Athena (Marvel Comics)

Athena
Athena on the cover of Incredible Hercules #127. Art by Dave Williams.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Thor #164 (May 1969)
Created by	Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter ego	Pallas Athena
Team affiliations	Olympian Gods Council of God-Heads
Notable aliases	Minerva, Agent Sexton, Miranda Minerva
Abilities	Super-genius Intellect, enhanced by Cosmic Awareness Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and agility. Immortality Mastery over multiple forms of combat Limited transmutation Flight Ability to cast permanent curses upon mortals and their descendants Lightning projection inherited from Zeus

Athena is a fictional deity appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is based on the Greek Goddess of the same name. Athena first appeared in the pages of Thor #164, written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby.

Athena first appeared in Thor #164 (May 1969), and was adapted from Greek mythology by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

The character subsequently appeared in Thor Annual #5 (1976), Champions #2 (January 1976), Thor Annual #8 (1979), Thor #289 (November 1979), #291-292 (January–February 1980), The Avengers #283-285 (September–November 1987), The New Warriors #10 (July 2000), Hercules #4 (September 2005), Ares #1 (March 2006), #3 (May 2006), #5 (July 2006), Hulk Vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide #1 (June 2008), and She-Hulk #30 (August 2008). Athena is a regularly recurring character in the ongoing The Incredible Hercules, first appearing in issues #113 (January 2008), and fairly consistently beginning in issue #115.

Athena appeared as part of the "Olympian Gods" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #9.

Athena is the daughter of Zeus and Metis, having emerged fully formed from her father's brow after Zeus consumed Metis in hopes of avoiding a male child who would succeed him, as he had his father. She took the place of the goddess of wisdom, war, and heroic endeavor in the Olympian pantheon. Her grey owl companion is named Pallas, a reference to her own name.

In her first appearance, Athena stood alongside Zeus when he forbade Pluto from interfering on Earth. She then observed Pluto's later conflict with Zeus. Athena later accompanied Zeus to a meeting with Odin, who had requested Olympian aid in opposing the Eternals. As a result, she participated in the assault on the Eternal home city of Olympia, and fought her counterpart among the Eternals, Thena, for whom she evinces tremendous dislike.