Freya is a mythical
Asgardian appearing in
American comic book
An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, on average 32 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of ''Action Comics'' ...
s published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
, based on the
Norse deity
of the same name.
Within the context of the stories, Freya is the Asgardian goddess of fertility. She appears as a supporting character of
Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding æsir, god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, sacred groves ...
.
Publication history
Freya first appeared in ''Thor'' #321 (Oct. 1993) and was created by
Bill Mantlo
William Timothy Mantlo (born November 9, 1951) is an American comic book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics. He is best known for his work on two licensed toy properties whose adventures occurred in the Marvel Universe: ''Micronauts'' and ''Ro ...
and
.
Mythical character biography
Freya is the Goddess of Fertility who used to work as a former Valkyrie. The people of Asgard have started a cult that worships her on the Isle of Love.
On one occasion, Rimthursar lied to Freya stating that
Odin
Odin (; from non, Óðinn, ) is a widely revered Æsir, god in Germanic paganism. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates him with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, v ...
has died in order to trick her into crying so that Rimthursar can collect her tears.
Freya had an artifact named after her called the Cloak of Freya which
Loki
Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi or Na ...
once used to turn
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere
An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmos ...
into a
falcon
Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus ''Falco'', which includes about 40 species. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene.
Adult falcons ...
.
Freya's history was later retconned where she was the daughter of the
Giant
In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: '' gigas'', cognate giga-) are beings of human-like appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''giant'' is first attested in 1297 fr ...
Thyrm and her position was given to the similarly-names fellow goddess
Freyja
In Norse paganism, Freyja (Old Norse "(the) Lady") is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, gold, and seiðr (magic for seeing and influencing the future). Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chario ...
. Thyrm once tried to get Thor and Loki to give him Mjolnir in exchange for Thor's hand in marriage to Freya. Thor and Loki were able to outwit Thyrm.
[''Marvel Super-Heroes'' vol. 2 #15]
Powers and abilities
Freya has the various superhuman attributes that the other Asgardians have. She can also speak in the languages of the Nine Realms.
References
External links
Freyaat Marvel Wiki
at Marvel Appendix
{{Marvel Comics deities
Marvel Comics Asgardians
Comics characters introduced in 1982
Freyja
Fictional goddesses
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength