Volstagg the Valiant, Volstagg the Voluminous, Volstagg the Enormous, Lion of Asgard, War Thor
Abilities
Superb pugilist Master of the quarterstaff Excellent battlefield warrior, hand-to-hand combatant, swordsman, horseman and archer Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina and durability Increase mass to become nearly unmovable Extremely long lifespan Ability to consume vast quantities of food and drink As War Thor: Lightning generation Weather manipulation Flight Dimensional transportation
Volstagg the Voluminous is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a charter member of the Warriors Three, a trio of Asgardian adventurers and supporting cast of Thor. He is known for having multiple children. These include, but are not limited to, Hilde, Rolfe, and the adopted Midgardians Kevin and Mick.
He is not taken from Norse (or any other) mythology but is an original creation, modeled on William Shakespeare's character John Falstaff.
Fictional character biography
Early battles
Volstagg was introduced in a "Tales of Asgard" filler in Journey Into Mystery #119 (August 1965), which primarily followed Thor's Asgardian adventures. 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. Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun are initially recruited by Loki, but quickly ally with Thor instead.
In another flashback appearance, Volstagg mistook a mystical portal for a warming fire and literally fell into it. A rescue mission causes a destructive battle which then gives the Great Sphinx of Giza its unique face.
As regular cast member
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. A real change to Volstagg's character came in the early 1970s, when Thor and the Warriors Three battle the interstellar parasite Ego-Prime in New York City. Volstagg sees a group of extraterrestrial monstrosities preparing to devour a little girl and rescues her, showing considerable courage and resolution.
Under Walt Simonson
Following a brief hiatus towards the end of the seventies, Volstagg underwent a renaissance of sorts when Walt Simonson took over The Mighty Thor in 1982. Reaching back to Kirby's initial concept, Simonson redefines Volstagg as a big, likeable bear of a man, a friend to all with a song in their heart (and a glass in their hand). A good-natured old warrior somewhat past his prime, Volstagg is still held in high regard by his comrades, if only for his amusing company and unparalleled drinking ability. Simonson also added another dimension previously unseen in his earlier incarnations— a household full of children.
This updated persona becomes a crucial plot device in several of Simonson's classic story arcs: when 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.
New Mutants
Volstagg and his family have also encountered the New Mutants. During the group's first trip to Asgard, Volstagg makes friends with Roberto Da Costa, aka Sunspot, challenging him to feats of strength.
In the group's second visit, Volstagg's children encounter Boom Boom, Hrimhari, and Warlock, who are 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. The Warriors Three, various Asgardians and even Queen Ula's troops join with the New Mutants; their efforts stop Hela from killing Odin.
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 young palace guardsman Arko. 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.
Ragnarok and rebirth
During Ragnarok, the Warriors Three are killed. The three reincarnate in the forms of soldiers in Africa, and are the second group of Asgardians to be reborn.
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.
Rebuilding
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. His family is reestablished as existing during Fear Itself. Volstagg takes up liaison duties between Broxton, Oklahoma, the site of the new Asgard, and his reformed homeland, now called Asgardia and ruled by the All-Mother.
Becoming War Thor
Volstagg as War Thor on the cover of The Mighty Thor #20 (June 2017). Art by Russell Dauterman, in homage to 1983's Thor #337, which originally featured Beta Ray Bill.
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". Volstagg mounts an assault on Muspelheim, but Thor convinces him to stand down, making him realize that his actions were only provoking further conflict rather than ending it.
Powers and abilities
Volstagg possesses a number of superhuman attributes conventionally possessed by all Asgardians.
Volstagg possesses superhuman strength. While he is still stronger than most Asgardian males, he is no longer in his physical prime. Aside from his strength, some of Volstagg's other physical capabilities have decreased, mostly due to his obesity. Volstagg's speed, stamina, and agility are now inferior to that of the majority of his race.
Volstagg is extremely long lived, although not truly immortal, and ages much slower than a human being. The tissues of his body are also superhumanly resistant to physical injury. It is possible to injure him but his life-force enables him to recover with superhuman speed and efficiency.
Volstagg has demonstrated the ability to increase his mass to make himself nearly unmovable.
In a number of stories, Volstagg is represented as an excellent overall battlefield warrior and is highly proficient in all Asgardian weapons; an excellent hand-to-hand combatant, swordsman, horseman, and archer, a superb pugilist and a master of the quarterstaff. Volstagg's battle prowess is somewhat limited by his advanced age and tremendous girth. However, Volstagg is still capable of using his sheer bulk to his advantage in combat situations. He can consume vast quantities of food and drink.
Other versions
Earth X
An alternate universe version of Volstagg appears in Earth X. This version and the Asgardians are aliens who were manipulated by the Celestials 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. Volstagg and the Warriors Three are later killed as a larger plan for Thor to eliminate the realm of Hel itself.
Marvel Adventures
An alternate universe version of Volstagg appears in Marvel Adventures.
Marvel Zombies
An alternate universe version of Volstagg appears in Marvel Zombies.
An alternate universe version of Volstagg appears in Mutant X, where he is killed in battle with the Beyonder.
Thor: The Mighty Avenger
An alternate universe version of Volstagg appears in Thor: The Mighty Avenger.
Ultimate Marvel
An alternate universe version of Volstagg appears in the Ultimate Marvel imprint. Volstagg and most of the Asgardians are killed by the Children of Tomorrow, a futuristic society led by a maddened Reed Richards.
Ultimate Universe
An alternate universe version of Volstagg appears in the Ultimate Universe imprint.
12345678"Volstagg Voices (Thor)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 14, 2024. 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.
↑Mel Valentin (January 28, 2009). "Movie Review— Hulk Vs". efilmcritic.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
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