Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor got his third solo movie, Thor: Ragnarok. With Taika Waititi in charge of directing, Ragnarok brought some much-needed changes to Thor and those around him, giving the God of Thunder a personality and a sense of humor, as well as introducing one of the best MCU villains to date: Hela, who happens to be Thor’s sister.
Hela was Odin’s oldest child and served as his personal executioner and leader of the Einherjar, the main army of Asgard. Hela helped her father conquer the Thor's mother Frigga.
Hela's Comic Origin Is Very Different From Thor: Ragnarok
As it has done with many other characters, the MCU changed many details from the comics, including Hela’s family tree. In the comics, she’s the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboða and was born in Jotunheim. When she came of age, Odin appointed her as the Goddess of the Dead, and so she became the ruler of Hel and Niflheim – and that’s her only connection to the All-father. According to screenwriter Eric Pearson (via Thor referred to Hela as his half-sister, thus confirming that she’s not Frigga’s daughter.
The identity of Hela’s mother in the MCU remains unknown even after Thor: Ragnarok changed Hela's origins.
Hela's Mother Is One More Reason She Needs An MCU Return
The lingering mystery of Hela's parentage provides one compelling reason that she should appear again in the MCU, as her story's not fully resolved. Even besides this, though, Hela should continue to be a part of Thor's story simply because she's the best villain he's ever faced in his impressive arc. Thanos may have been a far-reaching threat, and Gorr may have been terrifying, but Hela was uniquely suited to be Thor's foe because of their shared history and how she forced him to reconsider his heritage and his role as a king. After Thor: Love and Thunder, there's still plenty more room for Thor's character to deepen, and Hela would be a great way to achieve this. And like the MCU's Loki, Hela could have some unexpected depth to her as well. Thor: Ragnarok gave her a great debut, but it would be a shame not to take her further.
