Warning: SPOILERS for Thor #33The Asgardian goddess of death, Hela, could be the incarnation of the new mysterious Black Infinity Stone - which grants control over Death - recently introduced in the Thor ongoing series. Hela was a major antagonist in the MCU movie Thor: Ragnarok, where she was introduced as Thor's sister. In the comics, however, Hela's origin story is a lot more complicated, even before taking into account this new, intriguing theory.

In Thor #33, by Torunn Grønbekk, Juan Gedeon, and Matt Wilson, the origins of the mysterious Black Stone are finally revealed through a story that alternates Doctor Doom's attempt to recreate the powerful artifact in the present and Thanos' first attempt to seize the Black Stone in the ancient past. The item was actually created by Bor, Odin's father, using the souls of the Asgardian deaths as fuel. When Thanos reaches the forge used by Bor's sorcerers to complete the process, what he finds is not the Black Stone but a newborn baby with dark hair and pitch-black eyes, who is very likely to be Hela.

Hela Could Be The Personification Of The Death Infinity Stone

This theory is supported by an early summary for Thor #35, promising that 'the mysterious origin of Hela is finally revealed!', and also showing adult Hela with the Black Stone embedded in an Infinity Gauntlet. The presence of Hela in this story, who was captured by Doctor Doom before being freed by Thor in issue #33, seemed to be connected to Doom's attempt to re-create the Black Stone using the souls of the dead he stole from the goddess' realm, Hel. However, the revelation that Hela is actually a living Infinity Stone would be a major change to the character's lore.

Marvel's Thor stories borrow heavily from Scandinavian mythology, in which Hela is actually Loki's daughter. This remained the canon in Marvel Comics for a long time too, until writer Keiron Gillen in his Journey Into Mystery series shook things up, showing that Hela created her child self and then send her back in time to ensure her own existence. Hela's relationship with Thanos is also a more recent part of her lore, in which the Mad Titan was attracted by the Asgardian goddess as another personification of the Death he worships. Adding to this Hela's MCU status as Odin's daughter and Thor's brother, she is one of the most complex and mysterious characters in the Thor franchise.

Hela's Origins As The Black Stone Would Tie A Lot Of Loose Ends Together

The theory that Hela is a living Infinity Stone would actually make a lot of sense and tie into the rest of her lore. It would not retcon Gillen's brilliant story, and it would explain and reinforce Thanos' attraction towards her. Marvel fans know that Infinity Stones can be alive, as they're currently bonded to living people, so this would slot perfectly into the current lore, and tie a lot of loose ends together. Thor fans will have to wait a little longer to find out if Hela is really a living Infinity Stone.

Thor 33 is available now from Marvel Comics.