Tessa Thompson's 'Thor: Ragnarok' Character Inspired Marvel Comics' New Valkyrie

One of the weirdest back-and-forth dances is how Marvel Comics characters and their cinematic counterparts rub off on each other. The Ultimates-era Nick Fury, who was a bald-headed black man, not only inspired Marvel Studios to hire Samuel L. Jackson to be their Nicky Fury, but it further influenced the comic creators to make that Nicky Fury the main Nick Fury in their universe. And while they don't acknowledge it, take a look at how characters like Thor or Doctor Strange are being drawn since hitting the silver screen. The MCU is cooking up quality change that we can believe in, and have done so with their new iteration of the Valkyrie character.

For those who were unaware, the Valkyrie of the comics was a strong, blond white woman. Once Thor: Ragnarok dropped, and fans got to see Tessa Thompson put a different spin on the character...one that lowkey had LGBTQ undertones. If you loved that take on Valkyrie, know that in the new Exiles series, Valkyrie is a member, and Saladin Ahmed (who is writing the series) says they are borrowing heavily from the film's take on the character.

"Though she’s not technically from the Marvel Cinematic Universe reality," Ahmed explained, "she’s basically the literalization of the larger-than-her-physical-frame swagger that Tessa Thompson displayed in Thor: Ragnarok, turned up to 11." When it comes to who Valkyrie will, ahem, be slaying, Ahmed drops some hints that feel like how Thompson played the character. "Our Valkyrie is known as the Lone Defender of Asgard, and she’s a tankard-draining, maiden-wooing, giant-slaying thunderbolt of a woman."

Just one look at the artwork for the Exiles' Valkyrie, and you'll see what he means.