There were a lot of things to fanboy over in the new Thor: Ragnarok trailer (Thor vs. Hulk! Loki! Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie!), but one character undoubtedly stole the show: Cate Blanchett’s Hela. Popping up in one iconic shot after another, Hela first shatters Thor’s hammer like a puny toy in her hand, after which she appears in her original comics costume. The horned crown is an indelible image that foretells something wicked headed Asgard’s way, as Twitter quickly pointed out.
For those unfamiliar with the comics, Twitter’s joy over the accuracy of Hela’s costume design and Blanchett’s sinister performance might have seemed overexuberant, but that’s really the only acceptable reaction to witnessing Norse mythology’s Hell Queen in full regalia. Traditionally Hela controls two of the nine worlds, Hel and Niflheim, where she ushers the souls of those who are not worthy of Valhalla. Hela — in most versions of the tale — was born of a different incarnation of Loki and a Frost Giant on Jotunheim. She grows into both her powers, and a deep hatred of Asgardians, just like her father.
Hela in the comics looks a lot like Hela in the movie.
Including the average Asgardian super strength, speed, stamina, Hela also has a few unique powers up her sleeve. Her touch can kill any mortal and she can claim the soul of any believer of the Asgardians. Hela also has a special technique called the Hand of Glory which uses mystical energy to harm or even kill an Asgardian. That’s most likely what she used to crush Thor’s hammer in the trailer.
While the movie canon will probably adapt Hela’s origin story differently, it’s safe to say that Hela and Loki have more than a few things in common, including a burning desire to claim Asgard as their own. In comics canon, they plot and stage Ragnarok as an attempt to take the world for themselves, but in MCU, Loki already has the throne (albeit as Odin) at the end of Thor: The Dark World. Perhaps Marvel fans will see three siblings instead of two fighting over a kingdom in Ragnarok.
Whichever way the battle goes, the journey there is sure to be action-packed and thrilling thanks to Hela. Especially considering all the expertise Cate Blanchett has in being a beautiful and terrible queen.
Watch the full trailer here:
Thor: Ragnarok hits theaters November 7, 2017.
