Horskuld
Horskuld
Real Name: Horskuld (last name unrevealed, but possibly something-son...)
Identity/Class: Asgardian god
Occupation: Adventurer, warrior
Group Membership: Asgardian gods
Affiliations: Trolls (including Askella, Otny, & Svin)
formerly
Greyval Grimson,
Odin, Sygnet
Enemies: Asgardian gods, Greyval Grimson, Sygnet
Known Relatives: Unidentified father (presumably
deceased), Grim Magnus (paternal half-uncle, deceased), Greyval Grimson
(paternal half-cousin, deceased), Sygnet (half-cousin by marriage);
Odin noted that Greyval and Horskuld were the only two
left from Magnus' line.
Aliases: Prince of Trolls, Troll Prince
Base of Operations: Unrevealed (presumably Hel or
Niffleheim);
formerly Asgard (possibly lived on Hrafnfell, aka the Raven's
Roost, outside the city of Asgard -- or likely at least in that vicinity)
First Appearance: Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (1985)
Powers/Abilities: Like all Asgardians, Horskuld was
extremely long-lived, though not actually immortal. He had superhuman strength
(Class 50?) and durability. He was a skilled and bold warrior, though jealousy,
impatience, and his stubborn will limited him somewhat. He was an experienced
horseman and swordsman.
After being corrupted by Asgardian trolls, he wore a
suit of armor with unspecified properties.
Height: Unrevealed; possibly 6'3"
Weight: Unrevealed; possibly 375 lbs.
Eyes: Blue or green? hazel? (I can't tell)
Hair: Blond
History:
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) - Horskuld was the
son of the half-brother of Grim Magnus, bearer of the
Raven Banner.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner - BTS) - Horskuld presumably battled for Asgard against the forces of Asgard's enemies during the battle in which Grim Magnus was slain; having been seduced by Asgardian rock trolls, Greyval Grimson missed the battle and thus failed to retrieve the Raven Banner from his father's dying hands. Instead, the trolls stole the Banner.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) -
Greyval regained his wits in time to return to wed his beloved Valkyrie fiancé,
Sygnet, the night before their wedding. Horskuld was apparently present when
Greyval bragged of having felled five giants.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) - Horskuld was present the next morning when Greyval bragged of having felled 10 giants.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) - Later that day, Horskuld attended the wedding in Hrafnfell along with other family and friends.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner) - When Greyval
bragged of having felled 15 giants, an elder man present reminded him that he
had claimed to have slain only 5 gods the night before; and Horskuld reminded
Greyval that this morning he had claimed the number to have been ten. When
Greyval claimed in the heat of battle he had lost count and further noted that ,
in his fury, he had even left behind the Raven Banner. Horskuld commented, "Aye,
cousin, but surely some other warrior retrieved it and will return it to its
rightful roost at Hrafnfell?"
As part of a ceremonial blessing of the wedding, Horskuld
offered his own black stallion against Greyval's steed, but Horskuld's stallion
won, after which Horskuld apologized for clouding their wedding day with his
victory. When the Valkyrior arrived and revealed that the Raven Banner had not
been retrieved by the gods, Horskuld silently brooded while others questioned
Greyval's honesty and valor.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) -
Horskuld petitioned and was granted leave by Odin to seek the lost Banner.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner) - As Horskuld left the palace royal, he encountered Sygnet and Greyval, who had been spurred on by Sygnet to beg Odin's leave to seek the Banner. Horskuld told them he had already gained Odin's leave, noting that only a rare god could redeem the shame his cousin had brought on them all. He further commented to Sygnet that she may have wed the wrong champion, and he mocked Greyval as a cowardly pretender.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) - Horskuld arrogantly refused the counsel of Morduk and the sages and galloped away companionless, trusting only to himself.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) - Horskuld rode his steed all over the place without a clue.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner) - Frustrated, Horskuld nonetheless noted that he'd rather fail than condescend to seek another god's council; he further vowed to succeed and that Sygnet would rue her choice of his fool cousin. Speaking via a seemingly disembodied whispered voice, Otny the troll told Horskuld that if he slew a doe and her fawn, the Banner would be his. After Horskuld slew the pair, Otny materialized through the spilled blood, noting Horskuld was Asgard's most noble god and that he had earned the Banner.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) - Horskuld accompanied Otny to the kingdom of the trolls and was treated as an honored guest, leading him to partake of their drink and fall further under the trolls' sway.
(Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner) - When the
trolls wondered who could drain a massive horn-o'-plenty in a single drink,
Horskuld accepted the challenge and succeeded. Otny and Askella (the troll
prophetess) heaped praises on Horskuld, and Askells noted that Thor was not half
the trencherman as Horskuld...and that Horskuld should be prince of the gods.
They entreated Horskuld to pledge upon the drinking horn that he renounce the
daylight and be prince of trolls; drunk on (enchanted?) mead, Horskuld thought
that didn't sound too bad, and they further convinced him that, with the Raven
Banner added to his already great skills that he might soon be king of Asgard,
with Queen Sygnet by his side. Considering the luck of the runes, Horskuld
agreed, and the trolls celebrated.
Shortly thereafter, the trolls placed their armor on Horskuld and noted that the storm giants, who had heard "great Horskuld had joined the trolls," were requesting his aid against Asgard. Pleased with the giants "well-deserved" honor, Horskuld agreed to lead the charge. They further tricked Horskuld into insisting upon bearing the Raven Banner himself (as no other was worthy enough), appreciating that while Horskuld would die in the process, his holding the Raven Banner for their side would ensure their victory. The trolls led Horskuld to "the altar of the bottomless abyss" where waited the Raven Banner.
Horskuld soon gleefully approached the Raven Banner, praising how he had proven his own worth and cursing Asgard. However, Greyval, strengthened in spirit and rededicated to his destiny by his journey as guided by Morduk, ordered the troll prince to turn and flee, unaware that Horskuld was beneath the armor. Horskuld yelled and charged Greyval, who met him in combat. After some struggle, Horskuld cursed Greyval, "Hela take you...and be damned!" When Greyval dodged his swordstrokes and Greyval struck Horskuld across the helmet, Horskuld removed his damaged helmet, taunting, "A paltry blow, cousin," Greyval was shocked to learn Horskuld's fate and lost his footing against a step behind him. Though Horskuld pinned his sword, demanding Greyval kneel as vassal at the trolls feet and die, Greyval instead pulled his dagger, stabbing Horskuld in the neck and causing him to fall back into the bottomless abyss...presumably to his doom.
Comments: Created by Alan Zelenetz and Charles Vess.
Horskuld thrice noted the luck of the runes, twice in wishing favor on Greyval and Sygnet, and once upon accepting the role of prince of trolls.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
No KNOWN connections to:
images: (without ads)
Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner, pg. 13, panel 2 (face, slight
oblique);
pg37, panel 1
(full body lateral-horseback);
pg37, panel 4
(face-straight);
pg38, panel 4
(mostly full body);
pg55, panel 1
(mostly armored, front view);
pg 55, panel
2 (troll prince helmet profile);
pg 57, panel
4, (armored-charging);
pg 58, panel
6 (troll prince unmasked)
Appearances:
Marvel Graphic Novel No. 15: The Raven Banner (1985) - Alan Zelenetz (writer),
Charles Vess (artist), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Last updated: 03/23/14
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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