First Appearance: Guardians of the Galaxy#42 (November, 1993)

Powers/Abilities: Woden, as Thor's son, had inherited much of the same powers that Thor did through the power of Mjolnir. These include the uru hammer's ability to launch lightning bolts, absorb seismic activity and redirect it as a concussive blast, open portals that crossed vast distances and transport matter, the ability to "fly" by hurling Mjolnir and holding onto the thong, as well as use it as a swinging weapon. Mjolnir also returned to Woden upon command as per the standard enchantments. However, it is unknown if the enchantment of a mortal identity was still active.

Woden was powerfully strong (probably Class 90+, close to Thor's level), and extremely durable, all at levels that would approximate Thor early in his career. He had superhuman stamina, resistance to injury, and longevity. He could also exist unaided in outer space and survive indefinitely underwater in a deep toxic lake. Woden had blond hair and wore armor that was reminiscent of is father's. He also had a nifty golden "W" on his belt buckle and no cloak. He also displayed stealth capabilities.

History:
(Guardians of the Galaxy#42 (fb)) - Woden was the first-born child from Thor and Sif's marriage. While Sif willingly took on the role of homemaker, Thor did not let go of his adventure-seeking nature, leaving Sif alone for long periods to raise Woden alone. Woden grew into a troubled lad and a brooding and delinquent bully as a teenager, bringing shame to the House of Thor. Sif then petitioned Odin to bring Thor back to fulfill his parental obligations to the boy. Thor returned and taught his son about his birthright and using Mjolnir. But Thor then became withdrawn, morose and drank often. This angered Woden tremendously and he left home. Some time after that, Thor lost the right to hold Mjolnir because he was no longer worthy.

(Guardians of the Galaxy#42 (fb) - BTS) - Woden returned to Asgard and claimed Mjolnir, being found worthy to hold the mystic mallet.

(Guardians of the Galaxy#42) - Loki and his Inhuman Assassin Squad attacked Asgard and fought the Guardians of the Galaxy to a standstill. Loki was about to unlock Composite's sonic diffusion muzzle, when Woden struck the two villains down with a lightning bolt.

(Guardians of the Galaxy#43) - Woden declared before Loki that he now wielded the power and responsibility of his birthright. Loki commanded Composite to deal with the young thunder-god, stamping his Gorgon-like hoof, sending a seismic shockwave at Woden. However, Woden easily used Mjolnir to absorb the attack and sent it hurtling back at Composite, knocking the fight out of the Inhuman assassin. Woden next tackled Loki and the two battled fiercely.
    Meanwhile, the Guardians fought and defeated the rest of Loki's Assassin Squad, while Talon used his mystic amulet to contain them. Also, the citizens of Asgard recognized and praised Woden's prowess and courage. Likewise, Thor admired his son's skills and power, as Odin forgave his son for past transgressions. Loki, fearful of his nephew's power as the new god of thunder, teleported away to stand next to his Inhuman invaders, but found himself locked inside Talon's mystic sphere. Loki almost dispersed Talon's bubble-prison, but found himself still restrained - Aleta had reinforced the prison with her Starhawk powers.

(Guardians of the Galaxy#43 - BTS) - Odin and Thor met up with Woden and determined what Loki's punishment should be.

(Guardians of the Galaxy#43) - Woden, Thor and Odin then stood together to pass judgment on Loki, who remained defiant. With all three grasping Mjolnir, they banished Loki and his Inhuman Assassin Squad to the Black Canyon. The villains disappeared with a crack of thunder. Woden then walked away, arm-in-arm, with Sif, Thor and Odin, united once more as a family.

(Galactic Guardians#1) - Silverback attacked Heimdall at the gates of Asgard, knocking the guardsman down. Woden then launched a lightning strike at Silverback from behind. The invader then aggressively launched himself at Woden.

(Galactic Guardians#2) - Woden broke free of Silverback's grip, but lost hold of Mjolnir, which fell onto the rainbow bridge. Silverback tried unsuccessfully to pick the hammer up, but it flew back to Woden, whereupon the young god twirled it to open a portal so as to remove the battle away from Asgard's gates. The two arrived in the Scorch Zone in North America, the impact observed on computer by President Tarin and Old Redd. The warrior's battle took them into what had become the Great Lake, a large toxic lake. Their battle continued underwater, stirring a massive crustacean mutate that was hunting for food. Woden and Silverback became caught in the huge monster's tentacles.

(Galactic Guardians#3) - The crustacean mutate drew Woden toward its mouth to feed on him, but Woden instead struck his hammer upon the tentacle, drawing down a massive bolt of lightning that pierced the water and electrocuted the huge beast, as well as Silverback. Woden then collected Silverback and swam back to the surface, and left his opponent on the shore of the toxic lake. Throwing Mjolnir, Woden left the scene.

(Galactic Guardians#3 - BTS) - Woden watched Silverback's movement from a distance. Silverback was collected by the Ubiquitor.

(Galactic Guardians#4 - BTS) - Woden monitored the Ubiquitor, and followed her as she transported away with Phoenix IX.

(Galactic Guardians#4) - Phoenix IX was struggling in his battle against the Ubiquitor, until Woden arrived and suggested to Phoenix IX that the energies of the Phoenix Force and Mjolnir be enjoined against the invader. The resultant cataclysmic blast apparently destroyed the Ubiquitor, eliminating her presence. Phoenix IX then invited Woden back to the Galactic Guardians' headquarters on Klattu, but Woden respectfully declined and left for Asgard.

Comments: Created by Michael Gallagher (writer), Dale Eaglesham (pencils) & Steve Montano (inks).

    Woden was named after his grandfather, being another form of "Odin".

    Interestingly, he had a blond short beard in GotG#42, but seconds later in the next issue, he was clean shaven.

    The Ubiquitor's fist, shown after Woden departed the battle scene in Galactic Guardians, was mistakenly colored like Woden's.

    I recognize that Woden's extended family is technically quite large, however, for the sake of brevity and clarity, I kept to only those relations revealed in the issues listed.

Profile by Grendel Prime

Clarifications:

Woden should not be confused with:

• Odin - Asgardian ruler, father of Thor + Vidar, step-father of Loki, husband of Frigga, made pact to third Celestial host along with other sky gods to not interfere with Celestial judgment for 1000 years, created Destroyer @ Journey into Mystery I#85
• Wotan or Woden, other names for Odin
• Magnir - red-headed son of Thor and the Enchantress from Earth 3515 (Earth-Thor: Reigning) @ ThorII#68

And has no known connection to:

• Odin duplicate - created by Igron @ Thor I#217
• Odin the Highfather of Earth-Amalgam - Odin + Highfather of New Asgods @ Bullets & Bracelets#1
• Odin of Earth-9260 - Nexus being of this reality, defeated by Seth, power drained by him, rescued by Thor with aid of extradimensional Dr. Doom, Irondroid, and Wolverine
• Dargo Ktor - human from alternate future whom the GotG also met, wielded Mjolnir, Thor of Earth - Thor: Once and Future Thor @ Thor I#384
• Any other "Woden" character.

In an effort to remove the battle between himself and Silverback away from the gates of Asgard, Woden opened a dimensional portal using Mjolnir. The two landed in a fiery bolt in the Scorch Zone, the former Great Lakes Area in North America that had become a huge toxic pool. As they battled, they fell into the Great Lake and awakened a creature that existed only to feed. Lying several fathoms beneath the surface, it grabbed Woden and Silverback in separate tentacles, and pulled Woden first toward its gaping teeth-filled maw. However, Woden struck Mjolnir on one of the monster's tentacles and drew down a massive lightning blast that pierced the water. Raw voltage electrocuted the monster mutate, as well as Silverback. Woden swam back to the surface with the unconscious Silverback, but the crustacean mutate's fate is unknown.

It was huge with an armored topshell, brown in color, plus four strong tentacles that were about 35' long and around 2-3' thick. It also had two huge arms with massive claws at the end. It had several rows of large, pointed teeth, plus two sets of mandibles, as well as two long feelers and eyes on stalks. Sort of a huge mutant lobster with tentacles.

--Galactic Guardians#2 (3

images:
Guardians of the Galaxy#42, p22, panel 2 (main),
Guardians of the Galaxy#43, p3, panel 2 (helmet),
Galactic Guardians#2, p3, panel 3 (twirling),
Galactic Guardians#3, p10, panel 4 (crustacean mutate),

Guardians of the Galaxy#42 (November, 1993) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Dale Eaglesham (pencils), Steve Montano (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy#43 (December, 1993) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Dale Eaglesham (pencils), Steve Montano (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Galactic Guardians#1 (July, 1994) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Kevin West (pencils), Steve Montano (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Galactic Guardians#2 (August, 1994) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Kevin West (pencils), Steve Montano (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Galactic Guardians#3 (September, 1994) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Kevin West (pencils), Steve Montano (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Galactic Guardians#4 (October, 1994) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Kevin West (pencils), Steve Montano (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)

Last updated: 03/14/06

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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