BRIMER

Real Name: Presumably Brimer

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Jotunheim; associated with Asgardian cosmology) Giant

Occupation: Former king of the Storm Giants

Group Membership: Jotuns (Giants of Jotunheim)

Affiliations: Nedra, unidentified Vanna

Enemies: Gods of Asgard, especially Heimdall and Odin

Known Relatives: Presumably Nedra (wife)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Jotunheim (one of the nine/ten worlds associated with the Asgardian cosmology)

First Appearance: Journey into Mystery I#104/2 (May, 1964)

Powers/Abilities: As a Jotun, Brimer was large and strong (perhaps Class 50), with superhuman durability, and longevity (enhanced lifespan/delayed aging, with a lifespan perhaps measuring presumably at least millennia).

    He wielded an ornate staff of unknown nature and function.

Height: Unrevealed (perhaps 20')
Weight: Unrevealed; (at human density, at the estimated height above) approximately 4 tons; (at previously reported density of giants as 2-3 times human) 8-12 tons
Eye: Unrevealed
Hair: Brown (see comments)

History:
(Journey into Mystery I#104/2 (fb) - BTS) - Brimer apparently led a band of Storm Giants to attack Asgard.

(Journey into Mystery I#104/2 - BTS) - Detecting a savage band of Storm Giants marching toward the Rainbow Bridge (with the intent of attacking Asgard) but still two days out, Heimdall guided Odin to send a heavily-armed war party to meet the invaders before they reached the Rainbow Bridge.

(Journey into Mystery I#104/2 (fb) - BTS) - In less than a week, the Asgardian warriors confronted and defeated the giants, returning with their king, Brimer, as prisoner.

(Journey into Mystery I#104/2) - As the bound Brimer knelt before Odin, the All-Father acknowledged Heimdall's skills and proclaimed him to be the Guardian of the Rainbow Bridge.

(Journey into Mystery I#105/2) - At some point later, Brimer voiced his frustration to Queen Nedra that even though he was king of the Storm Giants, he could not attack Asgard as long as the ever-vigilant Heimdall guarded the Rainbow Bridge.

    When Nedra assured Brimer she knew how to get past Heimdall, Brimer reminded her that Heimdall heard and saw everything, he never slept, and nothing escaped his notice.

    In response, Nedra reminded Brimer of and then showed him one of the Vanna air creatures, who were a part of the silent breeze that none could see or hear, and then she sent one to steal past Heimdall and learn all of Asgard's secrets--by this action, Brimer and Nedra hoped to discredit Heimdall and have him removed from his post.

(Journey into Mystery I#105/2 - BTS) - The Vanna indeed stole past Heimdall unseen and unheard, but Heimdall nonetheless somehow sensed that something had gotten past him, and he sent a warning to Odin, allowing Odin to detect and capture the Vanna.

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

    It is not explicitly stated that Brimer and Nedra were husband and wife, but he was king of the Storm Giants at the same time she was queen of the Storm Giants. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I would think it most likely that they were married.

    Although his hair was colored brown in the original stories, the above images are from Masterworks reprints, which is why his hair appears black and blond.--Ron Fredricks

    I'm not sure why we never saw Brimer again....I guess Laufey and Utgard-Loki were both kings of the Frost Giants, so I don't know that we ever really saw another king of the Storm Giants...have we?

	Well the thing is, we kind of saw him… probably. In Thor Blood Oath, we were introduced to the sort-of main antagonist of the story: king of giants named Gnives, who happens to look strangely like our old pal Brimer. True, he is much bigger, has a beard and possibly a different skin color, but his hairstyle is the same, his mustache is similar, the clothes match up with Brimer's appearance in Journey Into Mystery #105, he wield the same staff from this comic and even has some kind of witch-woman, who looks like Nedra. Maybe it’s just a big freaking coincidence, but I just wonder if Mike Oeming, wasn’t planning to use King  Brimer in this story, but gave his name wrong in the end. Or maybe it's supposed be his brother? Or Brimer changed his name after being defeated and humiliated by the Asgardians? Maybe Brimer wasn’t his name, just a title? Eventually, he was forced into marriage with a “different” Giantess, to keep his title of king after his failed attempt to take control of Asgard [I assume that there are more than one “king” of giants],  which required him to change his “religion or faith”  and giving himself a different name – Gnives? What? Could have happened. We never be knew for sure I guess, but this is in my opinion of an interesting theory, that I was just wanted to share with you.
--Pawel Padmokly
	Could be, I suppose. I'd treat them as different...perhaps a brother or successor like you mentioned, but who knows? I'll put  Gnives on the list as the next giant to profile after Nedra, but it will be awhile before I get to him. Thanks!
--Snood

New images by Ron Fredricks.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Brimer should be distinguished from:

• any other giants or "Brim" characters

images: (without ads)
Journey into Mystery I#105/2, p1, pan1 (main image - Brimer, seated wit scepter, hand covering face)
Journey into Mystery I#104/2, p5, pan2 (Brimer, bound and kneeling before Odin)
Journey into Mystery I#105/2, p2, pan1 (headshot - Brimer; Nedra [background])

Appearances:
Journey into Mystery I#104/2 (May, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (penciler), Don Heck (inker)
Journey into Mystery I#105/2 (June, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (penciler), George Bell (inker)

First posted: 06/21/2018
Last updated: 03/07/2024