Valkyrie

Brunnhilde, the mighty Valkyrie, stands as one of Marvel's most powerful Asgardian warriors — a shield-maiden whose legacy stretches across decades of comics history. Her first appearance in Thor #133 (1966) marked the debut of a character who would grow far beyond her origins, and that issue is a prized find for any serious Bronze and Silver Age collector. Born of divine Asgardian bloodlines, Brunnhilde leads the Valkyrior, the legendary choosers of the slain, wielding her enchanted sword Dragonfang and riding her winged horse Aragorn into battles that span the Nine Realms and beyond.

Valkyrie became a cornerstone of Marvel's team books when she joined the original Defenders lineup, making her a key figure in one of the most beloved team rosters in comics history. Her appearances throughout the Defenders' run are essential pickups, capturing a raw, sword-and-sorcery energy that set the book apart from standard superhero fare. She later rode with the Lady Liberators, the Secret Avengers, and the all-female A-Force roster, cementing her status as one of Marvel's premier female powerhouses. Her inclusion in the Asgardians of the Galaxy series brought her cosmic adventures to a new generation of readers.

Beyond raw strength and invulnerability, Valkyrie's powerset is staggering — she can sense the approach of death, wield necromantic abilities, tap into precognition, and even possess mortal hosts, a trait that led to some of the character's most complex and emotionally charged storylines. The Exiled crossover and her prominent role in Jason Aaron's Thor saga elevated her profile significantly, and her ties to the War of the Realms event make related issues valuable connective tissue for arc collectors.

With her breakout mainstream popularity fueled by the MCU's Thor: Ragnarok, demand for Valkyrie's key issues has climbed steadily. Thor #133 in high grade is a genuine Silver Age trophy, while her Defenders appearances and modern solo material offer accessible entry points for collectors at every level. Whether you're hunting slabs or raw copies, Valkyrie's catalog rewards deep diving — a character this layered, with this many team affiliations and landmark appearances, is exactly the kind of cornerstone every serious Marvel collection deserves.