NERI

Real Name: Neri

Identity/Class: Asgardian/Goddess (minor)

Occupation: Handmaiden to the Queen of Asgard, Fricka (Frigga)

Affiliations: Fricka (Frigga)

Group Membership: Asgardian Gods

Enemies: None known

Known Relatives: None known

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Asgard, particularly Vingolf ("Abode of Friends") the beautiful sanctuary for Asgardian Goddesses.

First Appearance: Journey into Mystery I#92 (May 1963)

Powers/Abilities: Being a native of the Asgardian dimension, Neri had a degree of superhuman strength proportional to a human female of the same height and size, allowing her to lift/press approximately 20 tons under optimum conditions. Also, her body was three times as dense as a comparable human female, allowing her a limited amount of protection from conventional weaponry such as proof against low caliber projectiles. It is presumed that she had some skills related to her role as a royal handmaiden, but what these skills actually were have yet to be revealed. On an alternate Earth, Neri had some skills in singing and in playing a lyre-like instrument (See Comments). It is likely that Neri from the Marvel Universe Proper (Earth-616) had the same abilities.

History: Neri has served as Queen Frigga's handmaiden for an undetermined period of time.

(Journey into Mystery I#92) - As Neri sought passage across Asgard's Bifrost Bridge, she was stopped by Heimdall, the bridge's guardian, who was checking everybody who could possibly be Loki, the god of mischief, hidden by a magical disguise. Neri pointed out to Heimdall that Loki was still chained to a boulder which was visible from their position. Satisfied that Neri's response, Heimdall allowed her to cross the Rainbow Bridge.


Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Joe Sinnott.

As far as I know, there is no handmaiden named Neri present within established Norse mythology.


All of the Peter Gillis stories from the latter issues of the first "What If?" series, including this one (the final issue of the series), were quite entertaining.

21 years since her first & last appearance: she should make a return in 2005 to make it another 21.
Don't hold your breath!  ;)
--Snood.

Neri supposedly died during the Ragnarok in Thor II#85.

CLARIFICATIONS: Neri should not be confused with:

  • Nephri, @ the Rise of Apocalypse#1

Neri of Earth-Loki Found the Hammer of Thor

Neri was relaxing, singing, and playing music at the base of the tree Loki had been mystically imprisoned within by Odin, the All-Father. Heimdall approached and listened. While listening, Heimdall shed a tear because of a scratch to one of his super-sensitive eyes from a falling tree leaf. Shortly after this, Neri and Heimdall left the site of the tree, allowing Loki to emerge from his prison undetected. In this alternate reality, Loki was freed just before Thor's first appearance in Journey into Mystery# 83 as opposed to his actual escape in Journey into Mystery#85, allowing him to cause much grief, mischief, and evil without initial interference from his foster-brother, Thor. Apparently this was the primary point of divergence for this timeline. In fact, to insure that Thor would never intervene in his schemes Loki orchestrated the death of Dr. Donald Blake, Thor's mortal guise, before he was even aware that he could transform into the Norse God of Thunder: this being another major point of divergence for the timeline. Within the Marvel Universe Proper, Loki would be freed under similar circumstances except at a later time, as just noted, and without Neri's presence.
--What If I#47

Appearances:
Journey into Mystery I#92 (May 1963) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Robert Bernstein (writer), Joe Sinnott (artist)
What If? I#47 (October, 1984) - Peter B. Gillis (writer), Kelly Jones (pencils), Sam DeLaRosa (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)

Last updated: 04/07/03

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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