Toothgnasher (Earth-616)

History

For centuries, the mystical Asgardian goats Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder have pulled Thor Odinson's chariot, appearing to him whenever summoned. According to legend, when Thor's travels have made him weary, he can eat Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder for a meal, and they will return to life as long as their bones remain unbroken. Long ago, in the days of Ancient Greece, they transported Thor, Balder, and a small company of Asgardian warriors to Athens to claim it in the name of Asgard. However, upon arriving, the Asgardians found that Odin had temporarily stripped Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, of its power as part of a peace treaty he had made with Zeus. Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder bore their master back to Asgard empty-handed.

Many years later, when the people of Thor's ally Beta Ray Bill were pursued across the universe by a horde of bloodthirsty fire demons from Surtur's realm, Muspelheim, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder carried Thor, Beta Ray Bill, and the lady Sif into battle. While Sif held the demons at bay, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder carried their remaining two passengers to the portal from which the demons emanated. After Thor and Beta Ray Bill destroyed the portal, the faithful steeds took the warriors back to Asgard. Thor later summoned them to carry him to battle against the dragon Fafnir of Nastrond. The two goats transported Thor from Antarctica to New York's South Bronx where Thor and his ally Eilif slew the dragon, but only at the cost of Eilif's life.

Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder pulled Thor's chariot as he led his forces to Hel to reclaim mortal souls stolen by the death goddess Hela. They rode past Garm, the hell-hound that guards the entrance to the underworld, and on for a further nine days and nights, across the river Gjoll and over the bridge Gjallerbru before arriving in Hel. After Thor defeated Hela in personal combat and won back the souls, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder pulled several wagons carrying the souls as they departed Hel. However, Hela reneged on her deal with Thor and sent her undead warriors to block the Asgardian's exit. As Thor prepared to sacrifice himself to give the Asgardians time to escape, he was knocked unconscious by Skurge the Executioner, who took Thor's place, perishing before Hela's warriors while Balder steered Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder back to the land of the living, with the mortal souls and their unconscious master in tow. Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder carried their master to Earth where he dispatched the souls to their bodies. While on Earth, Thor bid Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder to wait for him in an alley, but was transformed into a frog by Loki before he could return. Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder waited for their master, and proved able to communicate with the transformed Thor, advising him to lift his hammer. Thor complied, and was transformed into a humanoid frog with Thor's powers. Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder took their altered master back to Asgard, the journey taking several days because the rainbow bridge, Bifrost, which connected Earth to Asgard, had been shattered. Thor soon defeated Loki and regained his true form.

After Hogun the Grim had been mortally wounded by the Wrecking Crew, Balder employed Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder to carry him to Earth with a healing elixir. They were attacked by the frost giant Pentigaar, but the villain was defeated by Beta Ray Bill, and the elixir was delivered in time. Soon after, when Surtur returned, Odin rode a chariot pulled by Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder and opposed his ancient enemy. Odin and the steeds met Surtur in an immense clash, which left Odin dead and Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder reduced to skeletons. Though Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder soon regenerated, Odin remained dead, and Thor ascended to the throne of Asgard.

When Loki and his forces brought Ragnarok to Asgard and decimated its inhabitants, Thor departed the Asgardians to gain his father's wisdom. Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder carried him to the mountain Hildstalft and waited for his return as he underwent a series of rituals. While waiting, they were killed and eaten by Loki, who broke their bones so they could not regenerate. All Asgard was subsequently destroyed in the war against Surtur's armies.

Attributes

Powers

They are sentient and can communicate verbally both with each other and other animals. If they are killed, they are able to regenerate as long as their bones remain intact.

Abilities

Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder can run and fly at faster-than-light speeds. They can travel through the vacuum of space or in between dimensions unaided. They are fiercely loyal to Thor, ready to give their lives in his service. They can go long periods of time without food or water, perhaps indefinitely.They appear whenever summoned by their master, seemingly appearing out of a burst of lightning.

Strength

They possess great strength in order to pull heavy cargos at high speeds.

Links and References

References