Balder (Earth-616)

Due to prophecies that Balder's death would help trigger the coming of Ragnarok, the destruction of Asgard and its inhabitants, Odin, ruler of Asgard, commanded his wife Frigga to make Balder invulnerable to harm.

Frigga cast spells that would protect Balder form harm by any living or inanimate thing while he was in the Asgardian dimension; however, Balder remained vulnerable to mistletoe. Loki, the god of mischief, learned of the prophecies and vulnerability, and tricked the blind god Hoder into firing an arrow tipped with mistletoe wood at Balder. Odin prevented Balder from actually dying, but when he was finally restored to life, his hair had turned white as a result from his experiences in Hel. Later, Balder's beloved, Nanna, sacrificed herself to save Balder from entrapment in marriage to Karnilla, and Balder was so distraught that he has resolved never to speak of this incident or of her again.

These experiences of death led Balder to forswear the life of a warrior and tried to forget his misery through eating, growing considerably fat. He rode to the desert to die, but encountered the Norns, three goddesses who oversee the workings of destiny. The Norns gave Balder a vision that restored his faith, and he rode back to Asgard, eventually losing his excessive weight as he became a warrior again.

Balder has fought in all the recent battles of Asgard, including one against the demon Surtur, in which he needed to seek out the aid of the sorceress Karnilla. During a time when Odin had departed Asgard, Balder became the ruler of Asgard.

Balder accompanied Greyval Grimson on the quest for the Raven Banner.

Balder was killed during the final Ragnarok by an army wielding mistletoe-tipped spears.

Balder's spirit was pushed into the Destroyer by Loki and attacked Thor who was searching for the missing Asgardians. He was restored by Thor along with Loki and now resides in Asgard Oklahoma.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Balder has the ability to radiate unmeasured degrees of heat and light; like all Asgardians, Balder is extremely long-lived, and immune to terrestrial diseases. As a senior Asgardian god Balder's physical abilities are slightly superior to common Asgardians. Also, while in Asgard, Balder cannot be mortally wounded by any weapon.

Abilities

Skilled warrior and horseman

Strength level

Superhuman class 50

Weaknesses

Is vunerable to weapons made of mistletoe.

Paraphernalia

Equipment: Once wielded the Norn stones.
Transportation: Asgardian horses, occasionally interdimensional portals.
Weapons: Pair of swords

Notes

Significant Issues

Balder 1-4 (1985)
Thor #189-201 (Renounces Odin, and serves Karnilla)
Thor 255 (Served as ruler of Asgard in Thor's stead)
Thor 274-275 (Shot by Hoder with Mistletoe, but was held in suspended animation by Odin to stop Ragnarok)
Thor 301-302 (Brought back by Odin, but renounces his warrior lifestyle)

Trivia

No trivia.

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Links and References

Balder at the Guide to the Mythological Universe
The Unofficial Handbook to the Marvel Universe

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