Modern Takes on Norse Mythology

Characters and names from Ancient Norse Mythology have been the talk of the town lately because of reactions from GMA's (Philippine TV channel) newest soap opera based on them. It's not the first time that the characters and stories from the Prose Edda have been used or been referenced in popular media. The Thor movie trilogy from the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of those entities that are heavily influenced by these stories. Prose Edda, Snorri's Edda or historically, Edda alone, is the source of most of what we know about the Norse Mythology. It is where most of the characters and stories of the popular myth come from.

The Prose Edda

With the explosion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the tale of the Norse Gods have been reintroduced anew and is now a part of mainstream pop culture. But before Victor Magtanggol and the MCU, did you know that Norse Mythology has already been used in so many games, books and many other forms of popular media? Here are some of the most popular stories that integrate characters or elements from Norse Mythology:

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Still from Thor: Ragnarok

One of the most popular takes on the Norse Mythology is the MCU version, in the form of the Thor Movies. Most casual fans didn't even know that these "gods" and beings exist until the recent introduction from Marvel movies. The adaptation presents the gods as alien beings from another planet who possess extraordinary powers. They age slow but not immortal, and they also have encountered mankind and other alien beings. Aside from the good guys, they have also borrowed malevolent beings from the mythology.

Thor: Ragnarok promotional image. (R-L: Valkyrie, Hela, Thor, Hulk & Loki

Final Fantasy

Fenrir as symbolized by Cloud in Final Fantasy: Advent Children

Spanning many sagas and different storylines, the Final Fantasy franchise also borrows a lot from Norse Mythology. From their monsters to characters as well as pivotal and cataclysmic events, many of them were named after elements from the myth.

Odin and Sleipnir from Final Fantasy XIV

One of the most unique interpretations was of Fenrir in the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children movie where it was used as the name of Cloud's vehicle.

Cloud and Fenrir

Ragnarok was also mentioned in Final Fantasy XIII. Two characters, Fang and Vanille gets crystallized after summoning Ragnarok and they get to repopulate the world reborn. This story is also based on Ragnarok myth of Líf ("life") and Lífþrasir ("eager for life")—the humans who will survive Ragnarok, who sleep through earth's destruction and upon awakening will find the earth verdant again.

Fang and Vanille

Ragnarök Franchise

Valkyrie Sandra

Who could forget about the global phenomenon, Ragnarok Online? Ragnaok or RO for short is a Massively-Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game based on a Korean Manwha and both borrow many things from Norse Mythology.

In-game Godly items including Thor's Hammer Mjolnir

The world of RO itself is called Rune-Midgard, based on Midgard, or the realm of humans in Norse Mythology. From monsters to items, places and characters, the games is heavily influenced by Norse myths and legends.

Ragnarok Online official art

The original manwha, called Ragnarok: Into the Abyss, where the game is based from, takes on the Ragnarok storyline with involvement of its own version of the Norse Gods. In the manwha, a prophecy from the norns (Urd, Verdandi & Skuld), rulers of destiny in the Norse myth, slowly unfold as the characters also find out their destiny in the coming Ragnarok or the end and rebirth of the world.

L-R: Iris, Fenris, Chaos (Balder), Loki, Lidia & Sarah (Valkyrie)

Oh my Goddess! / Ah! My Goddess!

Ah! My Goddess is an animé and manga series that tells the story of a college sophomore named Keiichi who accidentally calls on the Goddess help line. The goddess Belldandy (Verdandi) materializes and grants him one wish. Believing that it was only a prank, he wished for Belldandy to stay with him forever. A relationship between the two ensue and the story becomes more complicated when Belldandy's sisters, Urd and Skuld arrives and lives with them.

L-R: Belldandy, Keiichi, Urd & Skuld

Victor Magtanggol

It's the first time that a Philippine TV series tries to make their own spin on the stories of the Norse Mythology and their version has a slight resemblance to Marvel's MCU version. The story revolves on a character named Victor who eventually would have to learn how to use the Mjolnir that he would inherit from Magni, Thor's son, and save the world from Modi and Loki, who will team up to spread chaos to the world upon knowing and getting jealous about a mortal becoming the new guardian of Thor's powerful hammer.

Alden Richards, Filipino actor as Hammerman, wielder of Mjolnir

In this version, most of the gods have already succumbed to Ragnarok and the story will be about the transformation of a Filipino mortal to a superhero who is able to wield Mjolnir.

Victor Magtanggol's Loki

Rick Riordan's Gods of Asgard

After the success of his series of books based on Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology, Rick Riordan now dabbles in the world of the Norse Gods and Goddesses. In Riordan tradition, the story's protagonists are demigods of the present time and the protagonist, Magnus Chase is related to Annabeth, Daughter of Athena, one of the main protagonists of his most popular series, The Gods of Olympus.

The Magnus Chase trilogy

Neil Gaiman's American Gods

One of the best usages of the elements of Norse Mythology is Neil Gaiman's version which centers on an ex-convict named Shadow. He meets Mr. Wednesday, who would turn out to be Odin the All-Father's reincarnation. They would travel across America to recruit the modern manifestations of the old Gods, whose powers have weakened due to a decrease in their believers, and wage war against the new Gods - Manifestations of modern life and technology.

Just recently, the books have debuted in a TV series that's as grim and mysterious as the original.

These are just some of the modern-day interpretations of the olden Norse myth and legend. Most of them are interesting but there are some that are quite unfitting and awkward but nonetheless, these stories will continue to flourish, as today's media thrives on familiarity and nostalgia, which these stories offer.

Do you know other stories that are based on Norse mythology? Leave a comment below!