Heimdall Is Officially Resurrected in Marvel Lore

A powerful hero made famous by the MCU just returned to life six years after a canon death that fans assumed would last way longer. Here’s what it means to see this hero again, and what the fallout means for Thor lore.

Marvel Officially Resurrects Thor Ally Heimdall

The Hero Returns to Life After 6 Years

In today’s The Mortal Thor #4 – from Al Ewing, Juann Cabal, Mattia Iacono and Joe Sabino – Marvel confirms that Heimdall, the Seer of Asgard, has officially returned to life.

In the final arc of previous series The Immortal Thor, Thor journeyed outside reality to the Utgard Realm. There, he found Heimdall imprisoned by the Elder God Kemur, God of Kings. After Thor defeated Kemur, his fleet-footed brother Hermod rescued Heimdall and spirited him back to Asgard, but his ultimate fate was unclear – especially because he already died and passed on.

The former guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, Heimdall is omniscient, able to sense events in all of the Ten Realms, and has an enhanced, godly physique. Sadly, even a god can’t simply shrug off death, and Heimdall still has healing to do before he can return to Asgard’s pantheon.

Our Take on Heimdall’s Return

Heimdall was slain by the master assassin Bullseye in 2019’s Valkyrie: Jane Foster #2 (Ewing, Jason Aaron, CAFU), after the villain stole the mystical sword Dragonfang. At Heimdall’s request, Valkyrie escorted him beyond known reality, allowing his omniscient sight to witness new vistas – but sadly also apparently delivering him into Kemur’s hands.

On Heimdall’s death, his omniscience passed on to his sister Sif, raising questions as to who will possess the power going forwards. MCU fans will also be interested in Heimdall’s return – in the movies, Heimdall died in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, slain by Thanos and passing on to Valhalla, where he later welcomed Jane Foster in Thor: Love and Thunder.

What Does Heimdall’s Return Mean for Marvel Lore?

Heimdall’s return to the comics hints he may also make an MCU return, since Marvel tends to like to synergize the status quo across the two mediums. Fans had speculated that Heimdall and Jane might lead the dead warriors of Valhalla into battle against Doctor Doom in upcoming movies, and the fact that the character is clearly on Marvel’s mind supports that idea.

Comic characters don’t tend to stay dead for very long, but it’s also true that Marvel rarely resurrects a hero without plans to use them. With Thor dead and Asgard cut off from Earth, Heimdall’s return means something big is coming for the character, and one major possibility is that he’ll take the throne of Asgard, left vacant by Thor’s death (and reincarnation as the mortal Sigurd Jarlson.)

Whatever happens next, one of Thor‘s most powerful and trusted allies of all time just officially returned to Marvel lore.

The Mortal Thor #4 is available now from Marvel Comics.

First Appearance

Journey into Mystery

Alias

Thor Odinson, Eric Masterson, Kevin Masterson, Beta Ray Bill, Thordis, Throg, Red Norvell, Jane Foster

Alliance

Avengers, Warriors Three, Thor Corps, God Squad

Race

Asgardian, Human

Franchise

Marvel