Laufey (comics)
| Laufey | |
|---|---|
 Laufey Thor vol. 3, #12 (Jan. 2009) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Journey into Mystery #112 (Jan. 1965) |
| Created by |
Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Frost Giants |
| Place of origin | Jotunheim |
Laufey is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe, sharing a name with the frost giantess from Norse mythology. Laufey was King of the Frost Giants and father of Loki, and an enemy of the Asgardian king Odin, father of Thor.
Publication history
Laufey was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Journey into Mystery #112 (Jan. 1965).
Contrary to Norse mythology, which describes Laufey as the mother of Loki, in the Marvel universe Laufey is Loki's father.
Fictional character biography
In the early days of the universe, Odin, the King of Asgard, marched his forces into Jotunheim to battle Laufey and the Frost Giants.[1] At the time, Odin was wielding the mystical hammer Mjolnir.[2] Odin faced down Laufey and destroyed his war club, prompting Laufey to brandish a sword. Laufey tried to use his knowledge of land, such as trying to stop Odin with a concealed fire pit. A sprawling battle between the two forces ensued.[1] The battle ended with Odin using Mjolnir to crush Laufey's skull.[2] Odin discovered a baby that was Laufey's son Loki amongst the wreckage of the castle and made the decision to raise him as his own. Laufey had kept Loki hidden as he was ashamed that Loki had been born a runt.[1]
It was later retconned that Loki had been a child, rather than a baby, when Laufey was killed. The day prior to the battle, Loki had attempted to inform him of an opportunity to stealthily kill Odin prior to the battle. Laufey struck Loki for calling him a coward.[3] The next day, after the fateful battle and Odin's claiming of Loki as a son, Laufey was left wounded, but alive. A version of Loki from the future, who had traveled back in time to alter events, proceeded to decapitate him, stating that Laufey would never strike him again. He also made Odin adopt him.[3]
Genealogy
Laufey's family tree as it appears in Thor #500 (July 1996):
| Buri | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mimir | Bor | Bestla | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jord | Grid | Odin | Frigga | Vili | Ve | Laufey | Farbauti | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thor | Vidar | Tyr | Hermod | Balder | Loki (adopted by Odin & Frigga) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Odin has another brother, Cul, introduced in the 2011 storyline, Fear Itself, who in the comics was erased from all known history.[4][5]
Powers and abilities
Like all Frost Giants, Laufey is immortal and possesses superhuman strength and resistance to physical injury and Earthly illness, as well as a weakness to heat. As a Frost Giant, Laufey is unharmed by cold temperatures, making him immune to hypothermia and frostbite.
Laufey is cryokinetic and has been seen wielding many weapons, including a giant war club,[1] a sword,[1] and a large axe.[3]
In other media
Television
- Laufey appears in the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. episode "Hulks on Ice", voiced by Enn Reitel. He leads the Frost Giants in a plot to take over the Nine Worlds. Upon confronting Laufey, the Hulks and Thor end up subdued by the cold winds and captured. Laufey arrives revealing his plot and even commented that he doesn't know what Thor sees in the humans. She-Hulk breaks free from the ice and frees Thor and the Hulks as Laufey gets away. After defeating the three-headed Ice Serpent, the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. and Thor arrive at Laufey's lair as Laufey unleashes his ice creatures on them. Following the plug-up of the ice, Laufey states that they have helped to free Ymir who will help bring an endless winter to Earth. Thor engages Laufey in battle while the others work to fight Ymir's weak spot. Laufey states that as Earth grows cold, his power increases. After Red Hulk's heat had helped to defeat Ymir, Laufey retreats back to Jotunheim. In the episode "Into the Negative Zone," it is revealed that Leader tipped off Laufey on where he could find Ymir.
Film
- Laufey appears in the Marvel Studios film Thor played by Colm Feore.[6] As in the comics, he is Loki's father although he is unaware of the connection. Loki gives him access to Asgard, but later betrays and kills him before he can kill Odin in the Odinsleep.
Video games
- Laufey appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes voiced by John DiMaggio.
Toys
- A figure of Laufey was released in the Marvel Minimates line, in the single-pack army builder wave based on the film Thor.
- A figure of Laufey will be released in Hasbro's 3.75" Thor: The Mighty Avenger movie tie-in line.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Journey into Mystery #112 (Jan. 1965)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Thor vol. 2, #80 (Aug. 2004)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thor vol. 3, #12 (Jan. 2009)
- ↑ Fraction, Matt (w), Immonen, Stuart (p), von Grawbadger, Wade (i). "Worlds on Fire" Fear Itself 4 (September 2011), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Fraction, Matt (w), Ferry, Pasqual (a). "Fear Itself: In the Beginning" Thor 7 (December 2011), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Weintraub, Steve (2010-12-10). "Colm Feore On Set Interview THOR; The King of the Frost Giants Reveals All!". Collider. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
External links
- Laufey at Marvel Wiki
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