The Valkyries return to the Marvel Universe in January 2021, and in anticipation, Marvel has released an awesome new teaser trailer for the book. Spinning out of the King in Black mega-event, the comic, titled King in Black: Return of the Valkyries, will be written by Jason Aaron and Torunn Gronbekk with art by Nina Vakueva and will be in stores January 1, 2021.
The Valkyries are a key part of the Norse mythology that Thor’s Marvel lore draws upon, though they’ve been absent from the comics since being wiped out in War of the Realms, leaving only Jane Foster, the former Thor, to carry the title. The first appeared way back in 1970, in Avengers #83, and would become not only a member of the Avengers, but the Defenders as well. MCU fans know the character best thanks to Tessa Thompson’s version of Valkyrie, but now Marvel is bringing together a whole team of Valkyries to square off against Knull and his horde of symbiotes.
The trailer, posted to Marvel Entertainment’s YouTube channel, depicts a mysterious woman sitting at a bar on a distant planet. After getting into a bar fight, she receives a mysterious message, part of which says, “you are not dead.” The trailer also depicts action scenes from the book and details the Valkyries in the book: the aforementioned Jane Foster, Hildegarde, the mutant Dani Moonstar (herself a former Valkyrie) and a mysterious new member, who turns out to be the mysterious woman from the beginning of the trailer. It is worth noting the mysterious member of the Valkyries team bears a strong resemblance to the MCU Valkyrie. The trailer also reveals the book’s connection to the King in Black: Knull’s attack awakens an ancient evil that the Valkyries must come together to fight.
The Valkyries have a 50 year history at Marvel Comics, and seeing them united and back in action will be a treat for fans. The Valkyries of myth were fierce warriors – a trait that will serve them well in a fight against Knull and his symbiotes which it’s now clear will engulf the entire Marvel world, including its more mystical corners. Writer Jason Aaron has put his own epic spin on Norse mythology before during his Thor run, and he will no doubt draw on it for this series. The King in Black promises to be a major event for Marvel, and a number of mini-series and one-shots will be spinning out of it; Return of the Valkyries looks to be one of the most intense of them all. This intensity is on full display in the trailer, promising fans a wild ride as the Valkyries return to the Marvel Universe.
