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She comes from the land of the ice and snow, a mix of Asgard and Jotunheim. She rules over the dead, but not all those who die. Who is Hela, though? What’s her deal with Thor and Loki? Let’s find out!

Born from Loki and Agrboda, a giant sorcerer who would be raised in Asgard and announced the goddess of death for those of Jotunheim and the unworthy of Midgard would go to her realm of Hel. Asgardians and worthy Midgardians went to Valhalla, this always irked Hela, craving to house all the dead in existence. She’d try to find ways to get those where were Valhalla-bound to come to Hel instead.

One of her first times meeting Thor, it was when he put his own life on the line to save his friend Sif from having to go to Hel. This touched Hela and she allowed them both to go free. Millenia later, this situation would repeat with Sif and Thor in switched roles. Once again, Hela was amazed at seeing this friendship stand so strongly even in the face of death. Odin would die on several occasions and Hela was always there hoping to bring his powerful soul to her realm. She’d even resurrect him if it meant any other god of death was going to get him instead of her.

Always trying to expand her purview and power, Hela would team up with other lords of hell realms for a merger but things went south when they accidentally released the Demogorge with their attempt. Thankfully Thor and Odin were able to defeat the creature and save Hela and her now former business partners. Starting a new business venture can be really risky. Hela found the souls of heroes to be quite powerful but these were only meant for heavenly realms so she was often at odds with heroes of Earth when it came to their deaths.

Her relationship with her family was always strained at best since she found more interest in their souls than she did their lives. She’d hurt Loki emotionally by saving her own hand by taking the life of her handmaiden Leah, she was a literal handmaiden at that point. Due to her role as the goddess of death, she can’t stay dead for long due to needing a balance in the universe. She’s one of the few people who has been able to go toe-to-toe with Thanos and send him to his lady love, Death.

There you have it! Hela made a big splash in theaters recently in Thor: Ragnarok. She’s taken the role of eldest daughter to Thor instead of being Loki’s daughter but her place as the goddess of death still reigns supreme. Hela has been animated on the small screen and appeared on the big screen, who knows what she’ll do next. See you next time!

Suggested Reading
Journey into Mystery #102
Thor
Loki: Agent of Asgard

Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net