The Siege of Asgard was an attempt by the Asgardian goddess Hela to invade Asgard.
Background
A Fall From Grace
Millennia ago, King Odin Borson and his chief executioner Hela, who was also his oldest child, conquered the Nine Realms in a bloody centuries-long campaign that led to the creation of the Asgardian Empire.
Odin, however, began to see his daughter's ambitious nature as a threat and was forced to fight her in a battle that ended with Hela being defeated, banished and imprisoned in Hel.
Immediately afterward, Odin decreed that any mention or depiction of Hela's involvement in Asgard's creation was to be erased, even replacing a fresco depicting her conquests with inaccurate images.[1]
A Family Reunion
In 2017, two years after the Battle of Sokovia, Odin's son Thor was captured by the fire demon Surtur while on an unsuccessful quest to search for the Infinity Stones. While listening to Surtur taunt him about the impending Ragnarök, an event that would bring about the end of Asgard, the God of Thunder learned his father wasn't on Asgard and promptly escaped, but not before stealing the demon's crown.
Returning to Asgard, Thor discovered that his adopted brother Loki had been posing as Odin since the Second Dark Elf Conflict and, after exposing the God of Mischief's deception to the populace, forced him to take him to Odin. The two made their way to Earth and with the reluctant help of Stephen Strange, managed to track Odin down to Norway.
Their reunion, however, was short-lived, as Odin revealed that he was about to die and that his death would allow Hela to break free. True to the Allfather's word, he passed away and went to join his late wife Frigga in Valhalla. The moment he did so, a portal to Hel opened and Hela triumphantly emerged, demanding that her younger brothers acknowledge her as Asgard's rightful Queen.
Thor, however, refused and hurled Mjølnir at the former chief executioner only to watch in shock as she caught the hammer with one hand and used her powers to destroy it. The two brothers then attempted to escape via the Bifrost Bridge only for Hela to follow and knock them into space before making her way to her old home.[1]
Siege
- "It's come to my attention that you don't know who I am. I am Hela. Odin's firstborn. Commander of the legions of Asgard. The rightful heir to the throne and the Goddess of Death. My father is dead. As are the princes. You're welcome. We were once the seat of absolute power in the cosmos. Our supremacy was unchallenged. Yet Odin stopped at Nine Realms. Our destiny is to rule over all others. And I am here to restore that power. Kneel before me and rise into the ranks of my great conquest."
"Whoever you were, whatever you've done, surrender now or we will show you no mercy."
"Whoever I am? Did you not listen to a word I said?" - ―Hela and Hogun[src]
Emerging into Heimdall's Observatory, Hela encountered Volstagg and Fandral, whom she promptly executed in cold blood. Skurge, who had observed the murders from a distance, kneeled as Hela approached him. Declaring him to be a "smart boy", the Goddess offered him a job before crossing the Rainbow Bridge that led to Asgard.
Upon reaching the city's entrance, Hela found Hogun and the Einherjar waiting for her. She revealed her identity before giving them the chance to become her allies only for Hogun to state they would never recognize her as their leader and lead the Einherjar in charging towards her.
Hela summons her weapon
The disappointed Goddess proceeded to summon her Necroswords and engage the army in combat, using her powers of telekinesis and weapon manifestation to slaughter them as well as destroy several Asgardian Skiffs.
When the last of the Einherjar was overpowered and killed, Hela slowly made her way through the body-strewn courtyard, relishing in her reawakened bloodlust as Skurge followed in silence. Hogun, who lost consciousness during the battle, came to and prepared to fight only for the Goddess to summon a Necrosword and throw it at the Vanir, impaling him on it and killing him instantly.[1]
Aftermath
With Asgard defenseless, Hela took the throne and named Skurge her Executioner, gifting him with an obsidian axe she created with her powers of weapon manifestation. Hela then resurrected a legion of deceased warriors, whom she turned into her Berserkers, as well as her pet wolf, Fenris.
Meanwhile, Heimdall infiltrated his observatory and stole Hofund so Hela would not be able to use the Bifrost to conquer the other realms. He then proceeded to round up several Asgardian civilians and offer them refuge from the Berserker army.[1]
Behind the Scenes
- The Destroyer was set to appear in the sequence, fighting and being destroyed by Hela, but the scenes were cut because they felt "like an extra beat".[2]