Journey into Mystery #118 The Destroyer is a fictional object that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The object first appears in Journey into Mystery #118 The...
and forcing Hela to recreate his body and free him from her curse ).
The Midgard Serpent is released from Hel (the land of the dead) by the Asgardian warrior Kurse
Kurse
Kurse is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears as the Dark Elf Algrim the Strong in Thor #347 , is transformed into Kurse in Secret Wars #4 Kurse (Algrim) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel...
to use against Thor, who is swallowed by the creature. Together with ally Beta Ray Bill
Beta Ray Bill
Beta Ray Bill is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Thor #337 and was created by writer-artist Walt Simonson....
, Thor blasts free of the creature's stomach
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
and kills it a second time.
The Midgard Serpent is apparently resurrected by sorceress
Magician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
Morgan le Fay
Morgan le Fay (Marvel Comics)
Morgan le Fay is a fictional character in the , based loosely on the Morgan le Fay of Arthurian legend. In this version of the character, she is the half-faerie half-sister of the mythic Arthur. Her elven heritage granted her immortality, and she used this time to master the mystic arts. She...
, who summons the creature to Earth to distract superhero team the Avengers while she abducts heroine the Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
. The Midgard Serpent briefly reappears when the true Ragnarok
Ragnarök
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök is a series of future events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures , the occurrence of various natural disasters, and the subsequent submersion of the world in water...
occurs.
Powers and abilities
The Midgard Serpent normally exists in etherealEthereal being
Ethereal beings, according to some belief systems and occult theories, are mystic entities that usually are not made of ordinary matter. Despite the fact that they are believed to be essentially incorporeal, they do interact in physical shapes with the material universe and travel between the...
form around the Earth. A huge serpent, the character has superhuman levels of strength, stamina and can generate both lethal fire and poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
, as well as projecting powerful illusions.
In other media
Near the end of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest HeroesThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is an American animated television series by Marvel Animation in cooperation with Film Roman based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers. The show debuted on Disney XD in Fall 2010 starting with a 20 part micro-series. A second season has been...
episode "A Day Unlike Any Other," Odin banished Loki
Loki (comics)
Loki is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. He is the adoptive brother and archenemy of the superhero Thor. He is based on the being of the same name from Norse mythology...
to a world where he is tortured by a creature that looks exactly like the Midgard Serpent.