The Marvel Cinematic Universe is home to many superheroes and supervillains. Despite the ever-growing number of characters, not everyone has been able to make it through to the end of the franchise. Of course, as T’Challa said in Captain America: Civil War, “Death is not the end. It is more an exit point.” While the afterlife in the MCU remained a mystery, audiences got a little glimpse into Thor: Love and Thunder.
Valhalla has always been an important part of Asgardian myth and legend, but has yet to go beyond the Thor franchisee. It was not a dimension that anyone could access, instead there were specific requirements that someone had to meet in order to enter. With Marvel Studios steadily building The Multiverse Saga, now is the perfect time for a brief recap of the Asgardian afterlife. Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about how someone enters Valhalla in the MCU.
Requirements for entering Valhalla
Asgardians believed that Asgardian warriors who died in battle would be resurrected and given a place in the halls of Valhalla. In Thor: Ragnarok, Thor described Valhalla as a place where “the brave will live forever.” It was widely regarded as a paradise, but only for those who died a noble and glorious death. This helped Asgardians look beyond tragedy and help them celebrate their loved ones for how they lived.
Contrary to popular belief, entering Vahalla did not necessarily mean that individuals died in battle. Odin died peacefully in Thor: Ragnarok and was still able to ascend to Valhalla. However, as the Allfather, it’s possible that Odin was just an exception to the rule. Thor: Love and Thunder has revealed that humans can enter Valhalla, not just Asgardians. It is not known whether they need to know about Valhalla in advance.
Who has been able to enter Valhalla?
The first known character to die onscreen and enter Valhalla was Thor’s mother, Frigga. In Thor: The Dark World, the Queen of Asgard sacrificed her life to protect Jane Foster from the evil Malekith. After the death of Frigga, Odin reached the end of his long life and joined his wife in Valhalla. Almost like an Obi-Wan, Odin continued to communicate with Thor through visions and guided him in defeating Hela.
At the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War, Heimdall was killed by Thanos for interfering in his plans. Recognized as a warrior, Heimdall ascended to Valhalla, where he welcomed newcomers to the “land of the gods.” One of the newcomers was the Mighty Thor herself, Jane Foster, who died shortly after fighting Gorr the God Butcher in love and thunder. While Foster was human, she died a warrior’s death and gained access to Valhalla.
Besides Frigga, Odin, Heimdall and Jane Foster, Valhalla probably has many more warriors. Many Asgardian warriors died fighting in the Thor movies, and any of them might have entered Valhalla. This includes all warriors killed by Hela, such as the Warriors Three; Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun. There’s so much we don’t know about Valhalla yet, but it’s possible that departed heroes like Iron Man live there.
Other Ghost Worlds in the MCU
Valhalla isn’t the only afterlife seen in the MCU. In Moon KnightMarc Spector was not taken to Valhalla, but was instead taken to the Duat after he was killed. The Duat represented the Egyptian underworld and was too complex for the human mind to comprehend. As a result, people saw the Duat as something much more recognizable. Those in the Duat had their hearts weighed on the Libra of Justice and the Feather of Truth. If balanced, they would be allowed to enter Aaru, a paradise known as the Reed Field. If the scales were not balanced, they would have to remain in the Duat forever. However, the gates of Osiris can bring a person back to life.
When Gamora was murdered in Avengers: Infinity War, she did not die a normal death when she was transported to the Soul World. According to co-director Joe Russo, Gamora was kept alive within the Soul Stone (via Collider). Some Marvel fans believed that Gamora died when Thanos destroyed the Infinity Stones, but he didn’t actually destroy them. Thanos simply reduced the Infinity Stones to atoms, which would probably have no effect on the Soulworld. It definitely wasn’t a Walhalla-esque paradise, but the Soulworld can be considered a different kind of afterlife in the MCU.
Black Panther explored another spiritual world with the Wakandan Ancestral Plane. The former King T’Chaka entered the astral dimension after death and took his place among his ancestors. Both T’Challa and Erik Killmonger were able to visit the Ancestral Plane afterwards consume a heart-shaped herb. Unlike Valhalla or the Duat, Wakandan’s afterlife could be visited by people who were still alive.