Created by editor-plotter Stan Lee and penciller Jack Kirby, Balder first appeared in Journey into Mystery #85 (October 1962).

He is companion to the Warriors Three and often aids Thor against his foes, which include Loki,[2] their adopted brother, the Executioner and Enchantress,[3] the Enchanters Three,[4] the Wrecker[5] and Mangog.

[6] At the request of Heimdall, Balder warns Thor when the Storm Giant Skagg and the fire demon Surtur are released by Loki in a plot to kill Odin.

When he is threatened with execution for ignoring the call of battle for the sake of a fallen bird, his men beg Odin to take one of their lives instead.

[10][11][12] Odin later restores Balder to life when the Asgardians, after being slain in a battle with the Celestials, are resurrected by Thor using portions of energy donated by other gods.

[13] It is later revealed that to escape Hel, Balder was forced by Hela to again kill all of those "tens of thousands" he had previously slain in battle.

[23] When Thor is forced to kill his reborn grandfather, Bor, Loki coerces Balder—now a royal prince—to exile the Thunder God.

[25] Balder meets a diner owner named Bill[further explanation needed] (who fell in love with Kelda and followed her to Latveria) and gives him a cloak to keep warm.

After Loki restores Kelda to life and Thor defeats Doctor Doom's Destroyer armor, Balder leads the Asgardians back to Broxton, Oklahoma.

[31] During the Siege storyline, Loki warns Balder that Norman Osborn is rallying an army to invade Asgard following the incident with Volstagg and the U-Foes at Soldier Field.

[34] When Captain America arrives with the New Avengers and the Secret Warriors, Balder is pleased that Thor's allies have joined the battle.

[35][36] Balder remains King of Asgard after the failed Siege but is stricken with great guilt, believing his rule has led to nothing but ruin.

[38] After Mikaboshi overthrows the Underworld, and Hela and Pluto are overwhelmed by his devastating forces, Balder calls for the Council to fight alongside him against the Chaos King.

However, Mikaboshi breaks into the Celestial Axis after Hercules pierces the veil shielding it and launches an assault on all of Earth's pantheons, seemingly slaying all of them with brutal ease and slaughtering many deities, although Balder is one of the survivors.

[48] In 2022, Screen Rant included Balder the Brave in their "10 Marvel Comics Gods Who Should Join The MCU Next" list.

[52] An alternate universe variant of Balder from Earth-982 who was killed battling Galactus appears in Last Planet Standing #2.