Why have Marvel and DC never done anything cool with Valkyrie?

[Kevinroc]

I've been playing Valkyrie Profile 2 (it's a prequel) lately and have been enjoying it. But playing the game (as well as the rerelease of the first one for the PSP) has made me wonder why Marvel and DC have never really used the concept of the Valkyrie to the fullest.

I know the VP franchise plays around with Norse mythology but it's really no "worse" than what Marvel and DC have done to depict Norse mythology.

Here I be getting into VP spoiler territory... Nothing that major but some stuff about the multiple endings of the first game (such as who the boss is) and stuff revealed early in the second game.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

The first VP game focuses on Lenneth, a rather cold and detached Valkyrie who learns to be emotional as the game goes on (if you go for the "best ending", you will see Lenneth get emotional). But then, if it were my job to watch as people died and then train them before shipping them off to fight for the gods, I'd be kinda detached too.

VP 2 takes things a little differently as we focus on another Valkyrie named Silmeria. Odin had placed Silmeria's soul in the body of a human princess named Alicia and so two souls inhabit one body. They don't really have an antagonistic relationship (but I'm not far in the game so that could change). Alicia is the "innocent" type and Silmeria is the "logical warrior" type.

Odin is a HUGE bastard in these games. Thor has only made cameo appearances. And Loki plays a major role in the first game only if you are going for the "best ending."

But playing these games, it drives home (at least to me) how cool the concept of the Valkyrie is. Why have Marvel and DC never done anything cool with the concept? Why is Marvel's Valkyrie reduced to C-list Defender? (I don't think it would hurt Thor if Valkyrie was given a bit of a push.) Where the hell is DC's version of Valkyrie? I know DC doesn't do much with Norse mythology (I guess they just concentrate on Greek mythology because of Wonder Woman).

So, why have Marvel and DC never really done anything with the concepto f the Valkyrie? It's a concept that just seems ripe with story-telling potential. And I would think Marvel and DC are always looking for ways to push strong, female characters to the forefront.

[Lester C.]

I've been playing Valkyrie Profile 2 (it's a prequel) lately and have been enjoying it. But playing the game (as well as the rerelease of the first one for the PSP) has made me wonder why Marvel and DC have never really used the concept of the Valkyrie to the fullest.

I know the VP franchise plays around with Norse mythology but it's really no "worse" than what Marvel and DC have done to depict Norse mythology.

The first VP game focuses on Lenneth, a rather cold and detached Valkyrie who learns to be emotional as the game goes on (if you go for the "best ending", you will see Lenneth get emotional). But then, if it were my job to watch as people died and then train them before shipping them off to fight for the gods, I'd be kinda detached too.

VP 2 takes things a little differently as we focus on another Valkyrie named Silmeria. Odin had placed Silmeria's soul in the body of a human princess named Alicia and so two souls inhabit one body. They don't really have an antagonistic relationship (but I'm not far in the game so that could change). Alicia is the "innocent" type and Silmeria is the "logical warrior" type.

Odin is a HUGE bastard in these games. Thor has only made cameo appearances. And Loki plays a major role in the first game only if you are going for the "best ending."

But playing these games, it drives home (at least to me) how cool the concept of the Valkyrie is. Why have Marvel and DC never done anything cool with the concept? Why is Marvel's Valkyrie reduced to C-list Defender? (I don't think it would hurt Thor if Valkyrie was given a bit of a push.) Where the hell is DC's version of Valkyrie? I know DC doesn't do much with Norse mythology (I guess they just concentrate on Greek mythology because of Wonder Woman).

So, why have Marvel and DC never really done anything with the concepto f the Valkyrie? It's a concept that just seems ripe with story-telling potential. And I would think Marvel and DC are always looking for ways to push strong, female characters to the forefront.
Kevin I love you but mark your thread for spoilers. I thought you were going to talk about greek mythology rather than the ps2 game.

[MartinRedmond]

Any good artist can make ANY concept cool. It's all in the hands of the creative team.

[Zeb Oswalt]

Hmm, I don't know Defenders were pretty cool back in the day. And Valkeyre Brumhilda was a major part. Shre did a decent apearnce in New Muttants when they were in Valhalaha. The X-men were there to. Loki wanted to make Storm the new Godess of Thunder and his bride and to use her in his war with Odion and for some reson Thor was a frog. Still I agrea Valkarye should defantly be beifed up in the reg unverse. The Marvel Ultament verson of Valkaye was well goofy. I'm hoping they bring her to more of a promnet role and maybe have a desent creative team work on the defanders. Well, a team that undeR stands them. And can work witH the loose caNnon team that is the Avangers.


Thanx for your time.

[tangentman]

J.M. DeMatteis attempted to flesh out the Valkyrie in the early 80's Defenders issues. He cleaned up the tricky issues with Barbara Norriss/Brunnhilde sharing consciousness and bodies. Val's personal story began placing more emphasis on Valkyrie the goddess rather than the superheroine.

For example, Val reconciled with Odin after their centuries-long schism. In her godly role, she accepted responsibility for guarding Moondragon, whom Odin psychically bound to prevent further abusing her telepathic powers. Valkyrie had the primary role of making sure Moondragon didn't endanger anyone again with her delusions of grandeur.

The stories also began playing up Valkyrie as the Number One "Chooser Of The Slain". Other mystics recognized her dark power, and Brunnhilde showed a fearsome side that she'd previously hidden from her friends. Remember the panels where half her face would be hidden in shadow, and Valkyrie hinted at her true power? She even escorted a man who'd died heroically to his afterlife. More than once, Valkyrie played this role in the 80's.


Like Kevinroc, I want more stories with Valkyrie. Although Brunnhilde is apparently dead right now, there are two women in the MU who could step up to the plate: Samantha Parrington and Dani Moonstar. Why not see how Sam's life might have changed with the events in Asgard? What if Dani finds power greater than that she lost in the "Decimation"?

[Indigo Al]

Val's early appearances are kind of funny, as they initially tried to paint her as some sort of man-hating (metal) bra burning uber-feminist. Apparently (though I haven't read them), a lot of the pre-DeMatteis Defenders issues had some interesting conflicts between her and Barbara Norris's ex-husband.

If the Viking Answer Lady is to be believed ( http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ ), Valkyries actually were less warrior women and more of ethereal witch-spirits. This might be a new concept for Marvel to explore when Asgard returns.

I myself loved the bit in the final Thor arc where Sif stabbed the ogre who took down Brunhilde, and declared "You cannot escape the vengeance of Brunhilde, our greatest Valkyrie warrior!" (I don't know why I loved that bit, I just did).