Brynhildr ("Brinnie") is a female student of Gunnerkrigg Court and a Valkyrie.
History[]
At Gunnerkrigg Court[]
In her pre-teens, Brinnie was friends with Anja and Surma—and possibly with Donald Donlan, James Eglamore and Anthony Carver. She may or may not have been classmates with them (she wore the uniform of a student at The Court, but it's unclear whether she was enrolled). She used to eat lunch with them, and she showed up on Picture Day for a group photo with them, after which she uses her powers to vanish, stating that an “old man” doesn’t like it when she skips her lessons.
Brinnie was revealed to have had a romantic interest in Anthony Carver around that time, which she didn’t exactly try to hide; Anthony was tormented by his uncertain feelings towards her, not knowing how to respond. In the end, after much deliberation "for weeks and weeks", Anthony hesitated due to anxiety rather than ask her out at an opportune moment. Brinnie, mortified, instantly teleported away in a blue flash accompanied by her valknut.
Present Day[]
For a long time, Brinnie's current whereabouts were unknown. Until chapter 77, she had yet to be seen, anywhere, since Surma and Anthony’s daughter Antimony Carver's arrival at The Court. The only trace of her existence was her presence in an old photo. She finally reappears in chapter 77, where first meets Annie Carver and her best friend Katerina Donlan (who happens to be Anja and Donald’s daughter).
The valknut is also seen again when Eglamore teleports to save Annie in Chapter 39, Page 28, but the significance of this is unknown.
Appearances[]
- Chapter 7: Of New and Old Chapter 7, Page 6 (appears in that photo)
- Chapter 17: The Medium Beginning Chapter 17, Page 3 (mentioned in the commentary below the comics)
- Chapter 22: Ties Chapter 22, Page 2 (First appearance in-person, in a flashback)
- Chapter 37: Microsat 5 Chapter 37, Page 9 (second appearance in-person, during a flashback)
- Chapter 77: The Thousand EyesChapter 77, Page 11
Trivia[]
- See Also: Word of Tom: Other Students
Behind the scenes[]
For some time, all that was known about her for sure was that:
- She is not Jones.
- She is in no way related to Gamma Czarnecki.
Tom Siddell said so. Repeatedly.
In this post[1] it was theorized that the 'old man' Brinnie mentioned was Odin. This was supported by Tom's revelation that Brinnie is Scandinavian,[2] and when Tom revealed that the old man was indeed Odin[3] he also revealed Brinnie's identity: she is the valkyrie Brynhildr, sent to Earth for going against Odin's wishes.
Given the many chapters between Brinnie's appearance in the photo, and the first actual information about her, it's not surprising that she was the subject of much speculation by the fandom. Two theories in particular (that she was a younger Jones and that she is a relative of Gamma’s) were particularly popular due to Brinnie's appearance; these theories persist in spite of the fact that Tom explicitly denied them in the comment below Chapter 17, Page 3.
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Thread 585 at GC Forum
- ↑ Thread 361 at GC Forum
- ↑ Thread 361 at GC Forum