Today, Loki is one of the MCU characters fan favorite. At the center of many stories, the former supervillain was even entitled to his own series on Disney+. Apparently, it is rumored that the Asgardian god embodied by Tom Hiddleston could return in Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. To celebrate Loki, here is 12 things you probably didn’t know about the famous character from the Marvel stable.
1) Originally, Loki was ginger and had no connection with Thor
Loki makes his very first comic book appearance Journey into Mystery #85 in 1962. It is created by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and Larry Lieber who were inspired by Norse mythology to add this character to their catalog. However, at the start, Loki was extremely different from the character we know today. Indeed, there exists an earlier version of the character very far from the anti-hero at the origin of the creation of the Avengers in the comics.
It’s in 1949, in the comics Venus #6 that Loki actually made his very first appearance. Published by Timely Comics, the ancestor of Marvel Comics, this series of comics followed the romantic adventures of the Greek mermaid Venus who crossed paths with the greatest representatives of mythology. In this story, Loki is presented as the ruler of Hades, and has absolutely nothing to do with his Nordic origins. It appears here as of a sadistic, red-haired little manwho was not Asgardian, and was not related to Thor. Luckily Stan Lee and Jack Kirby have rectified the draw almost two decades later.
2) Norse mythology offers him other origins
As you probably already know, Loki is not actually an Asgardian, but is a descendant of the Ice Giant people of Jotunheim. MCU fans learn of its hidden origins in the saga’s very first installment Thor. Loki is actually only Odin’s adopted son. What if the MCU tells us that Laufey is her father, things are much more complicated than that in Norse mythology. Indeed, in true Norse mythology, Laufey is actually a woman, which makes him (finally her) her biological mother. To further complicate matters, his mother’s gender is also reversed. His mother Farbauti is actually called Farbaut and contrary to what Marvel wants us to believe, it is a man. Difficult to find there.
3) He was a woman
Comic book readers probably already know this, but Loki changed sex for a while. In 2014, in Loki: Agent of Asgard, Loki spent his time changing genders to conceal his appearance and manipulate his allies as well as his enemies. Another magic trick that allowed her to become a woman when it seemed necessary to her. In another story titled mighty avengershe becomes a woman for pretend to be scarlet witch. Still later, in Secret Invasion: Dark ReignLoki changes gender to impersonate Lady Sif. Sacred trickster. And this ability to change gender doesn’t just come from the comics. Loki indeed possesses this ability in Norse mythology.. In the latter, the god of mischief spent 8 years living as a milkmaid and even gave birth to several children.
4) He died and was reincarnated as a child
In the excellent comics Seat, Loki dies at the hands of the mighty Sentry, controlled by its most impressive form: Void. In this comic, Loki decides to change sides and joins forces with his brother to stop Sentry’s madness. It can restore a boost of magical energy to its allies but finds a violent and painful death. Afterwards, Loki rises from the ashes as usual, but this time it’s a bit special. Moments before dying Loki puts a machiavellian plan in place to come back to life as a 10-year-old child. Readers find it in Thor #617 in 2011, under the name of Lock. The latter lives in Paris and robs tourists, without even being aware that he is the powerful Loki. It is Thor who finds his trace and takes him under his wing. The young boy then becomes Kid Loki, and even joins the Young Avengers for a time. Serrure also makes a short appearance in the series Loki.
5) Loki is pansexual
For those who haven’t figured it out yet, Loki is bisexual. and even pansexual. A pansexual is someone who does not limit their sexual choices or activities. Basically Loki can make love to anyone (or anything) regardless of biological sex, gender, and identity. A sexual orientation already addressed in the comicsbut also discreetly in the series Loki. Even the writers at Marvel Comics confirmed the information as Al Ewing who said that “Loki is bisexual”.
6) Loki is afraid of water
This story dates back to Loki’s early days in the comics. In Journey into Mysteryreaders learn that Loki’s powers don’t work in water. Worse, it is very likely that the god of lies can not swim. This aquatic impotence was never mentioned thereafter and fell into oblivion over time. However, it is true that no one has ever seen Loki fight in the water, or even take a bath.
7) He was worthy to wield Thor’s hammer
Loki has in the past been worthy of wielding Mjolnir, Thor’s famed hammer made by Odin. In Avengers vs. X-Men: Axis #9due to a spell that reverses the ethical orientation of all characters (basically bad guys become good guys and vice versa), Loki became Thor instead of Thor. The thunder god’s half-brother thus became worthy to lift Mjolnir, thus taking the god name of heroism and truth. Besides this spell that reversed the trend of the characters, Loki once held Mjolnir on rare occasions, when Odin had allowed it.
8) Loki put together one of the worst supervillain teams ever.
A long time ago, in the comics, Loki has created an unprecedented association of supervillains called Acts of Vengeance. Loki thus brought together a team consisting of Dr Doom, Kingpin, Magneto, Mandarin, Red Skull and Wizard. He had even asked Apocalypse and Namor to join them but they declined the proposal.
9) Loki has created villains galore
Loki is responsible for creating several supervillains in the comics. It was he who spawned the appearance of characters like The Absorbing Man, Titania, The Enchantress, the Super-Skrull or even Jinku The Lava Man.
10) Jim Carrey could have played Loki in the cinema
If today Tom Hiddleston has become inseparable from the role of Loki, other great actors could have played the famous Asgardian god. Among the actors in the running, Charlie Cox and Josh Hartnett were in pole position. However, Josh Hartnett preferred to take a step back from his career and Charlie Cox did not get the role (he was able to console himself by becoming the new face of Daredevil). But the biggest actor to have been tipped was jim carrey. The latter had been considered for the role of Loki, but he ultimately refused. Which isn’t so bad, so long Tom Hiddleston seems perfect for this role.
11) Loki changes his costume after the death of his mother
In Thor: The Dark World, Frigga, mother of Thor and Loki, dies. Murdered by the Dark Elves, the goddess embodied by Rene Russo leaves a huge void in the hearts of the two brothers. So much so that Loki changes his costume and sports a new yellow color on his cape in Thor: Ragnarokcertainly in homage to Frigga.
12) Loki didn’t lose his battle against the Avengers
Remember, in the first avengers, Loki takes a hell of a pounding. But a recent fan theory just imagined a whole different ending for the character. Indeed, some believe that Loki had planned everything in advance. He knew the Avengers were going to be created, he knew the Chitauri were going to lose, and he knew he would be arrested and brought back to Asgard. His goal was to return to Asgard to overthrow the throne.. He would have planned all this story to return home. Why not ! After all, Loki is the god of lies…
