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December 9th, 2019 
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Paint Monk’s Library Premieres is a new feature highlighting first appearances of major comic book characters. In each installment, we’ll take a look at the character and how he or she was created. We’ll also provide a review of their first comic book appearance.)
By WALLY MONK – PM Library Editor
The Mighty Thor, Odin-son and powerhouse of the Asgardian gods, made his Marvel comic book debut in 1962 in the pages of Journey Into Mystery #83. With such a rich mythology from which to draw, it only made sense for Marvel to continue reaching into the books of lore for more Norse themed characters.
Hela, the Norse goddess of death, would make her own debut in the same title two years later. But it wasn’t until 1970 in the pages of The Avengers that Brunnhilde the valkyrie would burst into the comics scene – at least in appearance.
To readers of comics within the last decade, Brunnhilde has left her mark on the Marvel Universe as a founding member of the Secret Avengers. She served as co-leader of The Fearless Defenders, working with Misty Knight. In the original Defenders series, Valkyrie was a major character until her death in that series, and her incarnation was later brought back to life in the pages of Doctor Strange.
In her early Marvel appearances, the essence of Brunnhilde as the leader of the Valkyries was transferred into a human host body. Characters who have taken on the Valkyrie persona in the Marvel comics universe have included Barbara Norris, Samantha Parrington. Jane Foster currently wears the mantle in Marvel continuity.
Valkyrie is a familiar Marvel character to fans of the Marvel movie franchise, or “MCU”. She was portrayed by actress Tessa Thompson as one of the supporting characters in Thor: Ragnarok. But the actual origin of Valkyrie began way back in the 1970s, in the pages of Avengers #83.
Here, she wasn’t even really a valkyrie; she was a guise of the evil Enchantress, sent to entrap the Avengers team. She was created by the team all of you who have been reading our Countdown to Conan know very well – Valkyrie is a Roy Thomas and John Buscema creation!
After her initial Avengers appearance, the valkyrie wouldn’t be seen again, until her personality entered a woman named Samantha Parrington, who would confront the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk #142.
Today, Jason Aaron is knocking the character out of the ballpark in a new series, Jane Foster: Valkyrie, which is relatively new (but well received) and approaching its sixth issue.
It’s exceptionally appropriate to feature this issue today, as this week Paint Monk’s Library will begin reviewing Aaron’s Valkyrie title each month.
Review: Avengers (Vol. 1) #83
*** SPOILER ALERT! ***
Early feminism in comics is alive and well in this issue of Avengers, which begins as Janet Van Dyne (AKA the Wasp) arrives back home at the Avengers mansion and hears voices coming from the meeting room. Being the sneaky little heroine she is, she decides to pop into the meeting unannounced to see what is going on. Surprise!
Brunnhilde the Valkyrie, along with the full female ensemble of Avengers (Scarlet Witch, Black Widow and Medusa) announce that the Avengers are no more – they’re the Liberators (see the cover of this issue above). Unsurprisingly, none of the male team members are around for the announcement.
A nicely executed two-page splash panel begins the Valkyrie’s long explanation of why the women are stepping up to the plate – and reaping revenge on the male heroes who have held them down for so long. The chooser of the slain repeats examples to all of the assembled heroines about how they have been rejected or made insignificant by their male counterparts.
Medusa is insulted worst of all, as Valkyrie notes how she plays second fiddle to her husband, Black Bolt, and that she hangs on his every word even though he is mute and does not speak.
Having successfully riled up all of the female Avengers and rallied them to her cause, the group is off to Vermont where they will face the male Avengers and teach them a valuable lesson.
Meanwhile, all of the male Avengers are preparing for a Halloween parade and enjoying a get-together. Even Rascally Roy Thomas – the writer of this issue and Marvel legend – makes an appearance at the party (dressed as Spider-Man) alongside his former wife Jean.
The party is over quickly, as all of the Avengers plan to participate in a Halloween parade! It sounds like a bundle of laughs, but little do the Avengers know some of their enemies will be using the parade as an opportunity to wreak a little havoc.
Klaw and the Masters of Evil are lurking just around the corner, having broken out of prison. And they’re all fired up to take a hostage during the parade and duke it out with our A-team.
The Avengers are in trouble! An angry quartet of female heroes is ready to teach them a thing or two, and the Masters of Evil are trying to stir the pot. And why is Valkyrie so gung-ho on taking the male Avengers out of action?
CAPSULE REVIEW: This issue has it all. An all-star line up of female Avengers, the rest of the team, the Masters of Evil (and one of my favorite characters, Klaw), and even a comic cameo of the writer! While campy in general (most early Marvel superhero books were) the writing is excellent and the theme rings true almost 50 years later.
This is a great example of how much fun the Marvel Universe was in its earlier days – action-packed, well-written and full of dialogue, battles, and social undertones. All around, this comic is a winner. Buscema’s artwork? Great stuff. Thomas’ writing? Excellent, as usual.
In flashback reviews like this, I normally provide a synopsis of the whole story, but I think you’ll enjoy this particular issue too much to spoil the whole thing. It’s a must-read for Avengers and Valkyrie fans alike!
On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate this issue a 9.0 – even though Hank Pym does act like a male chauvanist pig near the end of the story.
