Home > Odin (comics)
__NOTOC__In Norse mythology, Odin is the ruler of the gods of Asgard. Marvel Comics has taken some liberties with Odin that aren't found within the ream of Norse mythology itself. Marvel's version of Odin, depicted most frequently in the pages of Thor, depicts him as an extradimensional being worshiped on Earth, alongside the other "gods" of Asgard, many centuries ago. In the Marvel Universe, much of the public at large is aware of the Asgardians' existence, thanks to Thor's membership in The Avengers, but do not believe that they are the actual gods who were worshipped by the Scandanavian people.
Odin is the father of Thor with Jord (actually Gaea ), and the adoptive father of Loki . He is sometimes erroneously said to be Loki's biological father, although various comics reiterate the mytholgical position that Loki is not related to Odin or Thor by blood. Odin is ruler of the Asgardians, although he has been believed dead twice, both times in combat with Surtur ; during the first instance Heimdall and later Balder ruler Asgard, and the latter time Thor inherited Odin's full power and ruled over Asgard and, later, Earth, although this later part of Thor's lordship has been erased due to time travel. Odin is currently thought to be deceased.
Odin stands over six feet in height; he has long white hair, which was believed to be blonde in his youth, a white beard that extends to roughly the center of his chest, and blue eyes. Aside from his hair and beard color, Odin doesn't appear to be elderly at all since he is often drawn having a very imposing and muscular build. Odin has one eye, having trading it for wisdom like his mythological inspiration; he typically wears an embroidered or jeweled eyepatch.
Odin is the most powerful of the Asgardians and is on par with the other leaders of the pantheons of gods, such as Zeus; he once fought Thanos to a standstill. Like most other Asgardians, Odin is long-lived nearly to the point of immortality, possesses fantastic superhuman strength and durability, is immune to normal diseases, and has honed his skills in armed and unarmed combat for centuries. Odin possesses a unique magical ability called the Odinpower, which gives Odin a number of phenomenal powers, notable the ability to generate and manipulate energy, to bestow additional power to other persons or objects, to animate inanimate matter, and to observe and travel to distant locations, including those in nearby dimensions, via portals. However, Odin is also vulernable to lapses of somnolence due to the use of this power, from which he can recover only through the Odinsleep, a form of mystical hibernationHibernation is a state of regulated hypothermia, lasting several days or weeks that allows animals to conserve energy during the winter. During hibernation animals slow their metabolism to very low levels, with body temperature and breathing rates lowered during which he is particularly vulnerable. Odin has also created many powerful Asgardian enchanted artifacts, such as the animated suit of armor called the Destroyer .
Marvel Comics Asgardians
