One Member of the New Champions Just Learned the Horrifying Truth of Her Own Origin

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The following contains major spoilers for New Champions #8, on sale August 13 from Marvel Comics.

The most powerful member of Marvel's New Champions finally understands her own origin, and it is even worse than she could have possibly imagined.

In a preview for New Champions #8 (by Steve Foxe, Ivan Fiorelli, Arthur Hesli, and VC's Travis Lanham) from Marvel Comics, readers are dropped right into the middle of the Asgardian Land of the Dead, where the young Hellrune has followed her long-lost aunt Veleda. Unfortunately, Veleda hasn't led Hellrune to meet her parents in life, but rather in death. Even worse, this was always the fate that was intended for the young hero, even by her own parents before their own untimely demises, all so that Hellrune could become the unfeeling vessel for none other than Hela on Earth.

Hellrune's Origins Are Revealed in New Champions #8

Written by STEVE FOXE
Art by IVAN FIORELLI
Colors by ARTHUR HESLI
Letters by VC's TRAVIS LANHAM
Design by KAT WALKINGTON
Main cover art by IVAN FIORELLI & ARTHUR HESLI

Like the majority of her fellow New Champions, Hellrune made her Marvel Comics debut in the pages of 2024's Spider-Woman #7 by Steve Foxe and Ig Guara. Although Hellrune had been glimpsed previously in various cameo appearances or in visions of the future, it wasn't until Jessica Drew, aka Spider-Woman, made her way to the West Coast that Hellrune and her fellow former members of The Assembly were properly introduced. At the time, these teenage superheroes seemed like they were bound to be rising stars, although there was always something that wasn't quite right about The Assembly as a whole.

Soon enough, Spider-Woman uncovered the truth behind The Assembly, that being its secret nature as a Hydra program to steal away with superpowered children and brainwash them into acting as unwitting soldiers. Thankfully, Jessica was able to push back against the villainous forces that had created The Assembly long enough for its genuinely innocent members to be freed from Hydra's control. Following this, most members of the team returned home to families who barely remembered them, only to find that they still needed each other, which drove them to form the New Champions.

The Asgardian Goddess of Death, adopted granddaughter of Odin, and one of the most powerful forces in the entire Marvel Universe, Hela has long been feared and admired in kind. First seen in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's closing story from 1964's Journey Into Mystery #102, "Tales of Asgard: Death Comes to Thor," Hela made her debut as one of the God of Thunder's greatest adversaries, and she has largely remained in that space in the years since. That being said, Hela is still a far more complex and nuanced character than the average Marvel villain, and from what fans can glean from New Champions #8, it doesn't seem like she is aware of Veleda's plot whatsoever.

New Champions #8 goes on sale August 13 from Marvel Comics.