Brynhildr in the Darkness

Brynhildr in the Darkness is a manga written by Lynn Okamoto. He will be more known for his other work mainly Elfen Lied . I am fan of some of his works including his short stories Flip Flap and Elfen Lied Brynhildr's plot was inspired of Old Norse mythology which makes for a way better and more complex plot than his previous works. However I honestly think that the actual core of the story is misunderstood so I wanted to share my interpretation because I really believe that although this manga is flawed it is also well written : ( Full spoilers) Brynhildr inthe Darkness presents an interesting story with main inspirations from Old Norse myths, including the Nibelungenlied (Nibelung), Ragnarök, and the Aesir–Vanir war. The Vanir side of the gods is represented in the heroes of the story. One of the older Norse(Germanic) gods is Nerthus, attested by the Roman historian Tacitus in the 1st century A.D., long before the tales of the Aesir gods (Odin, Thor, etc). This suggests that the more recent myth of the Aesir–Vanir war ( a story of a war between two god tribes) may reflect a historical clash of religions, where the older gods had to fall for new ones to rise. This is symbolically reenacted in Brynhildr with Nature / Love vs Technology & Knowledge. The legend of Nerthus tells of her traveling in a procession (notably with Freyja), bringing celebration and peacetime wherever she goes. During this procession, no one goes to war. This idea likely inspired the story of our main characters in Brynhildr, who fight Vingulf — or more accurately, struggle to survive its destructive forces. (Aesir–Vanir war) Let’s unpack the Norse mythology references: The Vanir ( Nature / Love / Fertility) Kazumi → Freyja Mythic Role: Goddess of love, fertility, beauty (Aesir–Vanir war) In Manga: Kazumi is brashly sexual yet selfless. Like Freyja, she is held hostage by the "Aesir," and misundestood by them. She survives multiple attempts on her life (Aesir–Vanir war). Ultimately, she sacrifices herself out of love. The actual Freyja in the manga is a false decoy god until Kazumi becomes a true goddess herself, granting Ryouta and Neko their only hope at romance. (Aesir–Vanir war) 若林 初菜 Hatsuna → Nerthus Mythic Role: Ancient earth mother whose arrival halts all conflict; symbolizes death and rebirth cycles (Aesir–Vanir war) In manga, Hatsuna’s name (初菜, meaning “first sprout”) and surname Wakabayashi 若林 "young forest" and her ability to regenerate symbolize her as a living representation of primordial nature. She endures the “Ragnarök” depicted in Brynhildr pushing the narrative that nature ultimately triumphs over human cunning. After hatching, she regenerates from her “Drasil,” reflecting her connection to an older Godess Nerthus that predates Odin and his control over gods as an "AllFather" figure. This parallels the theme that Drasil, NOT "Ygg"drasill, is a world order lacking Odin’s sacrificial act (Ygg=Odin in Old Norse) In essence meaning that the system Takachiho created is corrupt ( more on that later) Other Norse figures / Heroes who join the Vanir in the manga : Kana → Völva (the Seer) Mythic Role: The prophetic priestess of the Völuspá, the sole witness of the gods’ end (Ragnarök) In Manga: Kana, though unable to move, sees foresights and warns Neko of the Ragnarok (Loki awakening/ her having to use her hidden powers in volume 17) when captured by Makina. Her role in the manga mirrors the Völva: the seer who survives to tell the tale of the Ragnarök. Ryouta Murakami : Siegfried & Mimir Mythic Roles: Siegfried: The dragon-slaying hero of the Nibelunglied (linked to Norse Sigurd), famed for awakening Brynhildr He is the slayer of Fafnir( bearer of cursed knowledge = symbolically his family knowledge about the aliens in the manga) Mimir: The wise being whose head Odin consults for knowledge of fate and Ragnarök. Keeper of memory, sacrificed for divine insight. In Manga: Ryouta is a clear Siegfried / Mimir parallel — the “hero” who revives Brynhildr (Kuroha) from her amnesiac, dormant state, and who becomes entangled in a tragic love he cannot fully control. He walks the path of doomed knowledge and his capacity to never forget dooms him to die an early death. In a way he is just like Sigurd who inherits a cursed treasure that spells the downfall of his line as his father gives ryouta the cursed renmants of Mimir's head ( and knowledge) Fun Fact Volume 16 Chapter 154 : When Ryouta says, "This is already the 3rd or 4th time I’ve died," which then is followed to a scene of Makina in the alien ruins in Dresden) it sounds like a throwaway line but it’s actually a hidden lore bomb. In the manga, we see him die three times: Killed by Saori during the flashback. Killed by Valkyria. Decapitated by Makina But here’s the twist: The "fourth" death isn’t shown until the very end of the story, when it’s revealed that Ryouta actually died back when he fell off the dam with Neko — the supposed "accident" from their childhood. That’s when his father resurrected him using Mimir's Drasill turning Ryouta into a living container of forbidden knowledge and linking him to the Norse myth of Siegfried, the bearer of the cursed truth. And Mímir’s Well (his residence to be short) in Old Norse mythology is located beneath the YggDrasill root that stretches into Jötunheimr, the land of the giants So him being decapitated, the line "This is already the 3rd or 4th time I’ve died," and a follow up scene in the underground alien remains in Dresden is deeply symbolic and foreshadows Ryouta having Mimir's head. Neko (Kuroha) → Brynhildr 黒羽 (black feather) evokes the Valkyrie’s wings and power. 寧子 (quiet child) reflecting her purity and tragic duality. Mythic Role: Brynhildr, Odin’s chosen warrior-maiden; valkyries choose who lives or dies (Nibelungenlied) In Manga: Neko can absorb or transfer physical strength like a Valkyria on the battlefield in the myths (only when in her awakened valkyria state in volume 15 to Kurofuku / also Onodera use that power as valkyria to knock Neko out in Volume 16). Her slow memory recovery echoes Brynhildr’s curse and awakening in the Nibelung. Her love for Ryouta places her at the heart of the Vanir cause. Like Brynhildr torn between Gunther and Sigurd, Neko is entangled between two “brothers” in our story. (Nibelungenlied ) She (like Brynhildr int the myth) commits essentially suicide to join Ryouta ( sigurd) in death Kotori → Grani / Idunn Mythic Role: A mix of Grani, the horse Odin gives Sigurd to save Brynhildr (Nibelungenlied); and Idunn, goddess of immortality who is killed during Ragnarok. In Manga: Kotori acts as Grani, Ryouta only reunites with Neko(who in her "awakened" or normal state is revealed to be Brynhildr) because of Kotori getting captured. When the Ain Soph Aur activates, Kotori sprouts 8 legs, evoking Sleipnir/Grani. She also reflects Idunn, as she defeats Valkyria symbolically the goddess of eternal life overcoming the man-made fake goddess of death. The Aesir (Power / Knowledge): Takachiho → False Odin Mythic Role: Odin, All-Father who sacrifices himself for wisdom but manipulates fate (Ragnarök) In Manga: Takachiho’s greyed-out lens echoes Odin’s lost eye (though Odin sacrificed it for wisdom at Mimir’s well, Takachiho sacrifices his family, not himself, for power, giving his son Ryouta the responsibility of Mimir’s knowledge). He predicts his death, like Odin foresees his doom at Ragnarök in the myth. Makina → Gunther / Deus Ex Machina Mythic Role: Gunther, the betrayer of Brynhildr under his father’s schemes (Nibelungenlied) In Manga: Like Gunther, Makina’s pride and manipulation lead him to capture Brynhildr (Neko). His obsession with proving himself to his relatives as strong and worthy is his undoing. (Nibelungenlied) He's shown to be a "weak" demi god figure which aligns well with Gunther being a weak (physically) but powerful king in the myth. Valkyria → False Hel Mythic Role: Hel, goddess of death (Ragnarök) In Manga: Valkyria, with her white hair and deathly presence, embodies a fake Hel, bringing Niflheim to earth (Underground Lab of Ichijiku in volume 9-10). She’s defeated by Kotori (Idunn) through self-sacrifice life triumphing over death. (Ragnarök) Indeed as Kotori in her awakened "Idunn Godess" state nullifies Valkyria's power we can infer she is a fake version of a god. (more on that later) Drasil vs. Yggdrasill: Yggdrasill (myth): The World Tree, where Odin sacrificed himself for runic wisdom (Ragnarök) Drasil (manga): A man-made “tree of power” built without true sacrifice. Its rotting roots birth false gods, symbolizing the arrogance of science claiming godhood / fate Murakami family & the cursed treasure: Like Siegfried discovering Fafnir’s hoard (Nibelungenlied), the Murakami family finds the Yggdrasill remnants — a poisoned legacy that brings ruin to those who seek its power. This parallel deepens the manga’s theme of cursed knowledge: both treasures promise divine might but bring only destruction. (Nibelungenlied) Old vs New Religion: Historical mirror: The Aesir–Vanir war reflects warrior cultures supplanting earth-worship traditions. In Manga: Vanir (Kazumi, Hatsuna, Kana, Neko, Ryouta ) represent nature’s endurance through love, prophecy, and sacrifice. The Aesir (Takachiho, Ichijiku, Makina, Valkyria ect) collapse beneath arrogance. Takachiho’s quest to kill the idea that god exists raises the question: Why do humans still cling to fate, even when we reject gods and religion ? Final reflection: Okamoto’s Brynhildr reimagines Ragnarök as a sci-fi saga where true godhood arises not from power or science, but from selfless sacrifice. The Vanir gods and heroes transcend humanity, meeting in the Edda — the mythic record of the gods. Meanwhile, the false gods (Valkyria as fake Hel / Fake Skadi / Fake Odin) fail, as their powers are born of corruption and often greed or control. My experience of Brynhildr is that as much as I dislike the reliance of harem tropes to make the story entertaining and sometimes distasteful use of ecchi (Fck Takaya) , there's a true attention to character development and Old Norse symbolism which made it stand out to me as a great manga. (also please buy this manga if you like it as the scans online dont include some details of the storyline I have detailed)