Odin Borson, the All-Father is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. First mentioned in Journey into Mystery #85 (Oct. 1962), the character first appears in Journey into Mystery #86 (Nov. 1962), and was adapted from the Odin of Norse mythology by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The character is depicted as the father of Thor and, traditionally, as the king of Asgard.
Sir Anthony Hopkins portrayed the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), and Thor: Ragnarok (2017).
Publication history
Although Odin was first mentioned in Journey into Mystery #85 (Oct. 1962), his first actual appearance was in Journey into Mystery #86 (November 1962). He was created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Fictional character biography Odin is the son of Bor (father, one of the first Asgardians) and Bestla (mother, a frost giantess), and the full brother of Vili and Ve. With the aid of his brothers, a young Odin defeats the fire demon Surtur;Journey Into Mystery #99 (December 1963) later, Odin reveals that his brothers were killed by Surtur, but gave their power to Odin. Later Surtur was imprisoned inside the Earth.Thor #349 (November 1984) Odin thereafter became ruler of Asgard, where he received the epithet of All-Father, and eventually fell in love with the elder goddess, Gaea, by whom he is the father of Thor. After Thor's birth, Odin returns to Asgard, where his wife, Frigga, acts as Thor's mother. Odin is also the adoptive father of Loki, a child of Giant ancestry whose father Laufey is killed by Odin in battle:Journey into Mystery #112 (January 1965) adopted in a deal with Bor's spirit, unaware of Bor's intention that the child would bring about Odin's downfall.Thor vol. 3 #7–8 (May–June 2008) Despite Odin's intentions, Thor and Loki become bitter enemies. Odin also was the father of Balder from Frigga.Thor vol. 3 #9 (July 2008)
Thor's preoccupation with Midgard (Earth) is a constant annoyance to Odin who, as punishment, has deprived Thor of his powers on at least three occasions. Each time, Thor's willingness to atone for his transgressions, his continued noble intentions, and his bravery, eventually convince Odin to restore his original powers and identity.Journey Into Mystery #101–102 (February – March 1964)Thor #126–127 (March–April 1966)Thor #145–151 (October 1967–April 1968)
As ruler and protector of the Asgardian people, Odin has been involved in a number of crises that have threatened Asgard and, on occasion, Earth. Notable examples included stopping Loki, the Storm Giant Skagg, and Surtur (with the aid of Thor and Balder);Journey Into Mystery #104 (May 1964) defeating Absorbing Man after he absorbs almost all of Asgard;Journey Into Mystery #122–123 (November–December 1965) banishing the monster Mangog;Thor #157 (October 1968) sacrificing his right eye to Mimir for the wisdom to stop Ragnarök (Twilight of the Gods);Thor #274 (August 1978) attempting to stop the Celestials in the armor of the Destroyer;Thor #300–301 (October – November 1980) engaging inter-dimensional tyrant Dormammu in a "cosmic chess" match as champions of Master Order and Lord Chaos respectively,Thor Annual #9 (November 1981) and preventing Surtur from lighting the Sword of Doom, Twilight.Thor #353 (March 1985)
Odin has also died three times in defense of Asgard. On the first occasion, Odin is killed by Mangog, and later revived by Hela.Thor #198–201 (April–July 1972) On the second occasion, the Celestials melt the Destroyer, and thus stifle all Asgardians except Thor, who collects a portion of energy from each pantheon and uses it to revive Odin, who in turn resurrects the Asgardians.
The final occasion involves a massive battle against Surtur on Earth, with Odin apparently dying once and for all, when the Odin Force—the source of Odin's power—migrates to his son, Thor.Thor vol. 2 #40 (October 2001) As Thor eventually destroys the Loom of Fates and stops Asgard from perpetuating Ragnarok—which ends the entire Norse pantheon and Asgard itself—Thor believes Odin may be dead permanently. The Odin Force appears to him in humanoid form and says that this was Odin's plan all along.Thor vol. 2 #85 (December 2004)
When Thor returns from hibernation in the void,Thor vol. 3 #1 (Sept. 2007) he begins to find the lost Asgardians,Thor vol. 3 #3-5 (November 2007–January 2008) but does not search for his father. During his Odinsleep, Thor finds Odin in a limbo wherein every day he does battle with Surtur. Odin declines Thor's offer of taking his place—noting that just Thor's offer has broken Bor's curse that he would be abandoned as Bor was—and states that Thor must lead the Asgardians, while Odin continues in a state approximating the Asgardian equivalent of heaven, to prevent Surtur from reentering the world. Loki assuages Doctor Doom's fears about Odin's potential wrath if the Asgardians move to Latveria, assuring him that "Old One-Eye is yesterday's god" and "a relic".Dark Reign: The Cabal #1 (June 2009) Later, Odin's absence from the Nine Worlds leads his revived father Bor to wage battle against Thor after Loki and Hela revive him. When Bor is killed, Loki and Balder have Thor exiled for regicide.Thor #600 (April 2009)
During the "Siege" storyline, Norman Osborn sends the Thunderbolts to steal Odin's spear Gungnir from the Asgardian weaponry.Thunderbolts #141 (April 2010) Loki calls on Odin to return the Norn Stones to him so he can empower the heroes to defeat the Void.Siege #4 (June 2010)
Odin returns from the dead after Asgard is invaded by the World-Eaters.Thor #618 (February 2011)
During the "Fear Itself" storyline, Odin senses the return of his elder brother, the fear god Cul. After a brief monologue with Uatu the Watcher, Odin commands his people to return to the Asgardian plane against the protests of Thor, and Asgard rebuilds into a war engine with which he intends to raze Earth completely, to destroy the Serpent. Thor convinces Odin to send him back to Earth instead,Fear Itself #3 and Iron Man travels to Asgard-space for an audience with Odin,Fear Itself #4 wherein Iron Man asks Odin if he can use one of Asgard's workshops to make weapons,Fear Itself #5 and Odin allows him to use the Workshops of Svartalfheim, to stop the Serpent before his shadow falls on the World Tree.Invincible Iron Man #506 Captain America and the Avengers bring an unconscious Thor to Broxton so that Odin can heal Thor. As he tends to his son, Odin confesses that he has always tried to prevent Thor's prophesied death by the Serpent, not to prevent Ragnarok, but because he loves his son and does not want to see him perish. Odin prepares Thor by giving him the armor and helmet that he himself wore the last time he cast out the Serpent and gives Thor the Odinsword, named Ragnarok (which was forged to end all things).Fear Itself #6 While Thor kills the Serpent at the cost of his own life, Odin frees those affected by the Hammers of the Worthy, and returns to Asgard with the corpse of the Serpent sealing off Asgard from Hermod and a number of other Asgardians left on Earth.Fear Itself #7
In the "Original Sin" storyline, it is revealed to Thor that Angela is the daughter of Odin and Frigga; "killed" as an infant during Asgard's war with the Angels of the Tenth Realm, whereupon Odin severed the tenth realm from the other nine as "punishment".Original Sin #5.1 Odin was later freed from his self-exile by Loki as he is set to return to Asgard.Original Sin #5.4 The fight between Thor and Angela is interrupted when Odin recognizes Angela as his daughter and reveals Angela's true history, wherein an Angel raised her as one of the Angels under the name of Angela. Due to her services for the Angels, the Queen pardoned Angela her life, but exiled her from Heaven for her lineage. After leaving Heaven, Odin tells Thor, Loki, and Angela that he still loves his children.Original Sin #5.5
Angered that someone else is wielding Mjolnir, Odin sends the Destroyer after the new female Thor, appointing Cul Borson as his new 'Minister of Justice' to enforce his new decrees and operate the Destroyer, but Odinson and Freyja assemble an army of female superheroes to aid her,Thor vol. 4 #7 forcing Odin to stand down.Thor vol. 4 #8
In Secret Wars, Odin dreams of the end of all existence in an event greater than Ragnarok. He additionally battles King Loki, an evil alternate timeline version of Loki who threatens to destroy Asgard.Loki: Agent of Asgard #14
In All-New, All-Different Marvel, Odin has become a tyrant ruling Asgard with an iron fist following Thor's disappearance. He makes use of the Thunder Guard and the Destroyer armor to protect his kingdom, imprisoning Frigga and anyone who gets in his way. His reason for imprisoning Frigga is because she assisted the female Thor against the Destroyer.The Mighty Thor vol. 2 #1-2
In Generations, Odin reminisces with the Phoenix Force about their previous love affair. He is revealed to have been part of a past incarnation of the Avengers in 1,000,000 BC alongside Agamotto, Black Panther, Ghost Rider, Iron Fist, Phoenix, and Star Brand.Marvel Legacy #1
During the "Death of Thor" arc, Odin faces the return of Mangog and is unable to defeat it.Thor #703 Odin and the Asgardians are saved by the female Thor, who kills Mangog at the cost of Mjolnir. Without Mjolnir, Thor returns to her mortal form of Jane Foster and dies from her cancer.Thor #705 Odin and Thor channel the God Tempest to resurrect Foster.Thor #706
During the "War of the Realms" storyline, Odin ponders how he can defeat Malekith the Accursed with the Bifröst destroyed and Asgard in shambles. Odin survives an attempt on his life by Malekith's assassins, who have created a version of the Bifröst that allows them to teleport to any of the nine realms.The War of the Realms #1 - #2 (June 2019) Following Malekith's death, Odin appoints Thor as his successor.The War of the Realms #6 (August 2019)
In Thor (vol. 6), Odin sacrifices himself to give Thor his power and help him defeat Mangog.Thor (vol.) 6 #22
In The Mortal Thor series, Odin returns from the dead and confronted a disguised Loki about what happened to Thor.Mortal Thor #3 Odin learns that Donald Blake has become a separate entity from Thor and warns Loki that he will be blamed for Blake's actions. The next day, Odin learns about the activities of Sigurd Jarlson, the mortal form of Thor, and foresees three judgments for him.Mortal Thor #5-6 After Jarlson had passed the tests involving Thor's enemies and Thor's doom, Odin sends Jarlson on a journey into mystery to partake in a test that involves calling back Thor.Mortal Thor #12-14
Powers and abilities