Malekith

"Thor, your bravery will not ease your pain. Your family, your world, will be extinguished."

- Malekith

Malekith was the cruel leader of the Dark Elves, a race of beings said to be older than the universe itself. Born into darkness, Malekith led his people in a war against the Asgardians, but they were thought to have been destroyed thousands of years ago. Malekith survived, however, and sought to transform the universe by plunging it back into eternal darkness. Before his attempt could succeed however, he was stopped by Thor in the Battle of Greenwich.

Malekith's War
"Long before the birth of light there was darkness, and from that darkness came the Dark Elves. Millennia ago the most ruthless of their kind, Malekith, sought to transform our universe back into one of eternal night. Such evil was possible through the power of the Aether, an ancient force of infinite destruction."

- Odin

Born on Svartalfheim, Malekith was a cruel Dark Elf leader. Thousands of years ago, he attempted to harness the power of the Aether, an Infinity Stone predating the universe itself, and use its destructive power to destroy all of the Nine Realms. Led by Bor, the Asgardians managed to stop Malekith, who sacrificed the majority of his people, including his own wife and son, in an attempt to wipe out the Asgardian invaders sticking himself and a few survivors into hibernation.

Revenge
"Who are you?" "I am Malekith, and I would have what it is mine."

- Frigga and Malekith

Thousands of years later, the vengeful Malekith and his remaining army awakened, and started searching for the Aether. They found it on Earth, where the Aether found a host in the body of Jane Foster. After finding out that Foster was on Asgard, Malekith sent his lieutenant Algrim into the city under the guise of a prisoner. Malekith sent his attack ships to fly into Asgard and invade the city. Malekith's own ship crashed into city and his soldiers attacked the guards. Malekith walked through the room and destroyed Odin's throne. After Algrim transformed into a Kursed and freed the inmates, including Lorelei, they went to the palace room where they found Queen Frigga protecting the human. As Frigga fought off Malekith, Algrim eventually arrived and restrained her while he went to grab Foster, only to discover that she's an illusion. Realizing that Frigga would not talk, Malekith allowed Algrim to kill her. Thor, witnessing this, angrily struck Malekith's face with lighting, leaving a permanent burn on the right side of his face and causing him to retreat.

Battle on Svartalfheim
Malekith and his forces were more than prepared to attack Asgard again, but Thor and Loki chose to move Jane Foster to Svartalfheim in order to draw Malekith out. Malekith was surprised when Loki suddenly betrayed his brother by seemingly cutting off his hand and surrendering Foster to his forces. Loki then told Malekith that all he wanted was a seat from where he could watch Asgard burn. Algrim recognized Loki as a fellow prisoner on Asgard and confirmed this to his superior. As the Dark Elf extracted the Aether from Jane, it was revealed that Loki cutting off his brother's hand was actually an illusion. Summoning his hammer, Mjølnir, Thor attempted to destroy the Aether while Loki protected Foster, only for the Aether to reconstitute itself almost instantly. Malekith explained that the Aether could not be destroyed and absorbed it, leaving his Dark Elves and Algrim to deal with his two Asgardian opponents.

Malekith then made his way to Earth, where he would unleash the Aether into the Convergence and then obliterate the realms.

Attack on Earth
"The Aether cannot be destroyed." "But you can!"

- Malekith and Thor

Arriving on Earth, Malekith and his forces were soon confronted once again by Thor. With the Aether enhancing his power and abilities, Malekith battled Thor through various portals left by the Convergence. Their strength was equal, finding that neither could overpower the other. Eventually, the two were teleported away from each other and Malkeith nearly succeeded in unleashing the Aether on the Nine Realms, when Thor returned and used a teleportation device Erik Selvig had created to send him to Svartalfheim. Moments later, Selvig used another device to teleport Malekith's Dark Elf Flagship to the Dark Elf's location, and Malekith was subsequently crushed and killed.

Powers
Malekith seems to be one of the most powerful beings in the nine Realms but is only able to match Thor with the power of the Aether, if not slightly surpass him. Malekith possesses various superhuman attributes, some of which are common to his race, the Dark Elves.
 * Superhuman Strength: Malekith, like all Dark Elves, possesses superhuman strength. Ordinarily, Malekith possesses sufficient strength to overpower weaker beings without supplementing his strength with his other powers. However, while using the Aether, he is able to increase his strength to the point where he can match Thor blow for blow, even with Thor having Mjølnir.
 * Superhuman Speed: Malekith can possibly run and move at speeds that are beyond the physical limits of even the finest human athlete.
 * Superhuman Stamina: Malekith's musculature produces considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of an ordinary human. He can physically exert himself at peak capacity for up to 24 hours before the build up of fatigue toxins in his blood begins to impair him.
 * Superhuman Durability: Malekith's body is tougher and much more resistant to physical injury than the body of a human. Malekith can withstand powerful impact forces, exposure to temperature and pressure extremes, falls from great heights, and powerful energy blasts without being injured. Additionally, Malekith was one of the few beings that can withstand and wield the power of an Infinity Stone
 * Superhuman Agility: Malekith's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete.
 * Superhuman Reflexes: Malekith's reflexes are similarly enhanced and are superior to those of the finest human athlete.
 * Extended Longevity: Malekith, like all Dark Elves, possesses a greatly extended lifespan and ages at a much slower pace than humans. He is also immune to the effects of all known Earthly diseases and infections.
 * Regenerative Healing Factor: In spite his his body's increased durability, it is possible to injure him. However, Malekith's metabolism enables him to repair damaged bodily tissues much faster and more extensively than a human is capable of. The limits of Malekith's natural healing abilities aren't known, but it is believed that he isn't able to regenerate missing limbs or organs without magical assistance.

Abilities

 * Combatant:

Weapons
Malekith wields an ancient dagger forged of Dark Matter that predates our own universe. The merciless leader of the Dark Elves used this blade during his siege on Asgard. It was Frigga, mother to Thor and Loki, wife of Odin and queen of Asgard, who wrestled this blade from Malekith’s grasp.

Allies

 * Dark Elves - Subordinates
 * Algrim - Servant

Enemies

 * Asgardians
 * Bor
 * Odin
 * Frigga †
 * Thor
 * Jane Foster
 * Loki
 * Erik Selvig - Unintentional Killer

Trivia

 * In the comics, Malekith has the dark side of his face is on the right instead of left.
 * In a non-canon story in the Captain America & Thor: Avengers! comic, Malekith is the royal mage of Queen Alflyse of Svartalfheim.

Behind the Scenes

 * was considered for the role of the Dark Elf, but he dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.