Warning: This Article Contains Spoilers!
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Thor: Ragnarok introduces the first female villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in the form of Cate Blanchett‘s Hela. Like so many villains in the MCU, the movie version of Hela is significantly different than her comic book counterpart, and even hardcore Marvel fans may be surprised by how the details that come with this new interpretation.
So who is Hela in Thor: Ragnarok? Here’s what you need to know:
First of all, the big reveal early on in the film is that Hela is actually Odin’s first child – making her the half-sister of Thor and Loki! As Hela reveals during the film, she was by Odin’s side in the ancient era where Odin was much more of a conqueror, who believed the universe was best served being under the order of Asgard.
It was Hela’s bloody work as Odin’s champion that helped Asgard become the home of gods, and allowed the realm to flourish into what it is now. However, whereas Odin grew softer and more benevolent as a ruler, Hela wasn’t satisfied with nine realms they had already conquered; she wanted all of existence to be under Asgard’s rule.
Unable (or unwilling) to kill Hela, Odin instead sealed her away in some kind of interdimensional prison, whose doors come flying Odin when the last of Odin’s lifeforce fades away from the mortal world. That allows Hela to come back to this plane, to make her rightful claim to the throne of Asgard.
After knocking Thor and Loki out of the bifrost during battle, Hela comes to Asgard and slaughters her way to the throne. With the help of Skurge (Karl Urban), she tries to get the remaining Asgardians to bow down to her, with the promise of once again making their realm great again. She’s ultimately defeated when Thor and Loki restore Surtur to full power, and allow the fire demon king to bring down Ragnarok on Asgard.
Hela is seemingly killed when she’s cut down by Surtur’s giant fire sword, but since we don’t specifically see Hela die, time will tell if she’s another one-and-done villain, or if The Goddess of Death will be making a return.
NEXT: Hela’s Marvel Comics Origins
Thor: Ragnarok is now in theaters. Other upcoming MCU movies include Black Panther on February 16, 2018, 2017, Avengers: Infinity War on May 4, 2018, Ant-Man and the Wasp on July 6, 2018, Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019, the fourth Avengers movie on May 3, 2019, the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming on July 5, 2019, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2020.
