Archive:Volstagg: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox comics character| <!--Part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->

image=[[Image:warriors three.jpg|250px]]

|caption=Volstagg (center) of the [[Warriors Three]].<br>Art by [[Olivier Coipel]].

|creators= [[Stan Lee]]<br>[[Jack Kirby]]

|}}

'''Volstagg''' is a fictional character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. He is a charter member of the [[Warriors Three]], a trio of [[Asgard (comics)|Asgardian]] adventurers and supporting cast of [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]. He is known for having multiple children. These include, but are not limited to, Hilde,<ref>''Thor'' #350 (December 1984)</ref> Rolfe, and the adopted Midgardians Kevin and Mick.<ref>''Thor'' #369 (July 1986)</ref>

[[Ray Stevenson (actor)|Ray Stevenson]] portrayed the character in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] films ''[[Thor (movie)|Thor]]'' (2011), ''[[Thor: The Dark World]]'' (2013), and ''[[Thor: Ragnarok]]'' (2017).

He is not taken from Norse (or any other) mythology but is an original creation, modeled on [[Shakespeare]]'s [[Falstaff]] in character and name.<ref name="Falstaff">Cooke, Jon B. (Editor); [[Thomas, Roy]] (Interviewer). [http://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/02stanroy.html "Stan the Man & Roy the Boy: A Conversation Between Stan Lee and Roy Thomas "], TwoMorrows. reprinted from ''Comic Book Artist'' #2, accessed May 8, 2011.</ref>

Volstagg's [[origin story]] beyond being a member of the Asgardian race, a warrior and adventurer, and a friend of [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] has not been revealed. Volstagg is fairly advanced in age for an Asgardian, and it has been suggested that he was a highly respected and feared warrior in his prime.

 

In a sense, Volstagg's entire career has been one long origin story. The character was first introduced in a "Tales of Asgard" filler in ''Journey Into Mystery'' #119 (August 1965), the magazine carrying Thor's Asgardian adventures.<ref>''Journey Into Mystery'' #119 (August 1965)</ref> As originally envisioned by [[Jack Kirby]], Volstagg was a huge, bumbling oaf much given to boasting and bragging: the last into battle and the first to claim victory (usually undeserved). Referring to himself as "The Lion of Asgard", he usually caused more problems than he solved and seemed totally unaware of the chaos that almost always followed in his wake. A flashback revealed in ''Captain Marvel'' #42 tells how a drunken Volstagg incurred the wrath of Odin by spilling the secrets of the first Frost Giants to a younger Thor.<ref>''Captain Marvel'' #42 (May 2007)</ref> Strangely enough, he was considered a trusted and worthy comrade by his closest friends and allies, [[Fandral|Fandral the Dashing]], [[Hogun|Hogun the Grim]], and Thor.

 

Another flashback showed Volstagg as a thin but muscular man, a great confidante of Thor himself. Hogun and Fandrall, practically strangers to him at the time, join with a quest on a dare to simply "pet" the Fenris wolf. The creature deals them a humiliating defeat. [[Advanced Idea Mechanics]], having their own personal interest in Fenris, theorize it is this defeat that led to Volstagg's unhealthy eating habits.<ref>''Warriors Three'' #1-4 (2010-2011)</ref>

 

In his first comic book appearance, Volstagg joined with the Warriors Three in Thor's quest for the power that had cracked the Odinsword of Asgard. Though Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun had been recruited by Loki, they proved loyal to Thor when the time came. Volstagg's first battle involved him mainly falling onto his enemies.<ref name="jim119">''Journey Into Mystery'' #119 (Aug. 1965)</ref> Volstagg then helped repel the attack of the Flying Trolls of Thryheim, although he cowered for much of the fight.<ref name="jim124125">''Journey Into Mystery'' #124-125 (Jan.-Feb. 1966)</ref> Volstagg helped defeat the forces of Harokin. Though this man was an avowed enemy of Asgard, he fought so well and nobly that Hela herself came to fetch him when a lifetime of wounds caught up with the warlord. Volstagg and the other Asgardians assisted as much as they could in Harokin's ride to Valhalla, for they all honored a warrior, even one in opposition.<ref name="thor129131">''Thor'' #129-131 (June-Aug. 1966)</ref> Later, Odin send the Warriors Three and Thor to a long demolished land. Volstagg was lured into a trap by the dragon [[Fafnir (Marvel Comics)|Fafnir]] who used an illusion. In another incident the four went to free Hogun's land from the murderous tyrant called [[Mogul of the Mystic Mountain]]; Volstagg's bumbling caused him to lose his companions and gain a new one. However, as soon as he gained a weapon that was capable of opposing Mogul, he rushed back to his friends to assist in the battle.<ref name="thor137145">''Thor'' #137-145 (Feb. 1967-Oct. 1967)</ref>

As the [[Warriors Three]] made increasingly frequent appearances in ''The Mighty Thor'' and other Marvel titles, a slightly more heroic side to his personality began to emerge. In ''Tales To Astonish'' #101, Volstagg squared-off with [[Hulk|The Incredible Hulk]] for two panels (before being dumped contemptuously in a roadside ditch by the green-skinned behemoth);<ref name="tta101">''Tales to Astonish'' #101 (Mar. 1968)</ref> Volstagg helped defend [[Asgard (comics)|Asgard]] against the demonic [[Mangog]] (a creature possessed of the power of a "billion billion" beings)<ref name="thor155157">''Thor'' #155-157 (Aug.-Oct. 1968)</ref> and in ''Thor'' #164, the Lion of Asgard rushed through a tunnel to battle Mangog but was prevented when the passage proved too narrow to accommodate his considerable girth.<ref name="thor164">''Thor'' #164 (May 1969)</ref> During a trip to Hades to rescue his comrade-in-arms Thor, Volstagg offered to battle [[Mephisto (comics)|Mephisto]] in return for his friend's soul (despite being aware that the God of Thunder had already bested the Lord of Hell in fair combat some time previously). Ultimately, he helped Thor escape Mephisto.<ref name="thor180181">''Thor'' #180-181 (Sept.-Oct. 1970)</ref>

 

A real change to Volstagg's character came in the early seventies, when Thor and the Warriors Three were battling the interstellar parasite Ego-Prime in the streets of New York City: hiding behind a festering heap of garbage, Volstagg saw a group of extraterrestrial monstrosities preparing to devour a little girl, a sight which drove him to a remarkable (for him) display of courage and resolution. Despite his obvious terror, Volstagg struck the creatures down with his bare hands and carried the child to safety (it would be revealed much later that Volstagg was himself a family man and would never stand to see an innocent child harmed in any way).<ref name="thor202205">''Thor'' #202-205 (Aug.-Nov. 1972)</ref>

This updated persona becomes a crucial plot device in several of Simonson's classic story arcs: when [[Balder (comics)|Balder the Brave]] returns broken and hopeless from the land of the dead, Volstagg takes the fallen warrior under his wing, introducing him to the twin joys of gluttony and drunkenness.<ref>''Thor'' #338 (December 1983)</ref>

 

When Surtur the fire demon rouses his forces to attack Earth, the Warriors Three are tasked by Odin to gather all the soldiers at his command. It is noted that such a task makes even Volstagg quiet. Later, during the battle proper in Manhattan, his boasting returns but his skill for battle is ever-present.<ref name="avengers249">''The Avengers'' #249 (Nov. 1984)</ref><ref name="thor350352">''Thor'' #350-352 (Dec. 1984-Feb. 1985)</ref> The temptations of Earth do compel him to stay behind but Hogun stops this; he shoots Volstagg in the backside with approximately a dozen Migdardian tranquilizer darts. This is enough to stun and confuse the warrior.<ref>"Power Pack" #15 (October 1985)</ref> In a later plotline, when Thor's actions indirectly orphan two humans (Kevin and Mick), he takes them to Asgard and places them under Volstagg's care - a situation he gladly accepts.<ref>''Thor'' #371-372</ref>

Volstagg and his family have also encountered the [[New Mutants]]. During the group's first trip to Asgard, Volstagg makes friends with Roberto DaCosta, aka [[Sunspot (comics)|Sunspot]], challenging him to feats of strength, including arm-wrestling and the lifting of Volstagg himself.<ref name=autogenerated1>''The New Mutants Special Edition'' #1 (Dec. 1985)</ref>

In the group's second visit, Volstagg's children encounter [[Tabitha Smith|Boom Boom]], [[Hrimhari]] and [[Warlock (New Mutants)|Warlock]], who were on the run from Hela's forces. Hela herself is currently following through with a plan to kill Odin and conquer Asgard. The children switch places with the group so as to emphasize to their elders, when they return, of the seriousness of the situation. They tell the heroes of [[Tiwaz]], a powerful sorcerer who might help them in the fight. Hrimhari, wolf-prince of a far-away tribe of wolf-people, tells the children that tales of Volstagg's children were told to his people and it was an honor to be in their debt. Boom Boom, Warlock and Hrimhari rescue the Warriors Three from being slain by Queen Ula and her hive. The sheer girth of Volstagg is enough to delay the plans but Tiwaz provides a magical spell to temporarily shrink the enormous warrior. The Warriors Three, various Asgardians and even Queen Ula's troops join with the New Mutants; their efforts stop Hela from killing Odin.<ref name="nm8387">''The New Mutants'' #83-87 (Dec. 1989-Mar. 1990)</ref>

 

Soon after this point, when Odin is awake and aware, his mind becomes overtaken by the influence of Loki. Persecuted, the Warriors Three are forced to go on the run, gaining a new ally in the form of a young palace guardsman named Arko.<ref>''Thor'' #453-455 (Nov.-Dec. 1992)</ref> After this is cleared up, the trio and Thor are involved in the dishonorable death of a giant's son. To redeem themselves, they set out on an adventure involving multiple heroic efforts. Volstagg suffers greatly over the course of this quest.<ref>"Thor: Blood Oath" #1-6 (Nov. 2005-Feb. 2006)</ref>

 

 

 

 

Eventually, Loki brings about Ragnarok. The initial attack destroys the realm of the dwarves. The Warriors Three escape to Alfheim, home of the light elves. They bring Sif, who had lost an arm. Naglfar, a flying ship made from the fingernails of the dead, follows and rains arrows. Fandral and Hogun are lost. Sif, confused and disoriented, escapes. Volstagg makes a home in a statue of [[Frigga (Marvel Comics)|Frigg]]. He buries all he can and burns the bodies of the rest. His trials make him lose considerable weight.

 

He re-unites with Thor, who talks him out of his despair and gives him the uru-spawned hammer of [[Geirrodur]], king of the trolls.<ref>''Thor'' vol. 2 #82 (2004)</ref> Thor had met the troll in battle and slain him, taking his weapon. Loki had, weeks ago, used the mold that made Thor's hammer and created many more similar weapons. Volstagg later is granted a second of these weapons, one used by [[Ulik]], another vanquished enemy.

 

 

Volstagg is later responsible for setting events in motion that would allow the Siege of Asgard to occur, after he heads to Chicago seeking to have adventures like those of Thor. He stops a robbery but causes a lot of damage. He is attacked by the [[U-Foes]] (who were operating under orders of [[Norman Osborn]] and Loki). The incident destroys [[Soldier Field]] in Chicago, killing many. However, Volstagg was framed, making it seem as if his incompetence killed innocents.<ref name="siege1">''Siege #1'' (Mar. 2010)</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Dave |last=Richards |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24329 |title=STORMING HEAVEN: "Siege" #1 |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] News |date=January 7, 2010 |access-date=September 26, 2010 }}</ref>

 

 

 

 

When Odin plans to destroy the Earth to save the rest of the known Worlds from the Fear Serpent, Volstagg is forced to be one of men keeping Thor under control.<ref>''Fear Itself'' #2 (2011)</ref> Odin changes his plans, leading an army to Midgard to slay the Serpent. The Warriors Three, at the forefront, are just in time to see the Serpent and Thor slay each other in battle.<ref>''Fear Itself'' #7 (Dec. 2011)</ref>

In ''[[Journey Into Mystery]]'', Volstagg protects the de-aged Loki despite his misgivings about his former foe. He often regrets his actions but reminds himself he took an oath.<ref>''Journey Into Mystery'' #622-625 (2011)</ref> His family is reestablished as existing during ''[[Fear Itself (comics)|Fear Itself]]''.<ref>''The Mighty Thor'' #8 (Jan 1. 2012)</ref> Volstagg takes up liaison duties between Broxton, Oklahoma and his reformed homeland, now called Asgardia and ruled by the All-Mother.<ref>''The Mighty Thor'' #10 (Jan. 25 2012)</ref> Volstagg's home life, and his daughter Hilde, are featured in a debacle that lets Fenris loose during the middle of the night. To avoid a beating, Fenris promises to go under his magical leash Gliepnir if Hilde brings him a Golden Apple of Idunn.<ref>''Journey Into Mystery'' #651 (2013)</ref>

 

 

 

 

 

One of Volstagg's many duties in the new political landscape of Asgard is supervising Jane Foster, as she needs a companion on her chemotherapy visits.<ref>''The Mighty Thor'' #1 (2016)</ref>

As tensions among the Nine Realms escalate due to the return of Cul and the shifting alliances of the Elves, Volstagg, stricken with grief and rage after he witnessed the deaths of several children in a confrontation with Surtur's fire-demons, travels to the remains of ancient Asgard where he claims the discarded hammer of the deceased [[Ultimate Thor]]. This transforms him into the "War Thor."<ref>''The Mighty Thor'' #20 (2016)</ref> Driven by the power of this hammer, Volstagg mounted an assault on Muspelheim, but when he began to threaten children, Jane Foster confronted her old friend to convince him to stand down, although it took Odinson to make Volstagg realize that his actions were only provoking further conflict rather than ending it.<ref>''The Mighty Thor'' #23 (2017)</ref>

In the alternate ''[[Earth X]]'' reality, the [[Asgard (comics)|Asgardian]]s were actually aliens that were manipulated by the [[Celestial (comics)|Celestial]]s into believing they were the Gods of Norse myth. When the lie was revealed, "Volstagg" and the other Asgardians briefly resumed their alien form, but later returned to their Asgardian forms.<ref name="ex12">''[[Earth X]]'' #12 (Apr. 2000)</ref> Volstagg appeared again to deny Doctor Strange's army passage to Lord Odin's castle. This attempt failed and all of the Warriors Three die. However this was used as a larger plan for Thor to eliminate the realm of Hel itself.<ref>''Paradise X: Xen'' (July 2002)</ref>

The Warriors Three appear briefly in the ''[[Marvel Adventures]]'' universe in a supporting capacity.<ref name="mashv25">''[[Marvel Adventures]]: Super Heroes'' vol. 2 #5 (Nov. 2010)</ref> They were the first Asgardians to assist the Avengers in driving Malekith and his forces out of Asgard.<ref>''Marvel Adventures: The Avengers'' #15 (October, 2007)</ref>

In the ''[[Marvel Zombies (series)|Marvel Zombies]]'' alternate universe, many heroes attend [[Nick Fury]]'s briefing on how to deal with the zombie [[Epidemic|plague]], including Volstagg.<ref name="mzdd1">''[[Marvel Zombies: Dead Days]]'' #1 (July 2007)</ref>

An older version of Volstagg has appeared in the alternate future series called ''[[Last Planet Standing]]''.

Volstagg was one of many who fought the [[Beyonder]] and died in the ''[[Mutant X (comics)|Mutant X]]'' universe.<ref name="mxa2001">''[[Mutant X (comics)|Mutant X]] Annual'' #2001 (May 2001)</ref>

A young [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] meets the Warriors Three in ''Thor: The Mighty Avenger''. The trio had arrived on Midgard to check in on Thor's mission, only to find out the warrior had no idea what that mission was. Unwilling to tell Thor what it was, the group go out drinking in Europe. There they meet, fight and then befriend [[Captain Britain]].<ref name="ttma4">''Thor: The Mighty Avenger'' #4 (Nov. 2010)</ref>

Volstagg the Voluminous briefly appears in ''[[Ultimates]] 2'' #1, meeting with [[Ultimate Thor|Thor]] at the Terrace in the Sky restaurant in Morningside Heights. He is there to warn Thor of [[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]]'s plot against him. None of the other patrons can see Volstagg, and it was unclear at the time whether this is due to Loki's interference or whether Volstagg is merely a [[delusion]] of Thor. During the discussion, Volstagg states that Loki is rewriting reality even as they speak; Loki then shows up in one panel as one of the restaurant patrons. At the end of ''Ultimates 2'', Thor was proven to be a god and it is inferred that Loki was indeed interfering.<ref>''Ultimates 2'' #1-13</ref> Volstagg along with the Warrior's Three, also appear in ''[[Ultimate Comics: Thor]]''. At first, they were sparring partners to Loki, Thor and Balder. In this continuity Volstagg holds a position of authority concerning the wall surrounding Asgard itself.  Later, the trio seemingly sacrificed themselves in a delaying attack against Frost Giants and mystically charged Nazis.<ref>''Ultimate Comics: Thor'' #1-4 (2010)</ref> Volstagg, and most Asgardians are slain off-panel by the 'Children', a futuristic society led by a maddened [[Mister Fantastic|Reed Richards]].<ref>''Ultimate Comics'' #2 (November 2011)</ref>

* Volstagg made a cameo appearance on the ''[[Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981 TV series)|Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends]]'' episode "The Vengeance of Loki!".

* Volstagg (alongside the other Warriors Three members) appears in ''[[The Super Hero Squad Show]]'', voiced by [[Ted Biaselli]]. In the episode "Oh Brother", he and the other Warriors Three members are shown fighting an army of Frost Giants. In the episodes "Mental Organism Designed Only for Kissing" and "Invader from the Dark Dimension", Volstagg alongside Fandral and Hogun are featured in a flashback being in a band with Thor.

* Volstagg appears in ''[[The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes]]'' voiced by [[Fred Tatasciore]].

* Volstagg appears in the ''[[Avengers Assemble (TV series)|Avengers Assemble]]'' episode "Planet Doom", voiced again by [[Fred Tatasciore]].{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} He is seen feasting when Thor arrives in Asgard where Thor was late for Thor's Day.

* Volstagg appears in the ''[[Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.]]'' episode "For Asgard", voiced again by Fred Tatasciore. He assists his fellow Warriors Three members, Thor, Heimdall, and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. into fighting Malekith the Accursed and his Dark Elves.

* Volstagg appears in the ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (TV series)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]'' episode "Asgard War Part One: Lightning Strikes." He was present on Asgard when Loki addresses him and the other Asgardians at the time when Thor was leading the other Asgardians in the war against Spartax.

* Volstagg makes an appearance in the animated direct-to-video film ''[[Hulk Vs|Hulk vs. Thor]]'' voiced by [[Jay Brazeau]]. He along with the rest of the [[Warriors Three]] blindly ride off to battle the [[Hulk]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=18391&reviewer=402 |title=Movie Review&nbsp;— Hulk Vs. |author=Mel Valentin |date=January 28, 2009 |publisher=efilmcritic.com |access-date=September 8, 2010 |archive-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321063633/http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=18391 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Volstagg appears in the animated direct-to-video film ''[[Thor: Tales of Asgard]]'',<ref name="ttoaanimatedclip">{{cite web|url=http://marvel.com/news/story/15601/new_thor_tales_of_asgard_movie_clip |title=New Thor: Tales of Asgard Movie Clip |date=2011-04-08 |publisher=[[Marvel Comics|Marvel]].com |access-date=2011-04-09}}</ref> voiced by Brent Chapman.

* Volstagg appears in the 2011 live-action film ''[[Thor (film)|Thor]]'' played by [[Ray Stevenson]].<ref name="three">{{cite news|url=http://marvel.com/news/moviestories.10317.Thor_Update~colon~_Warriors_Three_Cast/|title=Thor Update: Warriors Three Cast|publisher=[[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel]].com|date=2009-11-16|access-date=2009-11-16}}</ref> Stevenson reprises the role in ''[[Thor: The Dark World]]''<ref name="thedarkworld">{{cite magazine |first=James |last=Hibberd |date=2012-04-24 |title='Dexter' scoop: Ray Stevenson joins season 7 -- EXCLUSIVE |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/04/24/ray-stevenson-dexter/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426083339/http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/04/24/ray-stevenson-dexter/ |archive-date=2012-04-26 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Thor: Ragnarok]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wdsmediafile.com/media/ThorRagnarok/writen-material/ThorRagnarok59d97e5bd2b22.pdf |title=Thor: Ragnarok Press Kit |publisher=[[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures]] |access-date=October 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103153628/http://www.wdsmediafile.com/media/ThorRagnarok/writen-material/ThorRagnarok59d97e5bd2b22.pdf |archive-date=November 3, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===Novels===

Volstagg has a cameo in the Thor novel ''Dueling With Giants''. Along with Fandral, Hogun and other [[Asgardians (Marvel Comics)|Asgardians]] he races to meet a threat of trolls who have evaded Heimdall's senses.<ref>''Dueling With Giants'' by Keith R.A. DeCandido https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27881488-thor</ref>

===Video games===

*Volstagg appears as a limited time unlockable character in ''[[Marvel: Avengers Alliance]]''. If unlocked, he can be recruited and interacts specially in battle with Hogun or Fandral if either is in the player party.

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