Leir (Marvel Comics)

Leir is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the Celtic god Lir, and is a god of lightning and the spear from Avalon. He was created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz in 1987 as a supporting character of Thor.

Leir
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Thor #386 (Dec. 1987)
Created by	Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz
In-story information
Team affiliations	The Celtic gods of Avalon

Fictional character biography

Leir, depicted as a deity from the mythical realm of Avalon, inhabits this enchanted domain alongside other Celtic gods.

When the Heliopolitan god Seth sought to make war against the other gods, he dispatched monsters to attack Avalon and Asgard. Thor pursued a griffin-like beast through a dimensional rift to Avalon. When the Celtic gods saw Thor, they blamed him for the arrival of the beasts, and Leir battled Thor due to the misunderstanding. Hogun had followed Thor to offer his support. The three gods battled the beast and drove it off.^[1] Leir felt he owed Thor a debt for helping against the winged monster, and sent a force of Celtic gods, including Caber, to battle the armies of Seth when he attacked Asgard.^[2]

Subsequently, Leir and Caber launch an assault on the Fomorians, adversaries of the Avalon gods.^[3] Their adventures lead them back to Asgard via a dimensional portal. During this time, Leir seeks to wed the Asgardian goddess Sif, who conditions their union on his participation in rescuing Thor and combating her designated champion.^[4] This quest brings Leir, Caber, and Sif to Earth and later to the Black Galaxy, where they locate Thor.^[5]

Together with Hercules, the group returns to Asgard and battles the giants Ymir and Surtur.^[6] Leir challenges Thor, whom he mistakenly believes to be Sif's champion, only to be defeated by Sif herself.^[7]

Powers and abilities

Leir has the typical powers of the Celtic gods of Avalon. This includes superhuman strength, speed, durability, stamina, and reflexes, and a drastically long lifespan.

Leir can generate electrical energy from his hands as a lightning-like spear, which he uses as a weapon. He also wields a shield of unknown properties.

Leir is a highly proficient hand-to-hand combatant, a good swordsman, and an expert at spear-throwing.