HAAG

Real Name: Haag

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Asgardian) magic user

Occupation: Seeress, witch, servant to Karnilla

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Hati, Geirrodur the Troll, Hag, Ice Giants, Karnilla, Nornheim's citizens, Rime Giants, Skoll, Ulfrin;
formerly Loki

Enemies: Agnar of Vanaheim, Asgardians, Balder the Brave, Geri, Loki, Nanna, Odin, Thor (Odinson), Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Norn Hag"

Base of Operations: Nornkeep in Nornheim, Asgard

First Appearance: Journey into Mystery I#101/1 (February, 1964)

Powers/Abilities: As an Asgardian from Nornheim Haag possessed superhuman strength, durability, longevity and resistance to disease. Due to her age she was standing hunched over and looked smaller than she actually was.

   She possessed magical knowledge that in some cases rivals those of her mistress Karnilla, including the creation of enchanted figurines. Her wooden figurines could entrap her victims while her figurines made of enchanti-clay could be used to harm her victims by damaging the figurine. She can magically shapeshift parts of her own body.

   In the past she rode the dragon Ulfrin and was armed with a quiver full of short throwing spears that presumably had a mystic aspect to them as well.

   She has access to Karnilla's Space Pool she could use to observe other beings throughout all dimensions by conjuring the image of whoever she sought. She could also use the Space Pool to teleport herself and/or others to other dimensions.

   She was the guardian of the Well of Centuries that could be used to look at different points in the timestream thus allowing her to foretell the future.

   It is unknown whether she possessed the innate ability to predict the future despite her job title.

   She is allowed to officiate weddings in Nornheim and was extremely loyal to Karnilla even though she sometimes mocked her affection for Balder and questioned her treatment of Asgardians due to her own hostile past with Asgard.



Height: Unrevealed (6'3"; by approximation)
Weight: Unrevealed (500 lbs.; by approximation)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: White (formerly brown)

History:
(Journey into Mystery I#101/3) - A long time ago a young Loki betrayed Asgard and made a hole in Asgard's defenses he told evil forces opposing Asgard about. Among those evil forces were the Norn Hag and her dragon Ulfrin, the Wolf Gods Hati and Skoll, Geirrodur the Troll, the Rime Giants and the last of the Ice Giants. Loki tricked Thor to guard the hole by himself and Thor tried, but ultimately failed after Ulfrin's enchanted breath weakened him and before a Rime Giant used a spell to transform Thor into a tree. Odin and the forces of Asgard heard the clanging of Thor's sword and came to his aid. The evil forces soon fled, including Ulfrin and the Hag.

(Journey into Mystery I#107/2) - Haag watched her mistress Karnilla thwart Loki's plan to slay Balder with a mistletoe dart by using her magic to burn his blow gun from afar. Karnilla then ordered Haag to keep stirring her witches' brew so she would be ready for the next time Loki's returned.

(Journey into Mystery I#101/1) - Loki commanded the Norn Hag to show him to the Well of Centuries. He used it to look for Thor's enemy Zarrko in the distant future and then returned his memory of his battle with Thor to him, which lured him back to the present to fight Thor once again.

(Thor I#165) - Karnilla called over Haag because she needed her mystic prowess to go after Balder, who had spurned her advances. Karnilla didn't want to harm Balder, but wanted him to be brought to her. Haag and Karnilla headed to the Space Pool where Haag conjured the image of Balder. They found him on Earth with Sif and Thor, but Karnilla wanted to watch him for a bit before the Haag caught him for her. Him kidnapped Sif and Thor and Balder followed him to a distant dimension. While they were there Haag finally took her shot at reaching through the Space Pool and taking Balder to Nornheim, but Thor freed Balder from Haag's grip and then forced Haag back through the portal.

(Thor I#166) - Karnilla was mad at Haag for failing to capture Balder for her and demanded an explanation. Haag revealed that Balder's heart had been conquered by Karnilla's spell of love, but that his devotion to duty was greater. Haag assured Karnilla that Balder would still be hers soon. Haag molded a graven image of Balder and as soon at it was finished and bewitched, Balder would be unable to escape Karnilla.

(Thor I#167) - Haag delivered a new Balder figurine made of mystic enchanti-clay to Karnilla. Haag explained that whatever happened to the clay figurine would happen to Balder as well. Loki stole the Balder figurine from Haag to harm Balder and lure Thor to Earth so he could steal Mjolnir.

(Thor I#170) - Haag was present while Karnilla and Loki watched through her enchanted Space Pool Balder and the Warriors Three fight the Thermal Man. Karnilla used magic to bring the foursome to Nornheim to save them from further harm at the metal hands of Thermal Man. Haag watched as Loki declared Karnilla to be an enemy of his from now on after saving the four Asgardians.

(Thor I#175) - Haag notified Karnilla that her captives stood before her, but Balder and the Warriors Three wished to be captives no longer after their had healed and demanded to be allowed to leave in peace or by force. Karnilla allowed them to leave peacefully even though she knew that danger awaited them in Asgard. Haag was still baffled that Karnilla was in love with Balder and mocked her because Loki would likely kill him soon. Karnilla angrily screamed at Haag to get out of her sight and tossed a vase after her because if Balder died so did Karnilla's heart.

(Thor I#305/2) - Haag focused her spells once again on Balder so that she and Karnilla could observe him. They witnessed him wandering a marketplace in Asgard. They had used their sorcery to lure the goddess Nanna to the market and with a simple spell broke the handle of her basket at the exact moment Balder passed her. Balder aided her to pick up her fruits and bring them home and they quickly fell in love.

   Weeks later Haag informed Karnilla that Balder had deeply fallen in love with Nanna as they had planned and it was finally time for Karnilla to spring her trap. Karnilla teleported Balder and Nanna to Nornheim, used illusions to bring them to her castle, then imprisoned Nanna and threatened to kill her if Balder didn't agree to marry her. Balder gave in because he loved Nanna so much.

(Thor I#306/2) - Haag informed Karnilla that all preparations for the wedding were proceeding as planned. Gnomes, trolls and dwarves were each doing their part.

   Haag later officiated the wedding, which was interrupted when Nanna returned from Asgard and stabbed herself to death, blaming Karnilla in the process and freeing Balder from his vow to her.

(Thor I#341) - Haag and Karnilla watched Balder once again through Karnilla's viewscreen. Haag pointed out that Balder was close to Karnilla's kingdom. Karnilla noticed how he had changed since returning from Hel and liked how he had become more dangerous. She wished to continue watching him, but told Haag to spread the word that Balder was not to be harmed within her kingdom.

(Thor I#343 (fb) - BTS) - Haag put Karnilla's guest Balder in the chamber next Karnilla as Karnilla had ordered.

(Thor I#343) - Haag noticed how quiet and troubled Karnilla seemed since Balder had become her guest. Karnilla was sad that Balder barely acknowledged her and vowed to take revenge on Loki because he was responsible for Balder only seeing death about him. Haag was surprised that Karnilla would turn on her old friends for the sake of a ruined warrior like Balder. She joked that Karnilla would soon invite Odin himself to dinner. Karnilla didn't take kindly to Haag's jokes and told her to leave.

(Thor I#344) - Haag came to warn Karnilla when Odin's wolf Geri entered her room. Balder made it clear that Geri had just been sent to summon him back to Asgard.

   Karnilla was unable to watch Balder in Loki's realm, but Haag assured her that not even Loki would dare harm Balder when he was on a mission for Odin. When Balder finally emerged from the mists surrounding Loki's castle Karnilla was shocked to see his face. Haag recognized the look of the damned about him.

(Thor I#350) - Haag was present when Karnilla denied Balder's request to send her army to aid Asgard against Surtur and his demon horde. Karnilla was only willing to send her army if Balder swore eternal allegiance to her.

(Thor I#351) - Haag watched as Balder laughed at Karnilla's childish attempt to bind him to her, but in the end he kissed her because he was not the god he was in the past.

(Balder the Brave I#1) - Karnilla granted Gnashnath the heads of the toads, but only if he produced the wergeld (a fine or compensation for murder) and then ordered Haag to have him removed from court. Haag and Karnilla were shocked when Balder broke the door and interrupted her royal proceedings to seek justice for Karnilla's former prisoner Agnar of Vanaheim, who had lost his ability to speak. Karnilla ordered Haag to clear the throne room and then kissed Agnar to restore his speech through magic. Agnar told Balder about Odin's death, which Karnilla had tried to keep secret from him. He also learned from Agnar of Thor's mission to free mortal souls from Hela. Balder decided to leave Nornheim to join him in his quest.

   While Balder trained with Agnar, Karnilla retreated deep within Nornkeep so she wouldn't have to face Balder again and only spoke to Haag. Karnilla wished she had slain Agnar as soon as he had entered the walls of Nornkeep even though she wasn't sure she could have kept Odin's demise hidden from Balder forever. Hela knew that the Sword of Frey could still save Balder from Hela, but she wasn't sure if she could give up such a priceless treasure.

(X-Men Annual I#9) - Within the Nornkeep Haag was standing next to her mistress Karnilla's throne while Karnilla gloated about foiling Loki's plan to take the throne of Asgard by allowing the kidnapped Illyana Rasputin to contact Kitty Pryde through her dreams and then use her magic powers to enable the X-Men to come to Asgard.

(Thor I#399) - Haag showed Karnilla that Balder survived the battle against Seth's Demons of Death. She was sure that he would not survive much longer, which angered Karnilla even though she knew that Asgard would not be able to hold out much longer and she couldn't help them because hiding her own kingdom from Seth required all her magic power.

(Thor I#400) - Haag watched on as Karnilla saved Balder from the battlefield by pulling him through a portal to Nornheim. She witnessed Balder beg Karnilla to aid him against Seth and she joined the battle after realizing that Seth and his army were a threat to all realms.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby & George "Bell" Roussos.

Haag was first identified by that name in Thor I#165 (June, 1969). She was identified as the same as the "Norn Hag" in the Avengers, Thor and Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#1 (July, 2010).

It always seemed like Haag despised Karnilla's infatuation with Balder. She probably quit her job after Karnilla joined forces with the Asgardians against Seth. Or maybe the old, ugly hag finally kicked the bucket.

Haag presumably perished during Ragnarok in Thor II#85 (December, 2004) and unlike many other characters has not returned since. Even before that she had not been since for some time.

This profile was completed on 11/18/2025, but its publication was delayed for Stan Lee's birthday on 12/28.

Profile by Markus Raymond.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Haag has no known connections to:

ULFRIN

(Journey into Mystery I#101/3) - A long time ago a young Loki betrayed Asgard and made a hole in Asgard's defenses he told evil forces opposing Asgard about. Among those evil forces were the Norn Hag and her dragon Ulfrin, the Wolf Gods Hati and Skoll, Geirrodur the Troll, the Rime Giants and the last of the Ice Giants. Loki tricked Thor to guard the hole by himself and Thor tried, but ultimately failed after Ulfrin's enchanted breath weakened him and a Rime Giant used a spell to that slowly transformed Thor into a tree. Odin and the forces of Asgard heard the clanging of Thor's sword and came to his aid. The evil forces soon fled, including Ulfrin and the Hag.

--Journey into Mystery I#101/3

   Note: Ulfrin was not in Avengers III#1 despite the Thor Marvel Index and many online sources claiming that he was. The character many mistook for Ulfrin was actually Skord.

images:
Thor I#175, p5, pan2 (main)
Thor I#166, p5 (head shot)
Journey into Mystery I#101/3, p3, pan1 (younger "Norn Hag")
Journey into Mystery I#107/2, p5, pan2 (with staff)
Thor I#165, p18, pan1 (trying to capture Balder)
Thor I#167, p8, pan2 (making figurine)
Balder the Brave I#1, p16, pan3 (purple Haag)
Thor I#399, p7 (clawed hands)
Journey into Mystery I#101/3, p4, pan1 (Ulfrin blowing smoke with "Norn Hag" on back)
Journey into Mystery I#101/3, p5, pan2 (full form, flying)
Thor I#305, p21, pan6 (possible appearance)

Appearances:
Journey into Mystery I#101/1 (February, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), George "Bell" Roussos (inks)
   Story 3: Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), George "Bell" Roussos (inks)
Journey into Mystery I#107/2 (August, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks)
Thor I#165 (June, 1969) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks)
Thor I#166 (July, 1969) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks)
Thor I#167 (August, 1969) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks)
Thor I#170 (November, 1969) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Bill Everett (inks)
Thor I#175 (April, 1970) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Bill Everett (inks)
Thor I#305/2 (March, 1981) - Mark Gruenwald & Ralph Macchio (writers), Keith Pollard (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Thor I#306/2 (April, 1981) - Mark Gruenwald & Ralph Macchio (writers), Keith Pollard (pencils), Chic Stonem, Dave Simons, Frank Giacoia & Marie Severin (inks), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Thor I#341 (March, 1984) - Walter Simonson (writer/artist), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Thor I#343 (May, 1984) - Walter Simonson (writer/artist), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Thor I#344 (June, 1984) - Walter Simonson (writer/artist), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Thor I#350 (December, 1984) - Walter Simonson (writer/artist), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Thor I#351 (January, 1985) - Walter Simonson (writer/artist), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Balder the Brave I#1 (November, 1985) - Walter Simonson (writer), Sal Buscema (artist), Ralph Macchio (editor)
X-Men Annual I#9 (December, 1985) - Chris Claremont (writer), Arthur Adams (pencils/inks), Alan Gordon & Mike Mignola (inks), Ann Nocenti (editor)
Thor I#399 (January, 1989) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (pencils), Romeo Tanghal (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Thor I#400 (February, 1989) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)

First Posted: 12/28/2025
Last updated: 11/18/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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