NEDRA

Real Name: Presumably Nedra

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

Occupation: Former queen of the Storm Giants

Group Membership: Jotuns (Giants of Jotunheim)

Affiliations: Brimer, unidentified Vanna

Enemies: Gods of Asgard, especially Heimdall and Odin

Known Relatives: Presumably Brimer (husband)

Aliases: None

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

First Appearance: Journey into Mystery I#105/2 (June, 1964)

Powers/Abilities: As a Jotun, Nedra was large and strong (perhaps Class 25-50), with superhuman durability and longevity (enhanced lifespan/delayed aging, with a lifespan perhaps measuring presumably at least millennia).

    The Vanna served her will, though whether this was out of respect for her title as queen, or because she knew some means to influence or control them, is unrevealed.

Height: Unrevealed (perhaps 19' see comments)
Weight: Unrevealed; (at human density, at the estimated height above) approximately 2.6 tons; (at previously reported density of giants as 2-3 times human) 5.2-7.8 tons
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Unrevealed (dark eyebrows)

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

    Nedra assured Brimer she knew how to get past Heimdall, reminding Brimer of the Vanna, and then summoning one of the air creatures, who were a part of the silent breeze that none could see or hear: "Hear me, Vanna -- wherever you may be! Queen Nedra commands you to appear! You may not disobey my command!! You must heed the orders of Queen Nedra!!"

    When one of the Vanna appeared, and noted that it heard and obeyed her, she sent him 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. The Vanna promised his queen that he would not fail.

(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.

(Thor: Truth of History#1 (fb) - BTS) - <"Less than four thousand years ago, on a glacial ridge in Asgard's Menhir Mountains..."> - Believing that "Midgard's abundant bounties" were wasted on primitive mortals, Nedra had her witch create a mystic gateway to Earth; the gateway opened in Egypt, and Nedra used it to plunder various trinkets from that region. But Heimdall apparently learned of Nedra's thefts with his enhanced senses. (Thor: Truth of History#1) - Thor, Sif, Balder, and the Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg) attacked Nedra's fortress and fought their way past Storm Giants. They confronted Nedra and found the gateway; but Volstagg accidentally fell through the portal and was transported to Heliopolis. After restraining the witch and Nedra with Nedra's robe, Thor, Fandral, and Hogun entered the gateway to retrieve Volstagg.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and George Bell.

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

In Thor: Truth of History#1, Nedra appeared to be about the same height as Thor.--Ron Fredricks

Updated images by Ron Fredricks.

Profile by Snood. Update by Ron Fredricks (Thor: Truth of History).

CLARIFICATIONS:
Nedra should be distinguished from:

• Nedra - matriarch of the Eyriennes of Other Earth, mother of Cassandra--Fantastic Four I#273
• any other giants or "Ned" characters

images: (without ads)
Journey into Mystery I#105/2, p1, pan1 (Nedra; Brimer [background]; image of Heimdall [foreground])
Journey into Mystery I#105/2, p2, pan1 (Nedra summons Vanna)
Journey into Mystery I#105/2, p2, pan2 (Nedra commands Vanna)
Thor: Truth of History#1, p5, pan1 (Nedra; Thor [left])

Appearances:
Journey into Mystery I#105/2 (June, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (penciler), George Bell (inker)
Thor: Truth of History#1 (December, 2008) - Alan Davis (writer/pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Rob Schwager (colors), Warren Simons (editor)

First posted: 07/31/2018
Last updated: 03/14/2024