Max Payne, a 2001 Remedy Entertainment video game and 2008 noir action film with Mark Wahlberg and Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace Bond girl), features several meaningful allusions to Norse mythology. Valkyr, a drug invented to improve morale of the U. S. soldiers but halted due to unwanted side effect, is reminiscent of valkyrie (Old Norse valkyrje, which literally means ‘chooser of the slain’, the root val being the same as in Valknut, ‘knot of the slain’). In the game and the movie valkyries seen by those who take Valkyr are male demonic creatures. Quite on the contrary, in Norse mythology valkyries are female. Valkyries choose warriors dying in battle: those who were brave become einherjar and after their death go to Valhalla (‘hall of the slain’) where they are served by valkyries. In Max Payne, Valhalla Project is the government-funded conspiracy that created Valkyr. In the movie, when Max (Mark Wahlberg) and Mona (Mila Kunis) try to find out the meaning of the wing tattoo that both Michelle, Max’s wife, and Natasha, Mona’s sister, had, the tattoo artist (Stephen R. Hart) tells them that Vikings used wing tattoos for protection in battle. It is interesting that the tattoo artist has a Vegvísir, or Runic Compass, on his left shoulder. Björk has the same tattoo on her left upper arm. Michelle, Max’s late wife, worked for Aesir Corporation, based in Aesir Plaza. Norse æsir (singular áss) were one of the two groups of gods in the Scandinavian pantheon. CEO of the Aesir Corporation is Nicole Horne: her name may point to Horn Triskelion or to Gjallarhorn, the mythic horn, which will announce the end of the world. 
The other name with apocalyptic overtones is Jack Lupino. In Italian, lupino means wolfish. According to Norse mythology the wolf Fenrir kills Odin during the events of Ragnarök (Old Norse ‘final destiny of the gods’), when the world in its present form perishes. This also explains the name of the night club Ragna Rock, Lupino’s lair. The surname of Max’s partner, Alex Balder, shot by a killer, refers to god Balder whose death is described in Edda as a tragedy and a sign of the coming Ragnarök. The surname of Alfred Woden (video game only) is the Anglo-Saxon variant of Odin. Like the Norse god, Alfred Woden is single-eyed. Asgard Building where Max Payne talks to Woden is reminiscent of Ásgarðr (Old Norse ‘enclosure of the æsir’), the city or country where gods dwell. Yggdrasil, the computer network in the military base, refers to the world tree that stands in the middle of Asgard. Finally, the snowstorm that takes place in Max Payne may refer to Fimbulwinter, a terrible winter that precedes Ragnarök. You may want to visit the article where wing tattoos in Max Payne are treated more in detail.
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s a pitty that de movie’s producers didn’t check up any of the norse mythological elements that they use throughout the film, and used them in a more correct fashion. Great article though.
Season’s greetings
MD
I am trying to find an image of the tattoo that Stephen R Hart shows Max Payne out of the tattoo book. Is is symmetrical set of wings that have stems then run on for a while, getting closer and closer but never touch.
Your assistance, input, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Mark
Dear Mark,
Unfortunately, I was unable to find the image of that tattoo. I only could say that the source is not related to the Viking Age patterns.
Update of Aug. 25th, 2009. Mark, I just added the image of the tattoo you asked.
hey mark, thats exactly the one i have been looking for, ive been planning it for my next tattoo, but im the same countless hours of looking and nothing, looks like ill have to pull the image from the film, what about you any luck yet?
Hey you guys,
This is so weird, i have just watched the film and thought the same as you’s…. Tattoo! ha. I have tryed to get the image of it but no luck. All i can say is that the best place to get the image is to take a photo from the dvd. Ive done that and you gcan see quite clearly. Best of luck guys. Face book moi with photo’s if any of you manage to get an image…. Jamie clarke Kirkcudbright Academy….
JC
just want to say thanks for taking the time to draw the wings you ahve done a great job and saved me some time haha
do you know any websites were i could find out more about them and the valkyr
cheers
hahaha just realised i can get all that info from this site
GREAT article. Very well thought out! I’m trying to find a nice pair of wings for my next tattoo (the only picture you see of any good valkyrie wings is from max payne). My daughter’s middle name is Valkyrie, way before the movie Max Payne, and didn’t play the video game. I thought a nice tattoo would be her first name with Valkyrie wings (because i’m not sure a helmet with wings would look quite right). Thanks for the interpretation of the movie wings!
Thanks for the feedback, Tabitha. By the way, you may want to write your daughter’s name in Norse runes.
Hi i’m trying to find the image or a similar image of the Valkyrie wings that the character jack lupino has on his back in max payne, i’ve been looking for a while now as i’d like itmor a similar image as a tattoo
Your assistance, input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Daniel
I just had the Valkyrie wings put on both of my forearms. I will take some pictures of them and put them on facebook. If you cant find me there email me and I will forward you the pictures as well. My tattoo artist took the wing that was added above and printed it out. Then he hand sketched over it to make the patteren and then presto, very, very cool Valkyrie wings. Everyone likes them, the first one he has done.
Hi Shawn. I got the pictures. The tattoos really look great!
hey shawn,
is it possible for you to forward those images to me? ive been searching for them everywhere and still no luck. ifyou can it would be greatly appreciated
Hey Shawn, I too would like to see them if you can forward the pics to me as I cant seem to see whcih one you are on Facebool, thanks. Or even post the links to the pics?
Hey I was just curious they say the valkyrie wings tattoo wasn’t the right meaning in the movie and say that it was who they choose to die in battle so would that tattoo be considered a guys tattoo or for a girl bc I like the tattoo and all but i dunno
Hi DJ. We do not know whether Vikings ever used the tattoos with wing patterns. So the meaning ascribed to such tattoos in the movie is not based on historical data. I believe that tattoos refer to a certain idea or heritage; Valkyries are connected with the idea of battle, blood and death. Things like ideas do not seem to belong to girls or guys specifically.
Very nice image. I got a tattoo identical to this design on my right foot. It’s got the quote “death before dishonor” inside the wings. My brother is in the marine corps and he’s a huge part of my life. The quote is a very common marine quote and these wings represent the angel that i hope is looking over my soldier…my brother. The wings also represent protection while they’re out in the field.
thanks for putting up the pic’s for this symbols norse myth is what i believe in and i wanted to get the tattoos before i’m in the army so when i’m out there in the field i know i’m watched over thanks again for the pics
Vikings did not have tattoos that were recorded. HOWEVER, vikings wore symbols (such as valkyrie wings or thor’s hammer) on their shields of armour. The myth of the valkyrie was: The valkyrie is a blonde maiden sent from above to “kill” the warriors of war who were most honorable. The bravest, hero of war would be chosen to go to “heaven” and drink as much as he wanted and have many maiden virgins. This would be the warriors reward. There are many different interpretations of nordic mythology. I sugguest to do the research and learn some very interesting things!
Hi Solr. Why, we have Ibn Fadlan’s witness who says that Vikings whom he met in Rus were “tattooed from finger nails to neck with dark green trees, figures, etc.” I am not aware of original sources that say valkyries killed “most honorable” warriors: they simply chose who had to die. Whether or not they were blonde, sources, as far as I remember, are also silent. As for maiden virgins in the afterlife, that surely belongs to Islam, not to Norse Viking beliefs. Thank you for invitation to research.
I’m looking for a larger picture of the wings tattoo that owen green had on his forearm in the movie. i’m thinking of getting it as a back tattoo but i can’t seem to find a picture large enough to be see the full image. can anyone help?
My husband and I are also intersted in getting Valkyrie wing tattoos, but I’m curious to know where the idea of them providing protection comes from. Does this idea stem from anything that’s a true part of the mythology, os is it just something that has been fabricated to improve the Max Payne story?
I am not aware of any historical proof of the idea that Valkyrie wings ever meant protection in battle for Vikings.
I want to get a tattoo of the symmetrical Valkyrie wings on my chest is there anyone who has a higher resolution picture of the sketch?
Hello,
I know this was touched on earlier, but I was wondering if I could get a picture of the illustration in the book that the tattoo artist shows Max Payne. I was wanting to get that scene tattooed on my back.
Thank you very much,
~J
i agree that the movie did not delve into the mythology enough but at the same time the movie was not about norse mythology and your information is very detailed but it seems to be based around the movie theres not enough information on the gods or on valkyries
Hi guys. Just wanted to say that the wings of a Valkyrie are only mentioned once in Norse texts, and they’re supposed to resemble the wings of a swan. Max Payne is a good enough movie, but the Valkyrie part is pretty wrong.
hey,just to let you know, the valkrie are female, but may transform inyo a raven, which explains why the valkrie had wings but the person did look like a demon, im just saying they can transform into ravens so the movie is right
who has the real valkery picture or tattoo!? I want that tattoo for a long time, but i can find it on a really good picture!
greats and thnx
Valkyries carried the slain viking soles,(like our angles) to Valhalla (heaven) and helped to escort and show them the way to paradise!!!! simple just as we have guides or angles so do they ,,,good conversation,,,,my family goes back 2 thousand years in scandinavia,,, its really similar in many different cultures over the centuries,,just different names and symbols,,,,christianity put a halt to many of these thing ,,however they are the same ….as christian religions got stronger the need to control the masses of people for power ,money,,and control,,,just ask the native americans,,well the same thing occured in europe and millions were killed in the name of GOD!!!!Spanish inquizition wiped out the Aztecs(Cortez the Killer) for Catholic GOLD,,,FACTOID,,,god bless KLAUSS out!!!
Actually, and I’m eyeing a book of mine about the Nordic Lore, Valkries where the battle maidens of the Norse Gods. They would come to the battles to look for those that had died bravely, those they deemed worthy to fight for Odin in the coming of Ragnorak. They would take the fallen to the Halls of Valhalla where they would fight each other every morning, the fallen would once again be revived and then they would go to the Mead Hall (Can’t recall the name ATM) drink mead and eat the same boar that was revived every day for them to eat. (Also can’t remember the boars name nor do I feel like flipping through pages to find it.)
Some friends of mine are saying I have some Norse in my blood cuz I really don’t look much like a Mexican, even thou im half. For my first tattoo, I’m planning on getting the Valkyrie wings on my back instead of a wolf first.
im am cherokee indian but want to get the valkyrie wings done cause i am going to afganistan in 2012 so i was wondering if anyone knew a symbol that will bring protection to me.
I do understand the traditional element is important, but I also verymuch like these new depections and welcome them as a modernizing of Viking beleifs. Afterall, they look great and still carry the message.
hi i am planning to get a tattoo done, it will be my first! do u think d double winged tattoo on this page would look awkward on the back of my neck????
yeah it would look awkward on your back try your ribs dude would look much better, and valkirja is a very similar god to the celtic god the morrigan, and both share the same symbols of the crow or raven and have the same meanings, check it out, the wings are fictional but stem from the right sorces.
Hi there,
Awesome sketches!
I’m looking for a bigger version of the sketch of the pair of wings, also for a tattoo :)
Please let me know if you can help me out.
Thanks :)
So the valkyrie tattoo isn’t for a sign for the valkyrie so they know which soldiers to take to Valhalla?
was this just fabricated for the movie?
hey guys im about to turn 18 and the first tattoo i’d like to get is the wings tattoo from the movie. any ideas where i could possibly get a big picture of the wings side by side??