Should Hela Be Thor's Sister, or Loki's DAUGHTER?
The Asgardian Goddess of Death Hela joined the MCU as Thor's sister, but was originally Loki's daughter in the comics. So which is more accurate?
The world beyond comics was introduced to Hela, the most dangerous member of Thor's extended family thanks to the MCU. But while audiences may walk away believing Odin to have had another daughter they had never heard of, the truth is a bit more complicated. Hela is the Asgardian ruler of Hel and Niflheim--and a constant enemy to Thor. But a sister? Not so much.
Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby in Journey into Mystery #102 (1964), Hela was the child of Loki ( in one of his many incarnations) and giantess Angrboða from Jotunheim. When she was old enough, the All-Father Odin bestowed her with the title Goddess of the Dead and claim to their undead realms. Constantly hungry for more power, Hela would seek to claim the dead that live in the Asgardian paradise Valhalla which would be the first of her many confrontations with Odin's son Thor, with some of those conflicts due to her participation in schemes concocted by her father Loki. Wielding considerable power, Hela has not only come close to permanently killing Thor but also has held her own against many of his powerful superhero allies from Midgard.
As with most stories, the details can change depending on the storyteller so when it was time for Hela's big screen debut, portrayed by actress Cate Blanchett, in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), her origin story was changed in a significant way. After barely escaping their initial encounter with Hela, Thor and his trickster half-brother Loki discover that Hela was not only Odin's true firstborn but also the original wielder of Thor's hammer Mjolnir. Fighting alongside her father as they conquered the Nine Realms together, Odin became alarmed at his daughter's ambition and warmonger ways. Although it came with the great cost of Asgardian lives, Hela was defeated and imprisoned with her memory erased from Asgardian history until Odin's death freed her. Awakening her undead army and otherworldly forces, she laid waste to Asgard and its people until she seemingly perished battling the gigantic fire demon Surtur thus completing the prophecy of Ragnarok.
With both of those histories in mind, the question remains: is Hela Loki's or Odin's daughter? The comic book version has remained unchanged throughout the years, with Hela falling in and out of power throughout the years. In the MCU, Hela's story took more inspiration from the revised backstory of Angela, a former Image Comics character incorporated into Marvel Comics. Considering that Thor could be battling either his niece or sister, the story continues the pattern of gods fighting with each other; powerful entities with their own morals and agendas clashing with the mortal realms caught in the middle.
Although Hela remains a powerful enemy regardless of her connection to Thor, the idea of him fighting his forgotten and banished sister does strike more of a chord rather than a power hungry niece who seems to be following in her father's maniacal footsteps. It feels a bit more personal considering Thor had no idea she even existed while in the comics, he is quite aware and ready to defeat her, if possible. In the end, comic books have become their own mythology with their own stories changing and evolving as our way to interpret and understand their messages changes with them.
Whatever her backstory, Hela is still a dangerous and yet essential character in both Asgardian and Marvel's evolving mythology. As long as Thor brings the thunder (and lightning) and Loki schemes, you can be sure that when their time comes, Hela will be there ready to accept them with open arms and an all-knowing smile on her face.
NEXT: In THOR Comics, Hela Was Instantly Killed By [SPOILER]
