Heimdall

: "I will honor my sworn oath to protect this realm as its gatekeeper."
: ―Heimdall[src]
Heimdall is an all-seeing and all-hearing Asgardian who is the Gatekeeper of Asgard and the guardian of its Bifrost. Despite vowing to obey the orders of Odin, Heimdall was prepared to commit treason if it meant protecting the Realms, as he allowed the Warriors Three to retrieve Thor from Midgard to defeat Loki and stop his plans to reignite the Asgard-Jotunheim War.
== Biography ==
=== Bifrost Guardian ===
==== Protector of the Realms ====
: "I am bound by honor to our king."
: ―Heimdall
Heimdall is an Asgardian blessed with sensory capabilities far beyond those of other Asgardians, letting him see nearly all things that happen in the Nine Realms. He spent his life learning to maximize these senses to their potential, which required heavy concentration. His near omniscience have been put to use placing Heimdall in the role of gatekeeper to Asgard at Himinbjorg on the Bifrost Bridge. Throughout his time as its guardian, Heimdall ensured that no enemies were able to get past his watch and enter Asgard, ensuring its safety throughout Odin's rule of King, whom Heimdall was fiercely loyal to. Heimdall noticed seeds of greatness in Odin's son, Thor, at a young age despite Thor's arrogance. He saw that Thor cared deeply about his family, friends and Asgard. As Thor grew up, Heimdall noticed him starting to resemble his father. 
==== Frost Giants Attack ====
: "Heimdall, may we pass?""Never has an enemy escaped my watch until this day. I wish to know how it happened.""Then tell no one where we have gone until we return."
: ―Thor and Heimdall
Despite his own phenomenal ability, however, Heimdall was unable to perceive an intrusion by several Frost Giants when they broke into Odin's Vault in an attempt to reclaim the Casket of Ancient Winters. Despite the Frost Giants being stopped by the Destroyer, Heimdall was mortified to have failed to foresee this attack. This intrusion also sparked the ire of Odin's son Thor, who came to Heimdall, seeking access to Jotunheim in order to gain answers from the Frost Giants.
Despite Loki attempting to trick him into allowing them to go past, Heimdall made it clear that he understood why they had come to him, causing Thor to step forward and demand access to the Bifrost Bridge. Heimdall agreed to let Thor and the Warriors Three pass and accepted their request that he keep their movements secret. While he activated the Bifrost using Hofund, Heimdall warned he may be forced to not reopen the Bifrost if it proved too great a risk to the safety of Asgard. He allowed them passage and watched as they fought, but did not put his focus on them, as he was distracted by the invasion.
Heimdall saw that Thor and his friends were in danger, so he reported to King Odin where they had went. Odin asked why Heimdall allowed Thor to go and why he didn't tell him sooner, so Heimdall simply said he obeyed Thor's command and told Odin when the situation demanded it. Odin ordered him to open the Bifrost, saving Thor and his friends from Laufey's army of Frost Giants. Seeing that Fandral had been injured during the Attack on Jotunheim, Odin ordered Volstagg and Hogun to get him to the healing room along with Lady Sif while he confronted Thor over his actions which had restarted the war against Laufey. Heimdall stood to the side and listened as Thor and Odin argued about Thor's actions. Heimdall hoped Thor would try to appease his father while Odin stripped the prince of his power and banished him from Asgard. Heimdall turned to see Loki shocked and Odin angry.
==== Loki Takes the Throne ====
: "Did Odin ever fear you?""No.""And why is that?""Because he is my king. And I'm sworn to obey him."
: ―Loki and Heimdall
With Thor gone, Odin later fell into the Odinsleep, which unnerved Heimdall. Hoping to see his friend, Heimdall stood on Himinbjorg and overlooked the Nine Realms, seeing Thor try and fail to lift up his own hammer Mjølnir, resulting in him failing to regain his former powers and return home to Asgard.
With Odin still in his Odinsleep, Loki placed himself on the throne as regent with the support of Queen Frigga. As the King of Asgard, Loki demanded Heimdall's loyalty, which he grudgingly accepted while he did not trust Loki's intentions. Heimdall later caught Loki returning to Asgard from Jotunheim, with Heimdall noting he had somehow been unable to see him there, causing his fears to be confirmed that it was Loki who brought the Frost Giants into Asgard and used his magic to enshroud them from Heimdall's sight. Loki, noting of Heimdall's suspicion, asked him if Odin had ever feared him due to his great power, and Heimdall told him that his former king did not due to his sworn allegiance to his king. Loki reminded him that he was his king now and ordered that the Bifrost Bridge to be temporally shut down.
Now ordered not to allow anyone to leave Asgard for the foreseeable future, Heimdall became convinced of Loki's sinister plans. Upon hearing that Lady Sif and the Warriors Three were intending to go to Earth and save Thor, Heimdall ordered a member of the Einherjar to bring them to Himinbjorg. Once confirming that they intended to go against Loki, Heimdall expressed relief, but announced his refusal to directly disobey his king. He decided to walk outside of Himinbjorg and allow them to use the Bifrost themselves, with Fandral calling him a complicated fellow.
==== Fighting Loki ====
: "I say, for your act of treason, you are relieved of your duties as gatekeeper, and no longer citizen of Asgard.""Then I need no longer obey you."
: ―Loki and Heimdall
Enraged, Loki marched straight into Himinbjorg where Heimdall was waiting for him, as he questioned exactly how Loki had allowed the Frost Giants inside Asgard in the first place. Furious, Loki dismissed Heimdall as his subject and charged him of treason, thus releasing the protector of the Bifrost Bridge from his vows. Heimdall responded with an immediate attack with Hofund, but Loki froze him in a block of ice with the Casket of Ancient Winters just before he could strike. Heimdall watched helplessly as the Destroyer was sent to Midgard to fight Thor, who was nearly killed, but regained the power of Mjølnir.
While Heimdall remained frozen in place, Loki proceeded to bring a small army of the Frost Giants, which included King Laufey, through the Bifrost and into Asgard. Locked in his icy prison, Heimdall remained completely helpless to prevent Loki leading one of them into the city and towards King Odin who was still in his Odinsleep, but Heimdall was soon galvanized by the calls of Thor who was still trapped on Earth and was demanding Heimdall's assistance.
Seeking to aid his friends to stop Loki's plans and defeat Laufey, Heimdall began gathering all of his strength to break free of his icy prison. Barely able to move, Heimdall listened to Thor's calls for aid as the ice around him finally began to crack under the weight of Heimdall's determination. Smashing free, he quickly cut down the two Frost Giants who had been left to guard him with Hofund, even throwing one of the Frost Giants off the rainbow bridge.
With what little strength he had remaining, Heimdall dragged himself back inside Himinbjorg where he managed to lift Hofund up and activated the Bifrost, allowing Thor and his allies to finally return to Asgard. Severely weakened, Heimdall could assist the adventurers no further as he collapsed from his wounds and had to be carried by Lady Sif and the Warriors Three from Himinbjorg to seek some kind of aid while Thor then furiously left to confront Loki.
==== Losing the Bifrost ====
: "So Earth is lost to us...""No. There is always hope."
: ―Thor and Heimdall[src]
Eventually Thor had successfully defeated Loki in a final duel, at the cost of the Bifrost Bridge. The destruction of the bridge created a portal that Loki to an unknown area within space. Heimdall returned following the destruction of Himinbjorg and when Thor asked if passage to Earth was lost for all time, he showed him the Bifrost regenerating and replied, "No. There is always hope." When Thor asked Heimdall if he could see Jane Foster, Heimdall chuckled and told him that he could and that she was searching for ways to be reunited back with him.
== Personality ==
: "You would defy the commands of Loki, our king? Break every oath you have taken as warriors, and commit treason to bring Thor back?""Yes.""Good."
: ―Heimdall and Sif[src]
Heimdall is a strong and loyal warrior, with a high sense of honor. Although being extremely powerful, even for an Asgardian, he loyally serves Odin, having swore an oath of faith to his king. However, his true loyalty mainly lies with the throne of Asgard, rather than Odin personally, as such when during Loki's reign, he did not personally let Sif and the Warriors Three pass onto Earth, but he secretly gave them his blessing by leaving the Bifrost Bridge open to them. Heimdall is perceptive with his heightened senses as he was able to swiftly evade Loki's deception when he was approached by him at Himinbjorg, and he discovered Loki's plans to bring the Frost Giants into Asgard even with Loki's increased efforts to conceal himself from Heimdall. Heimdall uncovered Loki's sinister plans and showed great reluctance in serving him. After Loki found out, he announced Heimdall as a traitor and no longer a citizen of Asgard. As a result, Heimdall attacked Loki, declaring that he was no longer bound to serve him. Heimdall's motives and actions primarily were driven by his altruism for the safety and good of Asgard to the point where he would even betray the throne of Asgard if he felt it was necessary to protect his people. Even though Loki was the King of Asgard, he attacked him after he uncovered Loki's harmful plans for the kingdom.
== Powers and Abilities ==
=== Powers ===
: "You have great power, Heimdall."
: ―Loki to Heimdall[src]
:* Asgardian Physiology: As an Asgardian, Heimdall possesses all of the various superhuman attributes common among his people, including superhuman strength, durability, speed, agility, stamina, reflexes, healing, and is extremely long-lived.
:** Superhuman Strength: Like all Asgardians, Heimdall possesses great superhuman strength, numerous times stronger than any normal human being. He is able to break free from being frozen by Loki with the Casket of Ancient Winters and to lift a Frost Giant with his sword.
:** Superhuman Durability: Heimdall's body is numerous times more resistant to physical and energy damage than any normal human being. He is capable of being frozen by Loki and showing no signs of injuries afterward.
:** Superhuman Reflexes: Heimdall can react and dodge objects traveling at high speeds, much quicker than any normal human being.
:** Regenerative Healing Factor: Despite his body's resistance, Heimdall can still be injured like any other Asgardian. However, his wounds are able to be healed very rapidly.
:** Longevity: Heimdall, like all other Asgardians, was not truly immortal. It was possible to kill an Asgardian and other beings in the Nine Realms. More accurately, Asgardians are extremely long-lived beings, Heimdall ages at a pace far slower than any normal human being, being able to live for thousands of years. Even though he is more than a thousand years old, Heimdall still looks like a middle-aged man by Earth standards.
:* Absolute Senses: Heimdall possesses tremendous sensory capabilities far beyond that of any Asgardians, which made Odin appoint him the Gatekeeper to Asgard. His sight itself extends to all of the Nine Realms, and his hearing is so sharp and precise that he heard the Warriors Three and Lady Sif conspiring against Loki from his post. Heimdall is able to hear other Asgardians calling him from other world and realms.
: 
=== Abilities ===
* Master Combatant: Heimdall is a highly skilled and formidable hand-to-hand combatant, having received extensive training in unarmed combat and swordsmanship as well as having centuries of combat experience, making him one of the most powerful and best warriors in Asgard. While normally using his sword to open the Bifrost Bridge, when using it in combat, Heimdall is powerful enough to defeat two Frost Giants when in a weakened state.
* Sword Mastery: Heimdall is extremely skilled at using his sword in combat, being able to take down multiple Frost Giants at once. With his sword, he is also able to open the Bifrost Bridge, thus making him the Guardian of the Bridge.
== Equipment ==
==== Current Equipment ====
* Hofund: Heimdall mainly uses his sword for opening the Bifrost Bridge, but the sword is also powerful enough to pierce the skin of a Frost Giant.
* Helmet: Heimdall wore a helmet during his service as Asgard's Gatekeeper, designed to resemble an immovable bull. He stopped wearing the helmet after he was relieved of his duty.
* Asgardian Armor: Heimdall's armor is a gold metal chest plate that extended into shoulder guards over ox leather clothing. He also has a golden horned helmet. He wore black pants and gold boots and arm-bracers.
== Relationships ==
=== Allies ===
* Asgardian Royal Family
** Odin - King
** Frigga - Queen
** Thor - Best Friend
** Loki - Former King and Enemy
* Einherjar
* Sif
* Warriors Three
** Volstagg
** Fandral
** Hogun
*Sleipnir
=== Enemies ===
* Frost Giants
== Appearances ==
In chronological order:
* Thor
== Trivia ==
* In the comics, Heimdall and Sif are brother and sister, and members of the Vanir.
Category:Asgardians
Category:Thor Characters
Category:Comics Characters
Category:Males
Category:Black hair
Category:Yellow eyes
Category:Heroes
Category:Gods