DR. HJARMAL SVENSON

Real Name: Dr. Hjarmal Knute Svenson

Identity/Class: Human;
   citizen of Norway

Occupation: Medical doctor, explorer

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Avengers (Captain America/Steve Rogers, Giant-Man/Henry Pym, Iron Man/Tony Stark, Thor Odinson, Wasp/Janet Van Dyne), Kallusians

Enemies: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Norway;
formerly the Kallusians base beneath the North Pole

First Appearance: Avengers I#14 (March, 1965)

Powers/Abilities: Dr. Svenson was a specialist in treating lungs, and was also a gifted researcher and explorer. He was able to produce "tiny oxygen granules," and designed special oxygen masks for the Kallusians so that they could survive in Earth's atmosphere.

Height: 6' (by approximation)
Weight: 190 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown

History:
(Avengers I#14 (fb)) - Dr. Svenson was exploring in the Arctic when he was discovered by members of the Kallusian race; the extraterrestrials kidnapped him so that he could aid them in surviving in Earth's environment, whose oxygen was not sufficient for them. In exchange for his aid, the Kallusians' leader Ogor promised Svenson that the Kallusians' war with the Yirbek would not come to Earth.

(Avengers I#14 (fb) - BTS) - While Svenson was working for the extraterrestrials, one of the Kallusians wore a face mask to impersonate Svenson at his lab in Norway, so no searching parties would come looking for him.

(Avengers I#14) - The Avengers came to the Kallusians' base in search of Dr. Svenson so that he could treat the Wasp, who was suffering from a bullet wound in her left lung; the Kallusians refused to give him up and fought the Avengers. Dr. Svenson was able to halt the battle when he informed the Avengers that he was not a prisoner, but staying of his own free will; but when the Kallusians realized that the Yirbek had found them, Ogor planned to fight them on Earth, despite his promise to Svenson. The Avengers were able to force the Kallusians to honor their word, and the Kallusians sent the Avengers and Svenson to New York via their matter displacer while they set out to fight their battle with the Yirbek in space.

(Avengers I#14/Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes#5) - Dr. Svenson immediately got to work to save the Wasp's life, and succeeded.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Larry Ivie, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck.

 Ian Watson once theorized that at the time of Avengers I#14, the Wasp was pregnant, which is why Giant-Man was so agitated; according to his theory, the Wasp miscarried behind-the-scenes, and this helped inspire Giant-Man and the Wasp's departure in Avengers I#16, almost immediately afterwards. Furthermore, he suspected that Pym had based Ultron's brain patterns on those of his unborn child (this was before Avengers III#22 had come out). All interesting ideas, to be sure.

Svenson's first names were revealed in Marvel Atlas#1 & OHotMU A-Z HC#1 (Avengers entry).

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Dr. Svenson should not be confused with:

• Svantovit - Russian god, brother of Perun--Soviet Super Soldiers#1
• Sv'ara - member of the Mindspawn--Sleepwalker#22
• Svarog - Russian god, father of Perun--Infinity Gauntlet#2
• Svartalfheim - realm of the Dark Elves--Thor I#347
• Svein - Asgardian, child of Volstagg--Marvel Fanfare I#34
• Svin - rock troll--Marvel Graphic Novel: Raven Banner
• Svraden - Balder's sword, forged by Sindi--Thor: Son of Asgard#6
• Svyatogor - of the Bogatyri--Avengers West Coast#87
• any other characters with similar names

images: (without ads)
Avengers I#14, p14, pan4 (Dr. Svenson)
Avengers I#14, p20, pan7 (headshot - Dr. Svenson)
Avengers I#14, p20, pan5 (Dr. Svenson, leaving operating room)

Appearances:
Avengers I#14 (March, 1965) - Stan Lee (plot/editor), Larry Ivie & Larry Lieber (script), Jack Kirby (layouts), Don Heck (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Stan Goldberg (colors), Sam Rosen (letters)
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes#5 (March, 2005) - Joe Casey (writer), Scott Kollins (pencils/inks), Wil Quintana (colors), Richard Starkings (letters), Andy Schmidt (editor)

First posted: 01/10/2005
Last updated: 12/03/2023