WOLFLINGS

Membership: None named

Purpose: Disgracing Odin

Affiliations: Fire Demons, Karnilla, Loki, the Midgard Serpent, Storm Giants, Tyr, Formerly feigned alliances with Jolena and Uthar and their armies

Enemies: Idunn, Jolena and her army, Menagerie of Rimthursar, Odin, Thor, Uthar and his army, Warriors Three (Fandral the Dashing, Hogun the Grim, Volstagg the Enormous)

Base of Operations: Asgard, @ the Hinterlands

First Appearance:
    (Behind the Scenes only) Thor I#320 (June, 1982);
    (Seen and named)              Thor I#322 (August, 1982)

Powers: The Wolflings were standard Asgardian gods, granting them superhuman strength (Class 25?), durability, and other physical abilities. They were resistant to aging and conventional disease. They were experienced warriors and were skilled at the art of deception.

History:
(Thor I#322 (fb)) - A group of conspirators infiltrated the armies of Jolena, queen of Skarnheim, and Uthar, king of the realm across a river from Jolena's realm. The conspirators on each side convinced the leader of that realm that the other group wished to cross the river and claim their land, when in truth both sides were content with their domains. The conspirators instigated this conflict because they knew that Odin would be drawn to the battle. They knew that Odin had had a past love affair with Jolena, and if he intervened on her behalf, he would disgrace both himself and Frigga, Odin's current wife and the woman who had raised Thor. At the same time, if he were unable to involve himself in the conflict, he would demonstrate his impotence as a leader.
    In order that they would be able to identify--and thus not harm--each other, the conspirators each wore the hides of wolves, with those on Jolena's side wearing wolf-headdresses and those on Uthar's side just wearing cloaks.

(Thor I#320 - BTS) - From his Vizier, Odin learned of the battle in the Hinterlands, and that one faction fought under the banner of Jolena. Odin's heart stirred to look upon her fair form once more.

(Thor I#321) - Having ridden his steed Sleipnur to the Hinterlands, Odin watched the battle, and he began to see the truth behind the situation.

(Thor I#322) - Odin explained the situation to Rimthursar's Menagerie and Thor, correctly identified those wearing wolf hides as the conspirators. Thor and the Menagerie then sneaked into the battlefield, where they overhead the Wolflings on one side planning a meeting with the others. Thor sent Kyrie to bring Uthar to the river, and he sent Slithgarn to bring Jolena there. The two leaders then overheard the Wolflings conspiring to perpetuate the struggle, and Uthar and Jolena joined Thor and the Menagerie in subduing the Wolflings. The defeated Wolflings were dragged to the battlefield, where Jolena and Uthar commanded the fighting to stop, and they revealed the Wolflings' actions. Odin then arrived on the battlefield, where he embraced Jolena. Odin announced that his love was vast, like his power, and that, like any god, he may love more than one woman. However, he made it clear that the fact that he showed a trace of his former love for Jolena in no way made him unfaithful to Frigga. It merely made him fallible, just as all men and and gods were.

(Thor I#324/2) - Loki was incensed by Odin's behavior, and joined forces with Tyr to raise an army against Asgard. They enlisted the Storm Giants, Fire Demons, Karnilla, and Wolflings.

(Thor I#325/2) - The Wolflings aided Loki and Tyr as they captured Idunn and fed the golden apples of Asgard to the Midgard Serpent, then marched on Asgard to demand Odin's surrender.

(Thor I#326/2) - The Warriors Three raided Loki and Tyr's camp and rescued Idunn. Odin and his followers then fled to Earth to seek Thor.

(Thor I#327) - The Wolflings helped Loki and Tyr capture Asgard, but they found it deserted. They had the Midgard Serpent employ itself as their bridge to Earth, and went into battle against Thor, Odin and the other Asgardians. However, Loki switched sides when he realized he had misjudged Odin, and the Wolflings and others led by Tyr were defeated.