One of the Marvel Universe's oldest races has some of its strangest secrets, and they're locked away in the anatomy of the Asgardians.

Thor is far from alone when it comes to Marvel's pantheon, and he has a whole host of his cast made up of other Asgardians ready to follow him into battle. This superhuman race of near-immortals walked the Earth for millennia, with powers so fantastical they were worshipped as gods by premodern humanity.

Science came a long way in the past few centuries, however, and if there's one thing Marvel Handbooks love digging into, it's the anatomy of fascinating beings like the Asgardians. With that said, here are some of the things that really make Asgardians distinct.

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Though specific Asgardians like Thor and Odin havemarvelous powersgreater than any of their counterparts, even the average Asgardian's physique is superior to mortal human beings. With dense muscle and bone tissue that promotes physical strength exceeding 30 tons, evena run-of-the-millAsgardian warrior is a sight to behold on the battlefield. Their bodies produce fewer fatigue toxins and stand up to immense punishment, making it easy to see why they earned such a divine reputation.

When a more groundedapproach to these superbeings isn't being taken, a frequent mainstay in the lore of Asgardians is the immortal nature that makes them akin to gods. They age at a mere fraction of the rate of human beings, and as an extra layer of security, they have an astonishing ability to endure and regenerate from any damage they do sustain.

During macabre experiments, Dr. Doom even found that Asgardians are ableto survive without a heart and can completely regrow it under the right conditions. However, while history has shown that Asgardians can be killed, don't be surprised when they are reborn, as the cycle of Ragnarok demanded eons of death and rebirth as a part of their godly life cycles.

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Given their intrinsically divine nature, Asgardians have an advanced ability to generate and manipulate energy. This causes notable Asgardians to become capable magicians or sorcerers, such as the Enchantress, but even those who do not focus on magic show a talent for the manipulation of energy. Lower tier Asgardians likeSkurgeand Baldur can channel beams of energy through their weapons, although it's important to keep in mind that weapons are often the focus. Most Asgardians would rather swing an ax than wave a wand, so much of this potential goes untapped.

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Asgardian Anatomy: The Weirdest Things About Thor and Marvel's Other Gods - CBR - Comic Book Resources