Lorelei (Asgardian)

Lorelei first appeared in Thor #337 (November 1983), and was created by Walt Simonson.^[1] Lorelei became a recurring character throughout the Thor series and also appeared in Black Knight #3 (August 1990), Journey into Mystery #509-511 (May–August 1997), The Defenders vol. 2 #1-4 (March–June 2001), Loki #1 (January 2004), and Thor: Son of Asgard #5 (June 2004).

Lorelei is the older sister of Amora the Enchantress. Loki agrees to take Lorelei to Manhattan to win Thor's love; in exchange. Lorelei agrees to travel to a dangerous district in New York City to hypnotize Fafnir into attacking Thor. Fafnir instead hypnotizes Lorelei, and places her in a trap near the workplace of Thor's alter ego Sigurd Jarlson. Thor, as Jarlson, finds and rescues the unconscious Lorelei, and fights Fafnir until the dragon flees. Believing her to be mortal, Thor calls for an ambulance; before she is taken away, Lorelei lets Thor know she is attracted to him and promises to thank him properly when she has recovered. As the ambulance drives off, he realizes he does not know her name.^[2]

Lorelei hears that Fafnir, bent on revenge, is rampaging around New York destroying buildings. Thor arrives, battles and kills Fafnir, and returns home to Jarlson's apartment. Using the name 'Melodi', Lorelei visits Jarlson to thank him for saving her life. She offers him a back rub, and gives him some of her golden mead, a love potion which will cause him to fall in love with the first person he sees. He falls asleep and Lorelei exits the apartment, leaving a note offering to cook dinner for him next weekend.^[3] Melodi and Jarlson go on several dates; none of them end in Jarlson drinking her mead. At her apartment, she is changing into something comfortable when Jarlson takes a phone call and suddenly has to leave, turning into Thor in a nearby alley. Melodi answers a knock on the door and is kidnapped by Malekith the Accursed. He leaves a duplicate Melodi in her place. When Thor visits "Melodi", he drinks the mead and falls madly in love with her.^[4]

Heimdall sees that Thor is under Lorelei's control and works with Enchantress to manipulate Thor into overcoming the control. Thor hurls Mjolnir into the sky, and grabs Loki by the throat. Loki releases Thor from his spell; Thor, no longer in love, pushes Lorelei aside and leaves, leaving her to fawn over Loki.^[5][6]

Like all Asgardians, Lorelei is long-lived, aging at an extremely slow rate upon reaching adulthood. Asgardian flesh and bone is about three times denser than similar human tissue, contributing to her superhuman strength, durability and endurance. She is also immune to all Earth diseases and resistant to conventional injury.

Lorelei may have the potential for mystical powers like her sister, Amora, but she chosen not to develop it to the same extent. In battle against Seth and his minions, she was depicted as firing mystical force bolts, similar to her sister's.^[10] After being resurrected by Seth, her magical powers were greatly enhanced, even beyond those of her sister and she retained these heightened abilities in later years, with her power being equal to that of Pluto.^[12]

Lorelei's great beauty and seductive manner enable her to persuade virtually any male god or mortal to do whatever she wants. Lorelei has some knowledge of sorcery, mostly pertaining to love charms and potions. Lorelei also possesses a petrifying kiss, transforming victims into a granite statue.