The Death of Balder, is a Norse myth that links with the Creation, Death, and Rebirth of the Universe. The death of Balder is one of the sign of the beginning of the Ragnarok. In the Story Balder the good, son of Odin and Frigg, has a dream of his own death. He is loved so much by everyone that his mother Frigg demands an oath from all thing that they will not harm Balder. All things love Balder so all took the oath willingly. Balder tests this and quickly realizes that he cannot be harmed. Loki, adopted son of Odin and Frigg, does not like how Balder cannot be harmed. Loki then shape-shifts into an old women and begins to inform Frigg that all the gods are throwing all sorts of things at Balder. Frigg informs Loki, the old women, that Balder is perfectly fine. Then, informs him of the oath that all thing took. Loki tricks her and she remembered there was one thing a mistletoe bush she forgot, but she did so on purpose. Loki finds the bush exactly where Frigg had said it was. Loki then took a twig from the bush to the hall where all the gods were gathering to celebrate and begin to throw things at Balder. When he arrived they had already begun to throw objects at Balder. Loki sees Hoder, Balder's blind brother, standing away from everyone. Hoder is upset that he can join the others. Loki offers to help him by guiding him and offered him the twig from the mistletoe bush to throw. Loki guides Hoder hand and tells him to throw the twig, when he does the twig pierces through Balder's heart. Everyone, knew it was Loki's who was at fault as he fled the scene. Odin asks if anyone would ride down to Niflheim and ask Hel if they could have Balder back. Hermod the bold, Balder's other brother, offers to ride nine days and nine nights to Niflheim. When he finds Balder there he stays the night with him and in the morning he went to talk to Hel. Hel agrees but the standard for his released was that Hermod had to prove that all things loved him. He got all things to cry for him, except a giantess. The giantess was Loki. The whole world and Asgard was in grief. Loki hid in a house and when they found him he transformed into a salmon and tried to except. But Thor caught him with his own net. Loki was imprisoned, chain by his son's intestines to three large stones with a snake hanging above his face dripping venom onto his face. But his wife Sigyn held a bowl over his head to prevent the venom from landing on his face. An earth quack occured a sign of the Ragnarok, and freed Loki from his bonds. The Ragnarok has begun.
There is a more modern day version of this myth, which is found in the Marvel comic books. Balder the Brave makes an appearance in quite a few Marvel comics, such as:
Balder's story is very similar until the point after his death. In the comic books after Balder's death, Odin bring life back into Balder. After which Odin postpones the Ragnarok. But after learning about his wife's death. The funny part about the comic books is Balder renounces his warrior lifestyle, gains a massive amount of weight, and depressed for quite some time. He then rides out to the desert to die, but runs into three norms that give him new faith. After he losses the weight that he gained. He helped his father rule Asgard. The way he dies in the comics is when the Ragnarok finally ocures, by an army that had mistletoe arrows. Also to understand why he was able to die is because mistletoe was his only weakness.
- 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)
Balder's story is very similar until the point after his death. In the comic books after Balder's death, Odin bring life back into Balder. After which Odin postpones the Ragnarok. But after learning about his wife's death. The funny part about the comic books is Balder renounces his warrior lifestyle, gains a massive amount of weight, and depressed for quite some time. He then rides out to the desert to die, but runs into three norms that give him new faith. After he losses the weight that he gained. He helped his father rule Asgard. The way he dies in the comics is when the Ragnarok finally ocures, by an army that had mistletoe arrows. Also to understand why he was able to die is because mistletoe was his only weakness.
http://marvel.wikia.com/Balder_Odinson_(Earth-616)
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