Created by Walt Simonson, Malekith first appeared in Thor #344–349 (June–November 1984). He subsequently appeared in issues #363 (January 1986), 366-368 (April–June 1986), 485–487 (April–June 1995), and 489 (August 1995) of Thor.
He made guest appearances in X-Force and Cable Annual 1997 and Heroes for Hire #14 (August 1998) before again battling Thor in Thor vol. 2 #29-32 (November 2000–February 2001). He later appeared in The Incredible Hercules #134 (November 2009) and #136 (December 2009).
In 2012, Jason Aaron revived him in the Thor: God of Thunder series and he became the main antagonist in the "All New, All Different" Thor volume 4 and the crossover event War on the Realms.
Fictional character biography
Malekith is a Dark Elf who grew up during a time of war in Svartalfheim. After being sold into slavery and captured by trolls, he met a wizard who helped him escape and took him as an apprentice. After the wizard attempts to use his magic to bring peace to the realm, Malekith kills him and then his mother, taking the dogs of the Wild Hunt for his own uses.[1]
Later, Malekith allied with Loki on behalf of the fire demon Surtur.[2] He took control of a number of Earth humans using special food of the faerie provided by Hela. Malekith then killed Eric Willis, guardian of the Casket of Ancient Winters, after learning of its location.[3] As Master of the Hounds, Malekith hunts Roger Willis, Eric's son and new guardian of the Casket. Malekith battled Thor, and kidnaps Lorelei.[4] Using Lorelei as bait, Malekith forced Thor to battle Algrim, one of his Dark Elf followers, and attempts to destroy both combatants by plunging them into magma. He then took the Casket from Roger Willis.[5] Malekith was ultimately defeated by Thor, but not before he destroyed the Casket, releasing the magical frigid force it contained all over Earth.[6] Malekith was then brought as a captive by Thor to Asgard.[7]
Malekith later disguised Loki as himself to take his place in the dungeon, while he disguised himself as Balder, who was about to be crowned ruler of Asgard. Kurse, the being formerly known as Algrim, saw through Malekith's disguise when he reached Asgard City. Kurse then broke Malekith's neck, apparently slaying him.[8]
Years later, Malekith was revealed to be alive once again. Disguising himself as Balder again, he enlisted Hercules to attack Alflyse, the Dark Elf Queen of the Eastern Spires, while disguised as Thor. His scheme unraveled (partially due to the appearance of Thor disguised as Hercules), and he was easily defeated by Zeus.[9]
Malekith has resurfaced again intent on collecting Mandarin's rings.[10] The other ring-bearing hosts were later to meet their demise or mutilation at the hands of Malekith. In the storyline "Rings of the Mandarin", it is revealed that after reclaiming his kingdom Svartalfheim he was approached by a ring seeking a host, but bent its will to his rather than letting it control his mind. He has now begun a campaign to attack all other "Mandarins" and take their rings, desiring "the full set" before attacking Tony Stark. Though he is usually a foe of Thor and other magical beings, his opposition to Iron Man is rooted in Elves' traditional weakness towards iron.[11]
Malekith, who escaped from his prison in Niflheim, rampages across the Nine Realms in a path of revenge, targeting any Dark Elf not loyal to him. Despite this fratricide, the Dark Elf Council elect him their king, as Dark Elves respect those they fear. However, the opposition to Malekith had drawn together the other races of the realms, causing a new level of understanding and cooperation. The enemies of the realms made note of this and drew together as well.[12]
Malekith later works with Dario Agger / Minotaur, the CEO of Roxxon, who gives him Laufey's skull in exchange for the mineral rights of all realms Malekith conquers. Thor appears to stop them, but is attacked by the Serpent, who was possessing the Destroyer Armor.[13][14][15] Amidst this, Malekith and the Minotaur escape to Jotunheim and resurrect Laufey.[16][14]
In The War of the Realms, Malekith invades Midgard, controls the Venom symbiote into serving him, and becomes the self-proclaimed "Butcher of Thors". However, he is ultimately killed by the Wild Hunt Hounds and the Svartlheim Bog Tiger.[18][19][20][21][22][23]
Afterwards, Malekith is transported to Niflheim, where Hela and Karnilla reveal that the Hounds and the Tiger died after being poisoned by his black magic. They then punish him by forcing him to witness his younger self have a peaceful life with the Hounds and Tiger.[24]
Powers and abilities
Malekith has all the normal attributes of a member of the race of dark elves, although his abilities are a result of above-average development. He possesses superhuman intellect, strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility and reflexes.
As a dark elf, Malekith also has the ability to manipulate the forces of magic for a variety of effects, including teleportation, energy projection, physical malleability, flight (by transforming into mist), illusion casting, and the ability to change the shape and appearance of other beings or objects.
Malekith, like all Dark Elves, has a vulnerability to iron, which disrupts or cancels his magical spells.
Malekith the Accursed appears in the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. episode "For Asgard", voiced by James C. Mathis III.[26] This version of Malekith and his Dark Elves were inspired to conquer other worlds due to lacking a homeworld of their own.
Malekith appears in Thor: The Dark World, portrayed by Christopher Eccleston.[28] Millennia prior, this version led the Dark Elves in a war against the Asgardians using the Aether, but were defeated and presumed dead following a final battle against King Bor, who sealed the Aether. Having gone into hiding, the Dark Elves resurface in the present amidst a convergence event when Jane Foster inadvertently becomes infected with the Aether. In their quest to reclaim the Aether and plunge the universe in eternal darkness, they lay siege to Asgard, killing Frigga. Despite being scarred by Bor's grandson Thor, Malekith eventually succeeds in extracting the Aether from Foster and fusing with it, only to be defeated and killed by Thor via a teleportation device Erik Selvig built.
^Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #15 (October, 2007). Marvel Comics.
^ abcd"Malekith Voices (Thor)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 23, 2019. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
