If you’re a fan of Marvel or Norse mythology, then you know that Loki is the trickster god of the AEsir and the Jotnar. He’s often portrayed as a mischievous trouble maker, but he has his good sides too. He’s a god of mischief that gets the AEsir out of trouble – but sometimes, it’s because he’s doing them a favor.
Hela, daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, is one of his three children from that relationship. She’s a goddess of death and also the queen of Helheim, the afterlife realm. Her siblings are Fenrir the wolf and Jormungandr, the world-serpent.
When the gods of Asgard learned of Angrboda’s children, they knew that these creatures would cause them distress. So, at Odin’s behest, the gods sent a group of heroes into Jotunheim to capture the children of Loki and Angrboda.
Hel repaid their generosity with her own act of deception: she disguised herself as a beautiful woman and seduced the gods to trick them into letting her into Asgard. She’s been in charge of Helheim ever since and will lead her army into the Twilight of the Gods, Ragnarok, where she’ll battle her brother for control over the afterlife. It’s a role that seems to suit her well. Her scheming is reflected in her appearance – Helheim is a dark place and she’s always working behind the scenes.