Executioner (comics)

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Skurge, The Executioner is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe

Use

This template is for use as a shortcut when editing Marvel Comics-related articles. It provides links to both the Marvel Comics and Marvel Universe articles. </noinclude>. He hails from Asgard, the extra-dimensional home of the Norse gods. He is an original creation rather than taken from mythology. Like the Enchantress, at first he is only known by his title. It is only in the 80s that he gets a name.

Fictional character biography

Skurge has always had feelings for Amora, the Enchantress, and regularly aided her in various evil schemes to gain control of Asgard. However, the Enchantress only manipulates him, using her charms to keep Skurge under her thrall. Loki, the trickster God, also has used Skurge many times. Skurge functioned as part of Baron Zemo's Masters of Evil for some time. Again and again he would battle the Avengers. Once, during a payroll robbery, the assistance of the new hero Wonder Man. This was simply part of a trick to destroy the Avengers. The gloating Skurge was derided by Wonder Man, who didn't like the need for trickery and deceit. The group's plan to kill the Avengers was soon thwarted by Wonder Man, and Skurge and his allies were defeated. Once Amora the Enchantress set her sights on Heimdall as a potential lover, Skurge sought to ease the wounds of his heart in battle, joining Thor, Balder, and the Einherjar on a rescue mission into Niflheim. A group of souls belonging to living humans had been trapped there by Malekith the Accursed, and Hela had refused to permit them to return to Midgard (Earth). Despite initial misgivings, Thor permitted Skurge to accompany the group. He soon vanishes after Amora appears to him, saying that Heimdall had slain her. This was not Amora, but Mordonna, a shape-shifting sorceress in the employ of Hela. This disguise was only broken when Skurge managed to trust Balder more than the desires of his own heart. Hela whisks Mordonna away before Skurge could gain revenge. Skurge attacked Dr. Strange alongside Enchantress, but they were defeated. Naglfar, the ship of the dead, was nearing ready to sail, and Hela promised Skurge a place of honor beside her on it at the battle of Ragnarok. In a rage at being manipulated, Skurge destroyed the ship, forestalling the end of days. The group was pursued out of Hel, and at the bridge Gjallerbru Thor swore to hold the bridge as long as he could that the souls of the mortals could reach freedom. But then Skurge struck down Thor from behind, and amidst cries of traitor begged Balder to hear him speak. Hoping to enact vengeance upon those who mocked him, and to do what was right in the end, he would stay behind. He asked Balder to promise that Thor and he would drink to the memory of Skurge. Balder consented to Skurge's wish, and he, the Einherjar and the mortal souls departed Hel, taking the unconscious Thor with them. Skurge remained alone at Gjallerbru, armed with automatic rifles the Einherjar had brought from Earth. Though the armies of Hel marched upon the bridge, none crossed past where Skurge stood. As he fought down demon after demon, his stand impressed Hela herself, who would later sometimes tell of Skurge; "He stood alone at Gjallerbru. And that answer is enough." Following his death, his spirit was freed during a New Mutants arc and he earned for himself a place in Valhalla, Asgard's place for honored dead. After his death, the Enchantress realized that she truly possessed feelings for Skurge and mourned his demise. Once, Amora gave the Executioner's axe to a mortal man called Brute Benhurst. Thor, believing him Skurge (this second Executioner wore a mask), tried not to fight him until the Executioner hit Kevin Masterson (son of Eric Masterson). Thor recognized hitting a boy as an unnoble thing which Skurge would never do, and defeated the new Executioner. Odin later recruits Skurge to aid Eric Masterson in fighting off the influence of the Bloodaxe, the former weapon that Skurge wielded.

Superhuman abilities

Skurge possessed the superhuman abilities of a typical male Asgardian. Due to his unique half Frost-Giant pedigree, Skurge's physical strength, stamina and durability were considerably greater than those of the average Asgardian male. Skurge was extremely long-lived, aging at a much slower pace than human beings, though not truly immortal. His body was highly resistant to physical damage. In the event of injury, Skurge's godly lifeforce would allow him to recover with a superhuman rate. He would often fight wielding a large, two sided battle ax that allowed him a number of abilities including cutting holes into other dimensions and control over fire and ice that he could project at his enemies.

In other media

The Executioner appears as a villain in the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance voiced by Peter Lurie. He is a member of Doctor Doom's Masters of Evil. He and Enchantress will battle the heroes after Balder is freed. In battle, he attacks the player's heroes while the Enchantress casts a spell on them. He has special dialogue in the dialogue between Enchantress and Thor and Enchantress asks Executioner is jealous of her love to Thor.