Volstagg

Volstagg
Volstagg (center) of the Warriors Three. Art by Oliver Coipel.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Journey into Mystery #119 (August, 1965)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
Full name	Volstagg
Species	Asgardian
Team affiliations	Warriors Three Thor Corps
Notable aliases	Volstagg the Valiant, Volstagg the Voluminous, Volstagg the Enormous, Lion of Asgard
Abilities	Superb pugilist Master of the quarterstaff Excellent battlefield warrior, hand-to-hand combatant, swordsman, horseman and archer Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina and durability Extremely long lifespan Ability to consume vast quantities of food and drink

Volstagg is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a charter member of the Warriors Three, a trio of Asgardian adventurers and supporting cast of Thor. He is known for having multiple children. These include, but are not limited to, Hilde, Rolfe, and the adopted Midgardians Kevin and Mick. The character is portrayed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by Ray Stevenson in the films Thor and Thor: The Dark World. Stevenson is set to reprise his role in the upcoming film Thor: Ragnarok.

Volstagg first appeared in Journey into Mystery #119 (August, 1965), and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

He is not taken from Norse (or any other) mythology but is an original creation, modeled on Shakespeare's Falstaff in character and name.

Volstagg's origin story beyond being a member of the Asgardian race, a warrior and adventurer, and a friend of Thor has not been revealed. Volstagg is fairly advanced in age for an Asgardian, and it has been suggested that he was a highly respected and feared warrior in his prime.

In a sense, Volstagg's entire career has been one long origin story. The character was first introduced in a "Tales of Asgard" filler in Journey Into Mystery #119 (August 1965), the magazine carrying Thor's Asgardian adventures. As originally envisioned by Jack Kirby, Volstagg was a huge, bumbling oaf much given to boasting and bragging: the last into battle and the first to claim victory (usually undeserved). Referring to himself as "The Lion of Asgard", he usually caused more problems than he solved and seemed totally unaware of the chaos that almost always followed in his wake. A flashback revealed in Captain Marvel #42 tells how a drunken Volstagg incurred the wrath of Odin by spilling the secrets of the first Frost Giants to a younger Thor. Strangely enough, he was considered a trusted and worthy comrade by his closest friends and allies, Fandral the Dashing, Hogun the Grim, and Thor.