History
Origin[]
Skurge the Executioner was one of Asgard's greatest warriors. He was born the illegitimate son of a Storm Giant and an Asgardian from the realm of Skornheim. Later he became a warrior, gaining the name Executioner after fighting in a war against the Storm Giants. He came to Asgard, there he was seduced by Amora the Enchantress into assisting her in many of her schemes over the years. But while the Executioner was as so infatuated with the Enchantress that he would do anything for her, she continually withheld her favors from him to keep him in thrall.[citation needed]
Attacking Earth[]
In his first encounter with Thor after he gained his human identity of Don Blake, Enchantress attempted unsuccessfully to seduce Blake, and then ordered the Executioner to dispose of Jane Foster, the mortal woman Thor then loved.[6] Thor saved Foster and defeated both the Enchantress and Executioner.[7]
In the following years, the Enchantress and Skurge also allied themselves with Loki. He sent them to Midgard to attack Jane Foster. A small group of local citizens briefly tried to help her, but they were subdued by a sleeping spell from the Enchantress. Balder the Brave arrived atop the Baxter Building, and quickly found and challenged the villainous pair.[8] Balder managed to hold his own, however, it's not until the timely arrival of Thor do the two villains released Jane and flee the scene. Leaving Jane in Balder's care.[9]
Masters of Evil[]
Skurge, under orders from Amora, joined Baron Zemo's Masters of Evil. Together they recruited Radioactive Man, Melter, and Black Knight. Their scheme to turn Thor against the other Avengers failed,[2] as did their plan to use Wonder Man as a pawn to try and gain their trust.[10] Finally, Zemo had his Asgardian allies free Black Knight and The Melter from jail (though Radioactive Man had been deported to his native China.) While his Masters battled the Avengers, Zemo had captured Rick Jones, then acting as Captain America's partner. Cap and Zemo dueled in South America. Blinded by the glare from his opponent's shield, Zemo fired his death ray wildly and died in the ensuing rockslide.[11] Meanwhile, the remaining members were defeated by the Avengers after Thor transported them to another dimension so their battle would not destroy the city of New York.[12] He joined them on various crimes.[13][14]
Fighting Heroes[]
Skurge and Amora joined the Mandarin's attempt to conquer the world. He attacked the Asian subcontinent with an army of Rock Trolls to retrieve the natural diamond deposits. Skurge battled the Olympian hero Hercules in another dimension he had transported them to with his axe, but was beaten and thrown at a giant that Amora had created to take down the Scarlet Witch. The giant was destroyed in the process.[15]
Skurge along with Amora captured Bruce Banner when he was transported to Asgard. When Banner revived, he turned into the Hulk and fought Skurge. Skurge struck him with his Bloodaxe, but this proved ineffective against the Hulk. The Hulk managed to stagger his foe with one crushing blow to the jaw. Amora grew bored watching the two combatants fight one another and teleported herself and Skurge to a safe distance. Amora called together a massive army of Rock Trolls and led them on a quest to overtake Asgard. The Hulk got involved in the fight, and kept the trolls at bay by sealing them inside of a rocky cavern. Enraged, Amora turned her magic against the Hulk and killed him. However Odin used his Scepter of Strength to bring the Hulk back to life.[16]
Banishment[]
Skurge and Amora were banished by Odin to a barren nether world. There, Skurge abandoned Amora for the mysterious woman named Casiolena who appeared to offer Skurge her love. Feeling betrayed, the Enchantress vowed revenge on all men and used the Valkyrie disguise and the formation of the Liberators to meet this end.[17] Skurge battled the Defenders when they were transported to a mystical realm. Dr. Strange and Namor were then overpowered by Skurge and an army at his command. Locked in the same cell with Bruce Banner and Barbara Norriss. Also imprisoned were the Enchantress and the Black Knight. Amora explained that after her last battle with the Avengers she and the Executioner travelled to this realm and the Executioner soon became the consort of the queen Casiolena, much to Enchantress' chagrin. Amora with the help of Defenders managed to free themselves. In the heat of battle, Skurge killed Casiolena, and Amora reclaimed the Executioner as her own. However, when the Black Knight revolted believing that the Enchantress loved him, she informed him that he was only a pawn in her game, and turned him into stone.[18] Amora escaped, leaving with Skurge.[19]
Return to Asgard[]
In Asgard, the council of war planned their moves, when Karnilla the Norn Queen called Balder to the gate. However the Enchantress and the Executioner broke down the door.[20] They told Balder to surrender or be destroyed.[21] Balder disguised himself to sneak out and try to determine the strength of the enemy army. He sneaked into their encampment and discovered that the suits of armor are empty, brought to life by the Enchantress. Balder is discovered by the Enchantress and Executioner. Balder fought the Executioner, but Enchantress secretly lends him sorcerers aid. Karnilla came to Balder's rescue. She and the Enchantress engage in a battle of sorcery, while Balder fights the Executioner. After defeating them, Balder and Karnilla are confronted by an angry Thor.[22] After finally arriving home, Thor found Enchantress and the Executioner, and on the throne was Loki himself.[23] Loki now ruled Asgard in Odin's stead with Enchantress and the Executioner as his Loki's lieutenants. By his own royal decree contained in the Cask of Sovereignty, even Thor must obey him. Loki knows that he must dispose of Odin if he wants to keep the throne. Loki then reveals that he was behind the empty army, and that Kroda was the second Thor, and that the document from the Cask was a forgery. The Enchantress and Executioner steal the sleeping form of Odin. Sif, Thor, and Recorder head to Karnilla's domain to find Balder, while the Warriors Three are charged to protect Odin. Thor's group were then assaulted by two Storm Giants, but Thor defeats them both. When they arrive, Karnilla tells them that Balder did not come back with her. The Warriors Three find the Enchantress and Executioner, but before they can be forced to talk, the Enchantress trips over Hogun's dagger, causing them both to fall into the fire pits. A dagger which Loki mystically caused to be moved into her way. Thor then stormed into the Royal Throne room, demanding to know where Balder was. Loki then disappeared and the Destroyer came crashing through the wall.[24]
Death[]
After feeling toyed with by Amora for too long, Skurge teamed up with the Einherjar, Balder, and Thor to rescue stolen souls from Hel that had been taken by Hela. In the process, Hela attempted to persuade Skurge to join her warriors onboard of Naglfar, the ship of the dead. One of her minions used an illusion of Amora to sway him, but when this treachery was revealed, Skurge used his axe to cleave a dimensional rift into the heart of a sun right beside Naglfar, destroying both the ship and the axe in the process.
After they had retrieved the human souls, the band was pursued by a huge army of the dead. When Thor volunteered to buy time for the other's escape, Skurge knocked him out from behind, and volunteered to hold the bridge of Gjallerbru in his stead. Skurge defended the bridge with a pair of M16's from Earth and unbreakable courage, and none of his opponents set foot on Gjallerbru. He stood alone and died at Gjallerbru, allowing not one of the almost numberless hoard to set foot upon the bridge for as long as he could fight. For this heroic last stand, Skurge found a place among the warriors residing in Valhalla, and to the surprise of many, Amora found herself torn with remorse upon hearing of his demise.[25]
Post Death Adventures[]
When Lorelei died and Hela came for her, Skurge offered Amora the chance to take her place so that they could be together, but she refused. Amora later gave Skurge's axe to a mortal called Brute Benhurst. Thor believed him to be Skurge as he wore a mask. He tried not to fight him until the Executioner hit Kevin Masterson, son of Eric Masterson. Thor realized it could not be him as Skurge would never hurt an unnamed person. He easily defeated Brute Benhurst.[26] Skurge's spirit was freed from Valhalla again when he led the other escaped Einherjar to join an assault on Hela's forces by the Asgardians and New Mutants.[27][28]
When Odin's secret long-lost firstborn Angela set her sights on overthrowing Hela, Skurge joined forces with the Odinsons Balder and Tyr in an attempt to quelch the rebellion,[29] but they failed and were defeated.[30] Angela became the new Queen of Hel after defeating Hela in combat. However, since she only wanted to use that power to set free the spirit of her lover Sera, she abdicated as soon as her true goal was achieved. She handed over the crown to Balder, and he became Hel's new regent.[31]
Not long afterwards, Niffleheim became the target of Muspelheim's new ruler, Sindr the Queen of Cinders, as part of an alliance between her realm and Malekith the Accursed during the War of the Realms.[32] Skurge helped Balder's resistance, but as the war marched on, they were overpowered.[33] With Thor and Loki's help, Sindr's forces were defeated.[34]
When the incarnation of Loki known as Kid Loki set out to secure the Naglfar Beacon to use it in the War of Realms, he assembled a group of Asgardian misfits that became known as the Asgardians of the Galaxy.[35] Loki tricked Skurge into joining his cause, disguising himself as the Enchantress to recruit Skurge and free him from Hel. Even though Loki, as the Enchantress, promised a merciful new existence, Skurge was disappointed that his new lease on life was as violent as his last.[36]
War of the Realms[]
During the War of the Realms, the Asgardians of the Galaxy fought to defend the Earth from an invading force led by Malekith the Accursed. While fighting off the Angels of Heven in Africa, Skurge was fatally injured. With his final strength, Skurge helped Angela in her plan to draw the Angels back to Heven by opening a portal to this realm using his Bloodaxe. Once there, Angela called upon the Naglfar Armada to attack Heven. Most of the Angels retreated to attend to the attack, and attacked Skurge as well. He succumbed to their attacks while holding the portal to Heven, and eventually died. To his surprise, Skurge was transported to Valhalla for his afterlife.[4]Attributes
Powers
- Storm Giant/Asgardian Physiology: Skurge possessed a variety of superhuman attributes as a result of his Storm Giant physiology including:
- Superhuman Strength: Skurge possessed superhuman strength greater than that of most other Asgardians and could lift about 65 tons.[37]
- Superhuman Speed: Despite his great size, Skurge was capable of running and moving much faster than even the finest human athlete.[38]
- Superhuman Stamina: Skurge's highly advanced musculature produced considerably less fatigue toxins than the muscles of humans, or even most other Asgardians. He could exert himself at peak capacity for several days before fatigue impaired his performance.[38]
- Superhuman Durability: The tissues of Skurge's body were considerably harder than those of a human's, and even those of most Asgardians. Skurge could withstand great impact forces, temperature extremes, high caliber bullets, and powerful energy blasts without sustaining physical injury. Skurge was also immune to all known Earthly diseases and infections.[38]
- Superhumanly Dense Tissue: The skin, muscle, and bone tissue of Skurge's body is considerably denser than that of a human. Due to his Storm Giant heritage, his tissue is even denser than those of full blooded Asgardians, contributing somewhat to his superhuman strength and weight.[37][38]
- Superhuman Agility: Skurge's agility, balance, and bodily coordination were all enhanced to levels that were beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete.[38]
- Superhuman Reflexes: Skurge's reflexes were similarly enhanced and were superior to those of the finest human athlete.[38]
- Advanced Longevity: Although not immortal, Skurge, like all Asgardians and Storm Giants, aged at a pace that was much slower than that of humans. Despite being thousands of years old, Skurge was still in his physical prime at the time of his death.[37]
- Allspeak: Thanks to the Allspeak Asgardians can communicate in all of the languages of the Nine Realms, Earth's dialects, and various alien languages.
- Nether Realm Enhancement: (Formerly) While in Casiolena's domain, Skurge gained an odd power boost from the dark regions strange environment, augmenting his already impressive physical abilities while bestowing unique magical powers upon him as well.[18]
- Magic Blasts
- Binding Enchantments: Skurge could employ powerful spells revolving around trapping and imprisonment which were tailed to the powers of contained individuals, if the prisoner somehow gained new powers unbeknownst to him or the craft erected however than it would not be able to detain them.
Abilities
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Weapons
See Also
- 93 appearance(s) of Skurge (Earth-616)
- 15 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Skurge (Earth-616)
- 20 minor appearance(s) of Skurge (Earth-616)
- 7 mention(s) of Skurge (Earth-616)
- 6 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Skurge (Earth-616)
- 66 image(s) of Skurge (Earth-616)
- 3 quotation(s) by or about Skurge (Earth-616)
- 1 item(s) used/owned by Skurge (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Avengers NOW! #1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Avengers #7
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #4
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Asgardians of the Galaxy #10
- ↑ Avengers Inc. #3
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Journey Into Mystery #103
- ↑ Journey Into Mystery #104
- ↑ Journey Into Mystery #116
- ↑ Journey Into Mystery #117
- ↑ Avengers #9
- ↑ Avengers #15
- ↑ Avengers #16
- ↑ Avengers Classic #7
- ↑ Avengers Classic #9–10
- ↑ Avengers Annual #1
- ↑ Incredible Hulk #102
- ↑ Avengers #83
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Defenders #4
- ↑ Defenders #20
- ↑ Thor #258
- ↑ Thor #259
- ↑ Thor #260
- ↑ Thor #263
- ↑ Thor #264
- ↑ Thor #360–362
- ↑ Thor #402–403
- ↑ New Mutants #83
- ↑ New Mutants #85
- ↑ Angela: Queen of Hel #3
- ↑ Angela: Queen of Hel #4
- ↑ Angela: Queen of Hel #5
- ↑ Mighty Thor (Vol. 2) #701
- ↑ Thor (Vol. 5) #2
- ↑ Thor (Vol. 5) #4
- ↑ Asgardians of the Galaxy #2
- ↑ Asgardians of the Galaxy #5
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #16
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #4
- ↑ Thor #362
- ↑ Avengers NOW! #1
- ↑ Marvel Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide Vol 1 3