Karnilla, the Norn Queen
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Karnilla the Norn Queen
The birth and early life of Karnilla were shrouded in mystery. All that was really known is that she had long lived in Nornheim, the Asgardian province where the Three Norns dwelt, the goddesses of destiny, and she became one of the most accomplished practitioners of the arts of sorcery in the Asgardian dimension. Although Nornheim lied on the Asgardian land mass within Asgard’s own dimension, and although Karnilla was apparently of the Asgardian race, she did not consider herself to be subject to Asgardian rule. Rather, Nornheim was an independent country, of which Karnilla was absolute monarch.
Karnilla lived opulently in the ancient fastness of Nornkeep, attended by her servant, the aged minor sorceress Haag, and troops of guardian demons. Although there were many demons among her subjects, Karnilla’s realm was also populated by humanoid immortals, just as was Asgard proper. Karnilla’s relationship to the goddesses of destiny was unknown, although they were clearly beyond her jurisdiction.
In the past Karnilla often proved to be an enemy of Asgard, and acted in alliance with the Asgardian god of evil, Loki. However, Karnilla was long in love with Asgard’s noblest warrior, Balder the Brave. On Balder’s request (on behalf of Asgard’s monarch Odin), Karnilla allied herself and her army with Asgard in the war withSurtur. After years of resisting Karnilla’s advances, Balder finally became Karnilla’s lover. Some of Balder’s Asgardian friends disapproved of the relationship, regarding Karnilla as a figure of evil. Karnilla regarded herself, however, as a harsh but just ruler.
Balder was called away from Nornkeep to join the Asgardian prince Thor in his mission to rescue souls of Earth human beings from Hel. During Balder’s absence, Karnilla was taken prisoner by the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, who were preparing an invasion of Asgard and first intended to eliminate Asgard’s allies. The Frost Giants also transformed Karnilla’s subjects into stone. On his return, Balder set out to rescue Karnilla, and ultimately met with success.
Her present activities are unknown at this time.
Thor #175 April 1970
“The Fall of Asgard!”Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Bill Everett
Letters: Artie SimekSynopsis:
When a series of truck hijackings have been hitting the city, the police employ the help of Thor to round up the thieves by setting a trap for them, which with the aid of the Thunder God lands an easy capture. While in the land of the Norns, Balder and the Warriors Three have recovered from their injuries and pay their leave to Karnilla. Balder and Karnilla have another exchange about how Balder cannot give up his loyalty to Asgard and love Karnilla and the quartet depart. Haag taunts Karnilla over her softness toward Balder and is chased out of the room.
Enrout back to Asgard, Balder and the others pause when they spot Mountain Giants, in the employ of Loki who are heading to attack Asgard. Spotting Loki’s involvement, Balder and the Warriors Three decide it’s best to contact Thor as soon as possible. Thor meanwhile has returned to the office he owns as Donald Blake, however before he can change back to his mortal guise, Thor spots Sif on a nearby roof top and joins her. Sif tells Thor that Odin has once more entered the Odinsleep and that Loki is about to amass an attack on Asgard.
Thor transports himself and Sif back to Asgard, where Thor sends Sif to guard Odin while he joins the other Asgardian warriors in defending the realm. As Thor is preoccupied, Loki manages to infiltrate the palace and fight his way into Odin’s sleeping chambers. When Sif and the warriors at guard inside attempt to stop Loki, Loki uses his royal heritage to order the warriors to stop fighting him and subdue Sif.
As the battle rages on, Thor and the Warriors Three do their part in fighting off the Mountain Giants. However, as the battle reaches an end there is a sudden blare of trumpets signaling a call to end the battle. To everyone’s surprise, Loki, now garbed in regal attire decrees that he is now in charge of all of Asgard, showing that he has removed the Imperial Ring of Asgard from Odin’s hand and now wears it upon his finger.
When Thor attempts to rally the people of Asgard to overthrow Loki, they cannot bring themselves to disobey Asgardian law that dictates that whomsoever wears the Imperial Ring rules the land. Thor himself decides to take on Loki on his own, however is forced to back down and claim loyalty to Loki as the Trickster God has Sif as his prisoner.
Finally at victory, Loki decrees that he will spread evil across the land.
This story is continued next issue…
Thor #172 January 1970
“The Immortal and the Mind-Slave”Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Bill Everett
Letters: Artie SimekSignificant Events: 1st appearance of Kronin Krask
Synopsis:
Thor returns to his office to find someone inside waiting for him, unable to enter through his usual window-way entry, Thor climbs his office building and changes into Donald Blake on the roof before entering his office through the main entrance. As it turns out it is Jim North, the doctor whom Jane Foster has been working with since she left Blake’s employ. North has come to tell Blake that Jane is in danger and hands him a letter written by ruthless billionair Kornin Krask.
The letter reads that Krask has kidnapped Jane Foster in order to force North into performing a forbidden experiment for him. After reading the letter himself, Blake inquires why Jim didn’t go to the police. Jim explains that due to Krask’s wealth and influence the letter would be dismissed as a hoax, and he came to Donald for help because he is the only person who knows how to contact Thor. Blake, tells Jim to leave and that he will see what he can do.
Blake begins praying to is father to bring good fortune, and the thoughts reach Odin. Made curious of these thoughts the All-Father uses a visi-scan to look upon the realms that he rules over. He sees Loki, trying to rally support for some scheme, as well as Balder being cared for by Karnilla following his battle with the Thermal Man. His last look is upon the mortal visage of Kornin Krask, whom Odin feels will be no match against his son, the God of Thunder.
Later on Earth, Jim North has been instructed by Donald Blake to go to the home of Kornin Krask and is admitted into the property by Krask’s private army. There he is brought before Krask who brings out Jane to show that she is alive. Then, in a moment of poorly planned bravery, North pulls out a revolver and attempts to try and force Krask to turn over Jane. However, Krask’s army soon train their guns on Jim and he is forced to turn over his gun. Krask explains to Jim that he intends to force him to assist Dr. Waghastein (whom Krask has also captured) to perform the first even mind transfer. Krask explains that he wants to escape mortality and cheat death. With no options available, North agrees to aid Krask’s mad scheme even though it’s unlikely that he’ll let them live after.
While back in the city, Don Blake transforms once more into Thor and rushes to Krask’s private estate. Unaware that Krask had intended for Thor to get involved and his men are armed with devices that are tailored to incapacitate the Thunder God. Initially, Thor proves too strong for his attackers, however they use a special cannon that fires a hallucinogenic spray that is powerful enough to knock Thor out.
As the surgery is being prepped, Jim and Jane are horrified to find that the body that Krask intends to have his mind transferred into is none other than Thor. The procedure would involve the use of a Ultra-Oscilloscope, a device that would swap the minds of two beings. With Jane’s life at risk, Jim North breaks down and agrees to continue with the operation. Activating the machine the mind swapping process begins, however the minds of Krask and Thor begin a struggle half way. A struggle which Thor wins, seemingly sending Krask’s mind back into his body, which then dies.
Released form his hold, Thor consoles Jim and Jane, telling them that they were not at fault for what had happened and that Krask met his end thinking he could defeat the mind of an immortal. With Krask defeated, Thor leaves the two lovers behind.
Thor #170 November 1969
“The Thunder God and the Thermal Man”Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Bill Everett
Letters: Artie SimekSynopsis:
Continued from last issue…
Thor has been teleported to New York City by Odin, and is horrified to see that a new communist robot known as the Thermal Man has ravaged the city. Thor goes into the battle zone and finds that the Warriors Three and Balder proved too weak to stop the powerful robot. As the Asgardians regroup, the US military arrives and throws massive amounts of fire-power on the robot, but to no avail as the robot easily blasts them away with it’s thermal blasts.
Not wishing to stand idly by, Thor leads the Warriors Three and Balder back into the fray. Although the five Gods outnumber the Thermal Man and Thor’s own hammer can stagger the construct, it still proves able to fight them all off. Meanwhile, realizing that the Thermal Man has proven to be too powerful and possibly a threat to their own nation, those behind the “Bamboo Curtain” that created the Thermal Man have given the US military a implosion bomb that will hopefully disable the rampaging robot.
As the bomb is dropped, it is noticed by Thor who uses his magic hammer to shield himself and the others from the bombs effect. The bomb lands on the Thermal Man seemingly deactivating the robot and ending it’s threat. With the battle over, Thor notices that there are injured people among the wreckage and changes back into his mortal guise of Donald Blake so that he may administer medical attention. Finding a man in the rubble, Blake carries an injured man off to the hospital.
As the Warriors Three and Balder recover from the fight (with Volstagg bragging about his supposed battle prowess, as usual) the Thermal Man revives and it attacks them once more. Watching from Asgard, Karnilla grows concerned over the fate of Balder, and much to Loki’s disapproval, she teleports the Warriors Three and Balder to her castle in Asgard. Furious that Karnilla would save the life of a hated enemy for love, Loki departs no longer wishing to be her ally, vowing that she will rue the day she had crossed him.
While back on Earth, Blake continues to treat the wounded until he learns that the Thermal Man is back on the rampage. Rushing out of the hospital, Blake transforms back into Thor to battle the Thermal Man once more. Battling the robot once more, Thor finds that it is indestructible but comes up with a means to defeat it. Thor lures the Thermal Man to the docks, where the Thunder God summons a powerful storm. The tidal waves created from such a deluge wash the Thermal Man away ending his threat.
As Thor allows the storm to subside, he is confident that the robot will harm no more, as the currents of the ocean will carry it far north where it will be frozen in ice forever more.
Thor #167 August 1969
“This World Renounced!”Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Vince J. Colletta
Letters: Artie SimekSynopsis:
Following a battle where he gave into the Warriors Madness, Thor goes to Odin to receive his punishment. Although Sif pleads Thor’s case, because he gave into the madness to save her, Odin refuses to grant Thor mercy and tells all gathered that the Thunder God must pay a sacrifice for his crimes. Balder decides that while Thor is on his penance, that he will go to Earth and defend it in the Thunder God’s absence and leaves for the Bifrost Bridge. Odin comes to a decision and sentences Thor to go and seek out Galactus to find and learn his secrets.
Meanwhile, Loki is once more in the company of Karnilla once more and the two are plotting once again against Asgard. However, Loki is at a loss to understand why Karnilla is wasting her time on trying to win Balder’s affections. When Balder arrives on Earth, Haag presents Karnilla the enchanted doll of the warrior to the two mischief makers. Loki grabs the doll and strikes it as hard as he can, causing Balder to collapse just as he arrives on Earth, the hero is then rushed off to a hospital.
Back in Asgard, Thor is brought to the ship that he will pilot in his quest to find Galactus, with the ships construction revealed, Odin sends Thor back to Earth to wait for him to be called upon to embark on his mission. Arriving on Earth, Thor decides to tie up matters in his civilian guise of Donald Blake before departing. Arriving at the hospital where he works as Blake, Thor learns of Balder’s condition and decides that he must save his friends life in his mortal guise, completely unaware that he is being watched by Loki.
When Thor changes back into Donald Blake, he is attacked by Loki who wrests Blake’s walking stick from his hands and easily over-powers the lame physician, knocking him out. However, the battle is ended when Odin intervenes, banishing Loki back to Asgard, leaving Blake to recover his walking stick, unaware of Odin’s intervention but glad that Loki is gone none the less.
As Donald goes to perform surgery on Balder, in deep space Galactus consumes another world, giving alarm on Asgard prompting those watching Galactus to report the sighting to Odin. Back on Earth, Blake completes his surgery on Balder who is expected to recover fully. With his job done, Blake resumes his Thor identity and flies off, wondering how long it will be before he sees the Earth again.
