SVAÐILFARI
Real Name: Svaðilfari
Identity/Class: Extradimensional semi-humanoid horse; formerly extradimensional horse (see comments)
Occupation: Workhorse (in every sense)
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Angerboda, Cyril, Hepti, Isidore, James, Jeph, Leah, Lorelei, Mr. Cluck, Sigyn, Sindr, unidentified Frost Giant
Enemies: Loki, Young Avengers (Hulkling/Dorrek VIII/Teddy Altman, Ms. America/America Chavez, Wiccan/Billy Kaplan) (all kind of)
Known Relatives: Loki (mate, as a mare), Sleipnir (son), Grane (grandson)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile throughout the Nine Realms (I am pretty sure he never went to Heven);
formerly Jotunheim
First Appearance: (Mentioned) Marvel Pets#1 (August, 2009); (seen) Marvel's Voices: Pride II#1 (August, 2022)
Powers/Abilities: Svaðilfari's true powers are unknown, but are probably superior to normal horses from Earth due to his extradimensional origins. He was strong enough to haul massive stones needed to build Asgard's wall over large distances in horse form.
Even less is known about his powers in his semi-humanoid form or how he even gained this form.
Height: Unrevealed (6'3" (humanoid); 5'5" (as horse); by approximation)
Weight: Unrevealed (600 lbs. (humanoid); 1200 lbs. (as horse); by approximation)
Eyes: Black
Fur: Brown
History:
(Myth/Marvel Pets) - A long time ago Svaðilfari was owned by a Frost Giant, who traveled to Asgard disguised as a stonemason and offered to rebuild Asgard's wall within three seasons in return for the hand of Freya, the sun and the moon. Loki convinced Odin to wager with the stonemason to build the wall within one season to receive what he sought. The giant agreed to their terms and got close to finishing the wall in time with the help of his stallion Svaðilfari, who hauled enormous boulders for the giant over large distances. The gods panicked when the wall was nearly finished, but Loki had a plan to stop the giant from finishing the job in time. When the giant ventured into the forest with Svaðilfari to search for the stones he needed to complete the wall, Loki transformed into a mare and lured away Svaðilfari from his master. Unable to transport the stones by himself the giant failed to finish the wall and ended up killed by the gods for his failure.
Meanwhile Svaðilfari caught up with mare in the forest and the encounter left Loki, in his form as a mare, pregnant. He soon gave birth to the eight-legged horse Sleipnir, which he later gave to Odin.
SECRET WARS III HAPPENED
(Marvel's Voices: Pride II#1 (fb) - BTS) - At some point he gained an equine-humanoid form.
(Marvel's Voices: Pride II#1) - Svaðilfari joined forces with many of Loki's other exes (Angerboda, Cyril, Fede, Isidore, James, Jeph, Leah, Lorelei, Hepti, Mr. Cluck, Sigyn, Sindr) to get revenge on him for breaking up with them in one way or the other. They caught him and had him at their mercy, but Loki had hit the panic button on his phone to call his former Young Avengers teammates in for help. While Loki distracted his exes with a story, Hulkling, Ms. America and Wiccan made their way to the warehouse where Loki was kept by his exes. Loki freed himself and together with the Young Avengers defeated his exes. Svaðilfari, who to this day believed that his encounter with Loki was true love, didn't fight, but instead sobbed and was consoled by Hulkling. He was still sitting on a bank and sobbing after the fight was over.
Comments: Adapted by Alyssa Wong & Stephen Byrne.
Sleipnir's other origin in Thor: Reign of Blood#1 (August, 2008) during a previous Ragnarok cycle is quite different and didn't involve Svaðilfari as his father or Loki as his mother. Instead Sleipnir was put together from the remains of Thor's dead horses in this story.
Svaðilfari's place of origin is unknown. He could be from Asgard, but we don't know for sure. His owner was definitely from Jotunheim, but I doubt normal horses exist in Jotunheim. Or maybe they do...as snacks for the giants.
The B&W image is a public domain illustration by Dorothy Hardy named "Loki and Svadilfari" (1909).
Profile by Markus Raymond.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Svaðilfari has no known connection to:
images (without ads)
Marvel's Voices: Pride II#1, p8, pan2 (main)
Loki and Svadilfari illustration (1909)
Marvel's Voices: Pride II#1, p9, pan5 (head shot)
Appearances:
Marvel Pets#1 (August, 2009) - Michael Hoskin (head writer/coordinator), Madison Carter, Sean McQuaid, Stuart Vandal, Gabriel Shechter, David Wiltfong, Ronald Byrd, Eric J. Moreels, Jacob Rougemont, Markus Raymond, Jeff Christiansen, Mark O'English, Mike O'Sullivan, Chris Biggs & Rob London (writers), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
Marvel's Voices: Pride II#1 (August, 2022) - Alyssa Wong (writer), Stephen Byrne (artist), Sarah Brunstad (editor)
First Posted: 09/05/2023
Last updated: 09/05/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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