Valkyrie - Marvel Universe: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios.

Marvel Universe

Valkyrie

Universe
Marvel Universe

Real Name
Samantha Parrington

Aliases
None

Identity
Secret

Occupation
Heiress, adventurer

Citizenship
U.S.A.

Place of Birth
Unrevealed

Known Relatives
Reginald Parrington (father), Malicia Parrington (mother)

Group Affiliation
Defenders

Education
College

Height
6'3" (as Val); 5'7" (as Sam)

Weight
475 lbs. (as Val); 130 lbs. (as Sam)

Eyes
Blue

Hair
Blonde

Powers
Samantha Parrington can mystically assume the superhumanly strong and durable form of the Valkyrie Brunnhilde, who was far stronger than the average Asgardian goddess.

Paraphernalia
Valkyrie carries a mystical spear, wields an unbreakable enchanted sword (Dragonfang) and rides a genetically engineered winged horse (Aragorn) whose aging has been slowed by the consumption of mystical Asgardian hay. The sword and steed were gifts from the original Valkyrie, Brunnhilde, who got the sword from Doctor Strange and the horse from its creator, the Black Knight.

First Appearance
Incredible Hulk #142 (1971); (Amora as Valkyrie) Avengers #83 (1970); (Samantha as Valkyrie) Incredible Hulk #142 (1971); (Brunnhilde as Valkyrie) Defenders #4 (1973)

Origin
Incredible Hulk #142 (1971); Defenders #2-4 (2001); The Order #1 (2002)

Significant Issues
Temporarily transformed into Valkyrie by Enchantress, battled Hulk (Incredible Hulk #142, 1971); restored to Valkyrie form by Pluto and Lorelei, used as pawn against Defenders before shaking off control of Pluto and Lorelei, met original Valkyrie Brunnhilde, given Dragonfang and Aragorn by Brunnhilde, joined Defenders (Defenders #2-4, 2001); background explored, reconnected with parents, battled The Order alongside Defenders and other allies, helped save world from Yandroth (The Order #1-6, 2002)

Born into a wealthy family of eccentric philanthropists, Samantha Parrington grew into an idealistic feminist. When her parents adopted the monstrous Hulk as their latest pet cause, Samantha formed a rapport with the misunderstood brute and helped talk him down from the Statue of Liberty, though her father took all the credit for this feat in the media. Miffed, Sam led her women's group in an anti-patriarchal protest that attracted the attention of Hulk's enemy, Enchantress. Amora magically transformed Samantha into a raging, man-hating facsimile of the Asgardian warrior goddess Brunnhilde the Valkyrie, whose form and might Amora could replicate at will, having trapped Brunnhilde's soul in a mystical crystal centuries earlier. As the ersatz Valkyrie, Samantha battled the Hulk to a standstill until the spell wore off, returning her to normal just as Hulk reverted to his human form of Bruce Banner. The confused pair parted awkwardly, neither fully recalling their battle, with Samantha half-convinced it was all a dream.

Brunnhilde was later reborn in the mortal host body of Barbara Norriss and, as the Valkyrie, became a mainstay of the Defenders. She went on to become the longest-serving member of that group, remaining with them even after regaining her original Asgardian body; however, she gradually felt more detached from life on Earth. During a period when the Defenders were disbanded, Brunnhilde returned to Asgard and resumed her ancient duties as leader of the Valkyrior, but Earth had not seen the last of the Valkyrie. When the rogue god Pluto sought a Valkyrie pawn, he had Amora's sister Lorelei transform Samantha Parrington into the Valkyrie again. A mind-controlled Samantha served them until they ran afoul of the reunited Defenders and Brunnhilde, who routed Pluto and Lorelei after Samantha shook off their control. Happy to have a worthy successor on Earth, Brunnhilde returned to Asgard and Samantha joined the Defenders as their new Valkyrie. Her parents have tried to support her new superheroic pursuits by offering the Defenders funding, equipment and well-intentioned meddling.

Brunnhilde, sadly, was among the many slain during a recent Asgardian revolt staged by Loki in fulfillment of the Ragnarok prophecies; but her proud heroic legacy lives on through Samantha Parrington.

Retrieved from "http://www.marvel.co.uk/universe/Valkyrie"

contributors: Zeraphyne

Categories: People | Heroes | Women | Magic | Gods