Surtur (character)

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Based on the fire giant Surtr from Norse mythology and created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #97 (October 1963).{{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |title=The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |page=334 |authorlink=Jeff Rovin}}[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofsu0000rovi_h5r9/page/334/mode/2up]

Surtur is a fire giant native to the extradimensional plane of Muspelheim, land of the fire demons and one of the nine worlds in Norse mythology. He first appears in the title Journey into Mystery, where it is claimed he sits at the end of the world waiting for the end of time where he can slay men and gods.Journey into Mystery #97 (October 1963). Marvel Comics. The character's first encounter with the Asgardian ruler Odin is told in flashback and establishes their enmity when Surtur is imprisoned by Odin inside the Earth after forming an alliance with the Trolls and trying to destroy the world in anger for Odin defying him, although he gives Odin a winged horse, hoping to be released one day.{{Cite web |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=July 26, 2017 |title=To Surtur, With Love: Who the Hell Is Thor's Fiery Foe? |url=https://www.cbr.com/surtur-thor-ragnarok-history/ |access-date=September 25, 2024 |website=CBR |language=en}}Journey into Mystery #99 (December 1963). Marvel Comics. Surtur reappears in Journey into Mystery #104, having been freed by Odin's adopted son, Loki, who intends to usurp Odin and rule Asgard, having been given a portion of the Odinforce. Together with the Storm Giant Skagg, the character invades Earth, although the pair are met by Odin, his son the Thunder God Thor and fellow Asgardian Balder. Odin stops time and sends every human on Earth to another dimension. Surtur creates a blazing fireball and travels to the North Pole to melt the icecaps. Using Odin's sword, Thor stops Surtur and traps him on a meteorite of magnetic particles in another galaxy.Journey into Mystery #104 (May 1964). Marvel Comics.

In the title Thor the seer Volla predicts that Loki will free Surtur and other enemies of Asgard and eventually bring about Ragnarok – a war that will end with the destruction of all the Norse Gods.Thor #128 (May 1966). Marvel Comics. The character features in the title The Avengers when summoned – together with ice giant Ymir – to Earth by the cult the Sons of Satannish. The entities are banished by the combined efforts of the superhero team the Avengers, the hero the Black Knight, and the sorcerer Doctor Strange. They are tricked into striking each other, which defeats them both.The Avengers #61 (February 1969). Marvel Comics.

Surtur becomes a recurring foe in the title Thor, and first attempts to invade Asgard during the Odinsleep when Loki has briefly taken control, causing Loki to flee Asgard, but he is repelled and imprisoned.Thor #176-177 (May–June 1970). Marvel Comics. Surtur reappears wielding the huge magical blade Twilight, and after sending a horde of demons to invade Earth storms Asgard. The heroes of Earth battle the fire demons while in Asgard Surtur defeats both Thor and Odin in turn. Loki deceives Surtur with an illusion until Odin recovers, who battles the fire demon until both fall into a dimensional rift.Thor #337-338 (November-December 1983); #341-348 (March-October 1984); #351-353 (January-March 1985). Marvel Comics. After a long absence Odin returns to Asgard, and it is revealed that he absorbed Surtur's essence, which eventually possesses him. Surtur manages to recreate his physical form and decimates Asgard until Thor, wielding the Odin Power, banishes Surtur to the Sea of Eternal Night.Thor #399-400 (January-February 1989); #418 (June 1990) & #425 (October 1990). Marvel Comics.

Surtur appears at the conclusion of the second volume of Thor during the final Ragnarok of Asgard, and is allowed to storm Asgard by Thor as the Thunder God attempts to break the endless cycle of death and rebirth for the Norse Gods.Thor (vol. 2) #85 (December 1984). Marvel Comics. In the limited series Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill, the alien Beta Ray Bill visits the ruins of Asgard after the battle, and sees Surtur's dead form falling from the sky, still clutching Twilight.Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill #1-6 (March-August 2005). Marvel Comics.

Thor returns from a period of self-induced hibernation in a third self-titled volume, and enters the Odinsleep to find Odin in a limbo dimension between life and death, where Surtur stored a portion of his essence to prevent himself from being killed forever. Here Odin and the demon battle to the death, being reborn each day to repeat the cycle, preventing either from being reborn. Thor helps Odin beat Surtur twice, even though he will be reborn, before returning to his body. Thor offers to help Odin escape from this realm and the constant battle with Surtur. Odin chooses to remain to protect his people from the demon.Thor (vol. 3) #7-8 (March-April 2008). Marvel Comics.

Surtur was resurrected and made a deal with Loki and a group of beings known as the Manchester Gods, who he manipulated to depose the native gods of the British isles.Journey into Mystery #641. Marvel Comics. He then set the world tree Yggdrasil on fire and attempted to turn the Vanir gods against the Aesir in preparation for his assault on Asgard.The Mighty Thor #19. Marvel Comics. This succeeded because of old grudges, namely Odin's insistence that the people of Vanaheim fall under his rule no matter what.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

Surtur was depicted as an immense, but malevolent elemental fire demon of apocalyptic proportions. Standing over 1,000 feet (300 m) in height, Surtur possesses physical attributes far surpassing Thor himself, the ability to generate intense heat, flames, or concussive force, a prehensile tail, capable of transforming his fingers into serpents via molecular rearrangement, flight, and interdimensional travel. His cosmic powers are usually shown to equal that of Odin. He is a master warrior and swordsman. Surtur has great wisdom, as well as extensive knowledge of ancient lore. He is also vulnerable to extreme coldness or certain magic spells.The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #11 (November 1983)

The Twilight Sword (also called the Sword of Doom) is composed from the metal alloy Scabrite, which can only be found in the mines of Surtur's realm. This giant weapon possesses mystical properties that allows Surtur to manipulate magical energy in vast amounts and perform nearly limitless feats, such as shattering dimensional barriers or inhibiting Odin's powers. When this sword is bonded with the Eternal Flame, its capabilities are further increased to an unknown level.Thor: The Legend #1 (September 1996)

The Eternal Flame (also known as the Eternal Flame of Destruction) further enhances Surtur's abilities and cannot be extinguished.{{Cite web |last=Vaux |first=Robert |date=October 30, 2021 |title=Thor: Ragnarok Destroyed Asgard's Most Powerful Item - But Maybe Not for Good |url=https://www.cbr.com/thor-ragnarok-eternal-flame-surtur-survive/ |access-date=September 25, 2024 |website=CBR |language=en}}

In 2022, CBR.com ranked Surtur 5th in their "Black Knight's 10 Strongest Villains" list.{{Cite web |last=Gaudreau |first=Jared |date=January 9, 2022 |title=The Black Knight's 10 Strongest Villains |url=https://www.cbr.com/black-knights-strongest-villains-marvel-comics/ |access-date=October 24, 2022 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}

Surtur appears in the Amalgam Comics one-shot publication Thorion of the New Gods.Thorion of the New Asgods (June 1997). Marvel Comics.

In the Ultimate Marvel reality, Surtur is seen summoned to Earth by Loki and battling the Ultimates. However, he is not seen in the final battle with the Ultimates.Ultimates (vol. 2) #13 (May 2007). Marvel Comics.

Surtur appears in JLA/Avengers #4 as a brainwashed minion of Krona.JLA/Avengers #4. Marvel Comics.

Surtur appears in the Ultimate Universe imprint. Thor unleashes Surtur with the intent to burn down all of Asgard, in order to defeat All-Father Loki.The Ultimates Vol. 4 #6-12. Marvel Comics.

• Surtur makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "The Vengeance of Loki".{{cite web |date=December 20, 2019 |title=Surtur Voices (Thor) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Thor/Surtur/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}
• Surtur appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Rick D. Wasserman.
• Surtur appears in Avengers Assemble.

• Surtur makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in a flashback in Thor: Tales of Asgard.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}
• Surtur makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Hulk Vs Thor.

File:Surtur in Thor Ragnarok.jpg fighting Surtur in the 2017 film Thor: Ragnarok]]

{{See also|Surtur (Marvel Cinematic Universe)}}

Surtur appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), voiced by Clancy Brown.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/07/24/thor-ragnarok-includes-surtur-and-fenris |title=COMIC-CON 2016: THOR: RAGNAROK INCLUDES SURTUR AND FENRIS |last=Vejvoda |first=Jim |publisher=IGN |date=July 23, 2016 |access-date=July 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724052121/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/07/24/thor-ragnarok-includes-surtur-and-fenris |archive-date=July 24, 2016 |url-status=live }}

• Surtur first appears in the live-action film Thor: Ragnarok, in which director Taika Waititi provides physical motion capture.
• Alternate timeline variants of Surtur make minor appearances in the Disney+ animated series What If...?, voiced by Brown.{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Scott |date=August 1, 2021 |title=Here Are All the Marvel Actors Doing Voices in 'What If...?' |url=https://collider.com/marvel-what-if-voice-cast-explained/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802020126/https://collider.com/marvel-what-if-voice-cast-explained/ |archive-date=August 2, 2021 |access-date=September 22, 2021 |website=Collider}}

• Surtur makes a cameo appearance in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
• Surtur appears in Thor: God of Thunder,{{cite news |date=December 2, 2010 |title=SEGA Inks Actors Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston to Star in the Video Game Thor: God of Thunder |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101202005510/en/SEGA-Inks-Actors-Chris-Hemsworth-Tom-Hiddleston |access-date=December 2, 2010 |work=Business Wire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206010006/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101202005510/en/SEGA-Inks-Actors-Chris-Hemsworth-Tom-Hiddleston |archive-date=2010-12-06 }} voiced again by Rick D. Wasserman.
• Surtur appears in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online.
• Surtur appears as the final boss of Marvel Heroes.
• Surtur appears as a boss in Marvel Avengers Alliance.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
• Surtur appears as a playable character and boss in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
• Surtur appears as a boss in Marvel: Future Fight.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
• Surtur appears in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, voiced by Jamieson Price.
• Surtur appears in Marvel Snap.{{Cite web |title=MARVEL SNAP - Dominate the Marvel Multiverse in High-Speed Card Battling Action |url=https://www.marvelsnap.com/home/newsdetail?id=7415247896284519174 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=www.marvelsnap.com}}

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Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby

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