Name

Aliases

Drawn directly from Norse mythology, Asgard is the home of a powerful pantheon of gods, includingThor. It is a small other-dimensional planetoid (its surface area being about the same as the Continental United States) whose nature and physics are different from those of planetary bodies in the Earthly dimension. Asgard is a part of theTen Realms.^{[citation needed]}

Asgard is not a sphere likeEarth, but a relatively flat landmass suspended in space. Asgard does not rotate about its axis, nor does it revolve around a sun. Asgard does have intervals of night and day (of undisclosed duration), so some object or force functions as a sun. There is no evidence of changing seasons; however, portions of Asgard are in perpetual winter while others are in perpetual summer.^{[citation needed]}

Asgard's gravity apparently radiates from somewhere below it (assuming gravity works there as it does here): there is a "top" and a "bottom" to Asgard. At the edges of Asgard's landmass, a being or object can fall into a void, but some unknown force apparently keeps the edges themselves from eroding.^{[citation needed]}

The same force also prevents the bodies of water along Asgard's boundaries from pouring into the void and prevents Asgard's atmosphere from escaping. Asgard has been described as floating on a "Sea of Space." This sea apparently has a surface, one that is navigable by Asgardian ships, which resemble Viking longboats. The exact nature of space within the Asgardian dimension is unknown.^{[citation needed]}

While Asgard's gravity is roughly analogous to Earth's, common matter is considerably denser on average. For example, a chair made of Asgardian wood is heavier and stronger than a chair made of Earthly wood. Rock, water, flesh, bone, steel: all matter is denser and thus more durable.^{[citation needed]}

The Asgardian dimension includes other areas. The inhabitants refer to the totality as theNine Worlds. Four of them are located on the main landmass: Asgard, the home of theAesir;Vanaheim, the home of their sister race, theVanir;Nidavellir, the home of theDwarves; andAlfheim, the home of theLight Elves. The others are in nearby (i.e., easily accessible) dimensions. (For the sake of creating a comprehensible diagram, theNine Worlds are placed in a multi-leveled configuration. These levels do not represent any real physical distances or relationships.^[11] Instead, they represent the interdimensional relationships between the Realms.Jotunheim, the home of theGiants, is a flat ring-shaped realm with high mountains along its inner edge.Svartalfheim, the home of theDark Elves, is another planetoid, smaller than Asgard. There are several dimensional portals between the mountains of Jotunheim and Svartalfheim and the mountains of Asgard, permitting easy passage by the denizens of each Realm. These portals make Jotunheim and Svartalfheim seem like "underworlds" of the Asgardian continent itself. In Asgardian cosmology, Muspelheim and Niffleheim existed first, separated from one another byGinnungagap, the Yawning Void.^{[citation needed]})

Another of theNine Worlds isHel, the Realm of the Dead, and its sister Realm,Niffleheim. In the Asgardian afterlife, heroes and the honored dead go toValhalla, a special region of Asgard; the common dead go to Hel; and the dishonored dead (murderers and other evildoers) go to Niffleheim.

The continent of Asgard has many regions, such asNornheim,Gundershelm,Varinheim,Ringsfjord, Thryheim,Hindi,Skornheim,Gymirsgard,Nastrond. There are also smaller kingdoms such asHarokin andJolena.^{[citation needed]}

Asgard is honeycombed with portals to the other parts of theNine Worlds, making the Worlds (with the exception of Earth) sometimes seem like they are on a contiguous plain; indeed, early cartographers of Asgard mapped it this way. The only permanent portal to Earth,Bifrost the Rainbow Bridge, has recently been shattered, severing Asgard's connection with Earth and making passage between the two Realms difficult. There is a special passageway from Asgard to the extradimensional realm ofOlympus, home of theGreek Gods. Since Olympus is not a part of the Asgardian cosmology, this portal is believed to be an artificial rather than a natural phenomenon. Another unique feature of Asgard is theCavern of Time, an apparently natural phenomenon through which passage to other times is possible.^{[citation needed]}

Midgard (Earth) does not appear to be physically affected by the motions of any of the other physical bodies in the Asgardian cosmology, although Earth's axis (the imaginary pole around which it rotates) is in alignment with one of the roots ofYggdrasil, the cosmic ash tree that stands in Asgard.^{[citation needed]}

Somewhere in Asgard's outlying Sea of Space there may be floating portals to Earth's space, because Earth beings have been able to travel from Earthly to Asgardian space. There may also be an edge to Asgard's Sea of Space, perhaps at the perimeter of the "Dome of the Sky" extending from the outer edge of ringed Jotunheim. At the edge of the Sea there would exist "dimensional borderlands", which serve as transitional areas between discrete dimensions.^{[citation needed]}

Asgard and its sister Realms are populated by six distinct humanoid races, described underAsgardians. Besides these, there are several singular creatures that exist in theNine Worlds. The first isJormungand theMidgard Serpent, an immense snake or dragon whose body encircles the inner edge of the mountains of Jotunheim closest to Midgard. The Midgard Serpent lies at the very edge of the dimensional boundary between Jotunheim and Midgard and prevents easy passage between dimensions. The second is the winged dragonNidhogg, who lives in Niffleheim and gnaws at one of the three roots ofYggdrasil, the World Tree. The third is the giant Wolf-GodFenris, who was responsible for the War-GodTyr losing a hand. Fenris is imprisoned in the distant land ofVarinheim. The fourth creature is the primordialIce GiantYmir.^{[citation needed]}

After Thor's return to Earth following the events ofRagnarok, the God of Thunder recreatedthe capital City of Asgard on Earth itself.^[12]

The Asgardians later returned to the Realm briefly during theWar of the Serpent, led by Odin to be prepared to confront theSerpent.^[13] However, after the Serpent was killed, Odin exiled himself in Asgard, leaving the rest of the Asgardians on Earth, where they would rebuild the fallen City of Asgard intoAsgardia.^[14]

By manipulating theAngels fromHeven,Loki made available once more the passage from Midgard to Asgard, and found the self-exiled Odin in the now-decrepit City of Asgard.^[15]

Alternate Versions[]

A.D. 2099 (Earth-928)[]

Some citizens ofEarth-928 worship the Asgardian Gods. For example, thePunisher 2099 is a member of the Church ofThor. Later,Alchemax created a flying city calledValhalla, and also its ownAesir, genetically enhancing humans and brainwashing them into believe they are actually gods. The Aesir will be composed ofThor,Heimdall,Hela,Loki andBaldur (aSif was also planned, but the subject did not make it).

Crossoververse (Earth-7642)[]

OnEarth-7642, Asgard seemingly had a similar history as itsNew Earthcounterpart. Known as GodWorld, this planet was home to theOld Gods and theAsgardian Dragons. The planet and its inhabitants were destroyed during acivil war; in its place two planets,Apokolips andNew Genesis, were created by the releasedenergies.^[2]

Wolverine and the X-Men andAvengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Earth-8096)[]

Asgard appears in the animated seriesAvengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Larval Earth (Earth-8311)[]

In Larval Earth, the Dogs live in Arfgard.^[7]

Home to Cookies & Milk (Earth-9047)[]

The version of Asgard from the Humorverse is alternatively known as Jazzgard^[4] and Razzgard.^[6]

Wagner's Earth (Earth-10190)[]

Asgard appears inEarth-10190.

What If? Thor (Earth-22260)[]

InEarth-22260, Asgard lost its war withJotunheim. TheFrost Giants then proceeded to destroy both the Realm and its inhabitants.^[16]

Marvel vs. Capcom (Earth-30847)[]

Asgard exists on Earth-30847, appearing very similar to its Earth-616 counterpart.

As a result of the Convergence caused byUltron Sigma, Asgard was fused withAbel City, a city from an alternate universe, and was renamed "Xgard". Xgard was used as Ultron Sigma's main base of operations for some time, and many of its citizens were augmented with theSigma Virus, becoming known as "Xgardians". The city was eventually freed after the destruction of Ultron Sigma at the hands of the resistance. However, due to the cracking of theReality Stone byThanos the Mad Titan during a battle with Ultron Sigma, the two universes could not be separated, leaving Asgard fused with Abel City permanently. Two of theInfinity Stones were kept on Asgard afterwards so that their power could not be used again unless absolutely necessary.

Cat Thor (Earth-53147)[]

Loki Triumphant (Earth-94001)[]

In this universe, Loki succeeded in conquering Asgard and imprisoning the Asgardians.^[17]

Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999)[]

Asgard was the home of theAsgardians, and from whereOdin banishedThor toMidgard. It is connected to the other Realms byHeimdall's Observatory.^[18] Asgard was destroyed bySurtur duringRagnarok.^[19]

• City of Asgard - The capital of the Realm, with which it shares its name
  • Hlidskjalf - Odin's throne room
• Bifrost - The Rainbow Bridge that connects Asgard with Midgard
• TheHalls of Fear - The chamber where theLurking Unknown can be summoned
• Nornheim - The Asgardian province where dwell theNorns andKarnilla
• TheSea of Mist - The body of water connecting Asgard with theIsle of Silence
• TheTower of Solitude - The building where theGrand Vizier was confined byOdin
• ThePlains of Ida – The center of Asgard
• TheFields of Frigga
• Vingolf
• Gladsheim
• TheRealm Below - Home of the insanely savageRock Trolls, located beneath Asgard
• Valhalla - Place of the honored dead
• TheChamber of Ludicrously Unnecessary Ostentation (Earth-9047 only)

The Ten Realms[]

• Asgard: Home of theAesir, later forming theAsgardians with theVanir
  • Valhalla: Realm of the honored dead which is distinct from, but closely connected to, Asgard
  • Nornheim: Home of theNorns andKarnilla
  • TheRealm Below: Home of the insanely savageRock Trolls, located beneath Asgard
• Vanaheim: Home of theVanir, the sister race of the Asgardians
• Heven: Home of theAngels. A Paradisal Realm, Heven was cut off from the other nine byOdin during a brutal war against Asgard. It was re-opened byThor andLoki.^[20]
• Jotunheim: Home of the Jötunn (Giants)
• Alfheim (Ljosalfheim): Home of theLight Elves
• Nidavellir ("The Dark Fields"): Home of theDwarves
• Midgard (Earth): Home of theHumans
• Svartalfheim ("The Dark World"): Home of theDark Elves
• Muspelheim (Muspel): Home of theFire Demons, a realm of eternal fire
• Niffleheim ("Mist-Home"): Realm of the dishonored dead, a realm of eternal ice, mist, and cold
  • Hel: A region of Niffleheim where the dead who are neither honored nor dishonored reside

• Fantasy
• Sci-fi
• Marvel