Norse goddesses who give Thor a run for his/her money

The comic book publisher said the female Thor is an effort to bring new readers and to appeal to women and girls, whom Marvel said have long been ignored in comics.

Jason Aaron, the writer of the new Thor series, said: “This is not She-Thor. This is not Lady Thor. This is not Thorita. This is Thor.”

Whoopi Goldberg, speaking on US programme The View: “Thor, the god of thunder, he messed up – he is no longer worthy to hold that damn hammer of his. And for the first time in history – that hammer is being held by a woman.”

Marvel’s Thor, created by Stan Lee, first appeared in 1962 and has been the subject of two Hollywood blockbusters starring Chris Hemsworth. He is one of three main, male, Marvel characters – alongside Iron Man and Captain America.

But the Thor of Norse mythology shared his home of Asgard with plenty of powerful women, who, it could be argued, are better candidates for attracting women to comic books (though we should point out that Thor has been a woman, and alien and a frog in the past).

Channel 4 News has listed our three favourites (plus a potential super-villain) below.

Freyja – the warrior party girl

This is a goddess who takes, and gets, what she wants – be it lovers or the souls of the dead.

Freyja was entitled to half of the souls of warriors killed on battlefields, who she would pick and then take to her land Folkvang. It has also been suggested that she was leader of the Valkyries – though this is disputed.

But don’t let Freyja’s morbid side skew your judgement of her – if Freyja was around today she’d be out clubbing every night and hooking up with whoever she chose. In Norse mythology she was accused of having slept with every god and was said to be stunningly beautiful.

She rode a chariot pulled by two blue cats, or a warrior boar called Hildsvini. She also had a cloak of feathers that turned its wearer into a falcon, and was a sorceress.

Skadi – icy, vengeful hunter

After her father is killed by the gods, the jotunn (giant) Skadi wants revenge and heads to Asgard carrying “all weapons of war”. The gods offer her compensation, part of which is marrying the sea god Njordr.

But Skadi’s thirst for revenge has not been quenched. When the gods turn on Loki – who has said he was “first and foremost” at the killing of Skadi’s father, Skadi holds a venomous snake over Loki’s head. When the venom drips onto Skadi’s face he writhes in such pain that it causes earthquakes.

Skadi lives high in the mountains where she hunts. And like Marvel’s Silver Surfer she has hew own unique way of getting around – think of her as the “Snowy Skier”.

Her roots with the giants means she is linked to darkness, the cold and death – and the etymology of her name is thought to come from the words for “harm” or “shadow”.

Ran – unpredictable lady of the sea

Often called cruel and greedy, Ran is a sea goddess who lives with her husband Aegir under the waves. Whilst Aegir often represents benevolence, Ran is the darker side of the ocean – unpredictable and dangerous.

She carries a net to drag sailors into the ocean. In Norse mythology, those who die at sea do not go to Valhalla, but lived in Ran’s underwater kingdom.

She was also said to be fond of gold, and those who carry gold with them when they are dragged into the deep would be treated well. Aegir and Ran have nine daughters – the Waves.

Angrboda – the super villain

Not a goddess, but a pretty terrifying giant – she is mischief god Loki’s lover, and mother to Jormungandr – a serpent big enough to wrap around the world, Fenrir – a giant wolf, and Hel – a goddess who is half alive and half dead, and who reigns over the realm of the dead.

Her name means “she who brings grief” or “one who offers sorrow” and she is often depicted as tall and muscular with hair the colour of blood.

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