SYGNET

Real Name: Sygnet

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Asgardian) god

OccupationValkyrior

Group Membership: Asgardian gods, Valkyrior

Affiliations: Balder, Odin, Thunderhoof

Enemies: Trolls (including Askella & Svin) and the other enemies of Asgard

Known Relatives: Unidentified son, Greyval Grimson (husband, deceased), Grim Magnus (father-in-law, deceased), Horskuld (cousin by marriage, deceased);
    by some accounts, the Valkyrior are the daughters of
Odin, Chieftain of the Asgardian Gods, and the earth-goddess, Nertha

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Asgard, Valhalla

First Appearance: Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner (1985)

 

 

 

 

Powers/Abilities: Like all Asgardians, Sygnet is extremely long-lived, though not immortal. She has superhuman strength (Class 50), stamina, and durability. Like the rest of the Valkyrior, Sygnet has inherent mystical powers allowing them to perceive supernatural phenomenon, especially to see astral spirits (ghosts) and sense when mortal beings are near death; a perception that appears as a glow around the form of a person about to die. Beyond Asgard, she appears only as a shades (astral form). She is an extraordinary warrior, wielding a sword and shield and usually transport herself aloft on Thunderhoof, a flighted horse that presumably attains an astral form with her beyond Asgard.

Height: Approx. 6'1"
Weight: Approx. 440 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: White

 

 

 

 

 

 

History:
(Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) - Sygnet was one of the Valkyrior, the Choosers of the Slain,
warrior-goddesses who brought the honored dead to Valhalla, Odin's hall in Asgard.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) - Sygnet fell in love with and became engaged to Greyval Grimson, latest in a line who accepted the tradition of carrying the Raven Banner in battle, with each dying in turn to assure Asgard's victory and then passing on the Banner to his son.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner (fb) - BTS) - Sygnet and Greyval pledged that their wedding vows would celebrate Grim Magnus' final battle.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner  - BTS) - While Grim Magnus fell in battle against the storm giant Snorth, Greyval fell prey to the whiles of trolls, who intoxicated him with honeyed wine and convinced him that if Magnus fell, another would pick up the Banner and inherit its destiny, freeing Greyval from this burden.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner) - Sygnet joined the other Valkyrior over the fallen in the battlefield. Sygnet noted the Grim Magnus' death and the Banner's absence, but reasoned that Greyval had already borne it home. She then carried Grim Magnus to Valhalla.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner  - BTS) - The Trolls encouraged Greyval to renounce the daylight above and live with them, but he recalled his responsibilities of taking over his father's farm and to his fiancé, Sygnet.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner) - Greyval returned to his father's homestead, Hrafnfell, and he and Sygnet were married the next day. At the celebratory feast, Greyval claimed that he had been so berserk in battle that he had left the Raven Banner on the field. Sygnet promised everyone present that if they had not been sworn to marry that very night that Greyval would be seeking the Banner in the city of Asgard. The other Valkyrior then arrived, announcing that the Raven Banner was lost and believed to have been stolen by the Trolls for the Giants. Several of those present questioned Greyval's valor, but Sygnet told them all if the Banner was not found by morning that Greyval would beg Odin's leave to seek it out. That night, after consummating their marriage, Greyval told Sygnet that if the Banner was gone that he need never die and they could live forever together, but Sygnet convinced him that he must fulfill his valorous fate.

    The next day Sygnet accompanied Greyval to Asgard, and outside the palace they met Greyval's cousin Horskuld who had gained Odin's leave to recover the Banner and redeem the shame Greyval had brought on their family. Greyval was prepared to give up his quest, but Sygnet pushed him to beg Odin, and then Balder arrived and agreed to gain Greyval an audience with Odin; Balder convinced Odin to allow them to seek out the Banner. Sygnet stood by Greyval as he sought guidance from Morduk and then bade Greyval farewell as he departed with Balder atop Agnar, king of the Eagles

Meanwhile, a group of Trolls drugged and captured Sygnet, and Horskuld was seduced by the Trolls and became their thrall. From the Norn's Greyval learned the location of the Banner as well as Sygnet's fate. Greyval chose the path to Sygnet, which the Norns noted to be the longest way, but he shortest in the end: a hero's destiny. In a cavern, Greyval was seemingly reunited with Sygnet, but his companion Oddbrand Otter's torch revealed her shadow to be that of the troll Askella, whom Greyval forced to show him where Sygnet was held. After Greyval freed Sygnet and imprisoned Askella in her place, he and Sygnet expressed their undying love, and he sped off atop Gullinbursti to the Abyss of Shadows, in which Sygnet informed him that the Banner was held. Upon Greyval's arrival, Gullinbursti's radiance drove off the trolls, and Greyval encountered and slew Horskuld, now a Troll prince.

    Greyval retrieved the Banner and sped atop Gullinbursti to the battlefield for the next struggle between the Asgardians and their enemies. Greyval unfurled the Raven Banner, inspiring the gods to battle. Again the gods one, but Greyval perished in the conflict as was his destiny. Sygnet bore him away to Valhalla.

    Sygnet entrusted Balder with the Raven Banner until the day her son, conceived on her recent wedding night with Greyval, would be old enough to hold it.

 

 

 

 

Comments: Created by Alan Zenetz, Charles Vess, and Ralph Macchio.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
No KNOWN connections to:

Thunderhoof has no known connection to:


images: (without ads)
Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner, p13, panel 3 (with Greyval)
    last page, panels 2 and 3 (face close-up and on Thunderhoof)


Appearances:
Marvel Graphic Novel#15: The Raven Banner (1985) - Alan Zenetz (writer), Charles Vess (artist), Ralph Macchio (editor)


Last updated: 03/23/14

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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