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I've never understood what that golden and red thing by Odin's feet is. Is it a whopee cushion? Because if that's the prank Odin sent Loki to the dungeons for as a "fair" punishment, that's very cruel of him...
Or is the prank just never specified and that red and golden thing is something else?
This shit pisses me off so much #JusticeForLoki
Also interesting Loki was originally a storm giant.
I'm revisiting the Straczynski issues with Loki, and how the fuck did I forget that Odin created vampires?
Time to Skim Thor comics for Vintage Loki Panels
Loki being GNC as fuck since childhood, wearing a skirt
The narrative is SO FUCKING MEAN!!! LMAO. And it's interesting Loki was originally a storm giant rather than a Frost giant.
Loki with his pointy ears. Modern designs should bring Loki's pointy ears back, and we all know what happens next..
A lot of the choices regarding Asgard's world-building in the MCU really bother me because they're just so weird and go against historical behaviors of royal families.
A good example is that (unlike the comics and the Norse myths), Odin only has 2 viable heirs (one being biological and the other adopted) that aren't imprisoned forever (*cough( Hela) during Thor (2011).
This was done to focus more on Thor and Loki's relationship, but it's very unusual behavior for a king, who would have a long parade of heirs. This is not the case in the comics, where there's Aldrif, Tyr, Hermod, Honir, Vidar,Balder,Thor, Loki (adopted ward), and now Laussa.
Also, Odin is surprisingly happy to yeet his few heirs into unknown worlds or into prisons.
Loki + Odin=Marvel!Loki
This is part (2/3) of a series.
This is the most obvious "equation" out of the three, being that all Norse myth adaptations have an Odin and Loki (unlike say, the lesser known Skadi), so they both have high visibility.
Marvel's version of Loki (mostly referring to the comics but some of this applies to the MCU to some extent) is some weird mixture of myth!Loki, myth!Odin, and sometimes the Devil because Christians decided Loki was "the Norse devil" (by this, I mean original Earth-616 Loki being the "God of Evil" and referring to himself as "Satan" in his very first appearance (Venus comics)) that has until fairly recently become more Loki-like (i.e. reincarnation and onwards).
Odin and Loki are quite similar in the myths (They're both SHIFTY BASTARDS and partake in "female interests" to different extents). So it works out especially when Marvel's Loki is raised by Odin.
Marvel!Loki's similarities to Odin:
Myth!Loki is not a master sorcerer (that's myth!Odin) and is merely a shapeshifter. Myth!Loki can shapeshift themselves and others in the myths which is a common ability of the Jotnar. But is not shown to do seidr or seek it out. That's Odin. I am basing it from the Lokasenna where Odin and Loki are arguing over who's more "argr." Basically going "oh yea, well you're gayeyer" at each other. Calling each other slurs. Odin calls Loki argr for giving birth as a woman for "8 winters" and Loki calls Odin argr for practicing seidr and disguising as an old woman. Loki’s shape-shifting is not considered “seidr” and it’s just something Jotnar do all the time. Seidr pertains especifically to clairvoyance magic and rituals, according to Jackson Crawford's video on it.
In the comics, Loki sacrificed himself for himself (to reincarnate and try to break out of predictability). In the mythology, Odin sacrificed himself for himself by spearing himself and hanging from Yggdrassil for 9 days, to gain knowledge (see the runes for Galdr). In the MCU, Loki sacrifices himself for others multiple times to the point where it's a meme. But the thematic elements of self-sacrifice and resurrection are there, and his final sacrifice is associated with a tree.
Loki in the myths is more of a Looney Tunes character sort of schemer. He schemes, cheats, and lies, but it's usually for a short-term goal such as saving his ass from all the wacky situations he ends up in through his fault or by being scapegoated. Not very Machiavellic. He's not plotting to rule take power. Though he may engage in malicious pranks and the occasional murder (Balder). Though aspects of this may still apply to Marvel!Loki.
Marvel comics Loki is associated with corvids. Magpies rather than ravens. But it's interesting his animal that carried a copy of his soul was also a corvid.
However, there are still plenty of similarities with myth!Loki.
Loki is a scapegoat. In mythology, Loki is the only one that receives punishment for misdeeds, and its always disproportionate (mouth sewn shut, horse impregnation, bound by the entrails of his son as a snake drips burning venom on his eyes, etc). This is similar to how the Thor Comics written before 2012-ish expect you not to find Loki sympathetic and add thought bubbles of Loki thinking evil things while being punished to show it was "deserved". He is portrayed as a sympathetic scapegoat and villain within the MCU.
Loki is an outsider. In mythology, he's one of two deities speculated to be associated with the Sámi people, and a Jotnar that was brought into the Aesir fold through a blood oath with Odin ("blood brothers). Some speculate Odin did this to try to prevent Ragnarok, plus Loki was his shifty buddy for a while. In Marvel, he's a Jotun that was adopted into Asgard.
Loki doesn't fit conventional Asgardian gender role standards. Despite Marvel's retcon, it was quite obvious Asgardians had gender expectations (e.g. Thor lashes out at being called "princess" and nearly starts a war over that insult, Sif being a shield maiden being a huge deal, Loki's magic being dismissed as "tricks" and less important than battle in deleted scenes (grain of salt bc deleted scene)).
Loki is closer to his mother. It has been state by John Lindow that Loki's use of a matronymic surname indicates an absent or inadequate father. In the MCU, his adoptive mother taught him magic and is the parent he's closer to. This is not the case in Marvel comics, where Frigga/Freyja (they can't make up their mind how to name her) rejected Loki (*Blood Brothers aka Loki (2004) was so influential to me*). And tried to force them into a villainous role post-reincarnation.
I think the MCU's Sif and Loki dynamic is weirdly similar to Loki and Skadi (and I elaborate on the previous post 1/3).
Loki causes Ragnarok in some way. In Marvel comics, Loki does still kill Balder and cause Ragnarok often. In the MCU, he technically also started Ragnarok, but it was to save the rest of the realms. In the mythology, after escaping his torturous punishment, he leads the armies of Hel against Asgard on a ship made of nails.
Odin and Loki are considered to be similar in both the MCU and the myths. In the mythology, they were considered to be so similar, it was speculated Loki may be a hypostasis of Odin by Folke Strom. In the MCU, Hela remarks how similar Loki is to Odin.
Lazy Citations:
Loki's Wikipedia article (last screenshot)
Jackson Crawford's video on seidr.
Laidoner, Triin. (2012) The Flying Noaidi of the North: Sámi Tradition Reflected in the Figure Loki Laufeyjarson in Old Norse Mythology. SCRIPTA ISLANDICA.
Previous post:
Because I promised I'd elaborate on that last post. This is part 1/3. Marvel’s Sif similarities to Sif are quite few and mostly based aroun
go on a rant about ultimate thor
CW: Nazi mention
I shall! This took a while to gather.
So it starts out with runes and a bunch of Nazi symbols ON THE VERY FIRST PAGE. This comic reinforces the incorrect notion that the Black Sun symbol is a Pagan symbol when IT IS NOT.
I do actually like the whole "People think it's all on Thor's head" aspect, but the rest of the writing is just convoluted and incoherent. I also find this factoid thrown around in an exchange a cool explanation of how Mjolnir works.
Dr.Donald Blake makes an appearance and he's not Thor's mortal alter ego created through Odin's magic to teach Thor humility.
We are shown interactions between a masked Nazi, "Baron Zemo" and the Nazis at Wewelsburg castle. Zemo shows them this little stones with runes, and they go on about how the Sacred texts of the "Poetic Edda" show how to use them. *facepalm* I just find this very lazy concept-wise.
Then we see flashbacks to "eons ago" in Asgard. Where Balder is fighting giants only to receive help from Loki and Thor. At some point Loki saves Thor from a Frost giant and warns him about watching his back, a rather heavy-handed foreshadowing. Loki also keeps going off about how Ragnarok is real and WILL HAPPEN. Balder mocks him for being grin and throws a snowball at him. Loki is worried about the constant war and attacks from Jotunheim. Balder reveals he knows Odin is building a secret weapon, Mjolnir, that he commissioned to the troll Ulik. It seems like Loki didn't get his lips sewn shut in this. And Loki has severe mommy issues that aren't explained very well.
Then we're sent back to Nazi Germany and are bombarded by magic mumbo-jumbo that I can't bring myself to care for. Something about opening a gate. The most unrealistic aspect is that the Nazis want to fight the Gods of Asgard despite the existence of white supremacist Norse pagan circles such as the Asatru and Odinists (unless it's Loki because they usually hate them).
Then, apparently they've allied with the Frost Giants, whom will be revealed to be under a peace treaty with Asgard that has harsh stipulations.
I actually liked how they use MRI to reveal Thor is actually a God.
So, the war with Jotunheim ends. I have trouble understanding the throne picture regarding "Who's who?" I think Farbauti is in the Moon throne with the Jotuns. I wonder if the other woman is Frigga/Freyja? Because unlike most comic book runs, Loki is actually biologically related to Thor as a half-brother. Odin (most likely through some threat) made Farbauti have Loki and had him reside in Asgard to "ensure peace". Which screams hostage situation. By the time the story takes place, Farbauti, Loki, and Loki's fully Frost giant brother are stuck in Asgard. Jotunheim's fall made Farbauti despondent and so Loki has mommy issues here and is driven by them to get Asgard to fall and earn his despondent mother's love. Also, for some reason Farbauti looks like an Asgardian with black hair. It's never explained WHY. Is this magic? Did Odin do this to her?
Also, Asgardians like to fight very scantily clad. I find it funny how Balder and Loki have color-coordinated underwear. And I think Thor was given the same as the W3 to show how "down-to-Earth" he is. LMAO. There's very bad and heavy-handed foreshadowing of Loki's betrayal again, when Loki decides to turn against Thor in the game, and Loki continues to warn in a ridiculously ominous manner about change and such (It gets so tiring...). Balder goes on a fatphobic rant towards Volstagg during the fighting games because the writer thought that was funny. I am surprised Balder won instead of Thor. But Balder proceeds to go off about how Thor is the only one that can lift Mjolnir in the typical praiseworthy fashion of these comics.
We go back to the Nazis and the alliance of the Jotuns with them. MORE MAGICAL BULLSHIT JARGON I HAVE TROUBLE CARING ABOUT.
Thor asks Odin about Mjolnir's power. I gotta say I REALLY hate Odin's design in this. And he spends a lot of time shirtless. In a break from tradition, Thor is already "the humble one" rather than an arrogant proud and violent prince that needs to learn humility. And that makes this even worse and feel preachy. Thor's appeal is that he doesn't start as a good guy.
The Nazis and Frost Giants open the bifrost gate. Heimdall appears and attacks them. Baron Zemo shoots an arrow through Heimdall's skull (seriously he's very good with arrows).
This is how the Odinson brothers are drawn in this series. Guess which one they made into a Nazi ? (a) Is it the brown-haired white dude that's not a "peace offering" and also a heir to Asgard's empire? (left) OR (b) Is it the one that's constantly referred as a "half-breed", was drawn with suspiciously Native American facial features, and who was born to his Jotun mother as a "peace offering"? (middle) OR (c) What about the guy that fits the exact "Aryan ideal" , is not a "peace offering", and is the preferred heir to Asgard?(right)
If you picked B, you're unfortunately correct. And Ta-Da! The twist we all saw coming from a mile away they tried to disguise by having Loki change his eye color to brown (odd choice for allying with Nazis)!
Then the Nazis, the half-breed Loki, and Frost giants partake in an antisemitic trope of blood-drinking the whitest mfs around to gain the superior Asgardian strength. And IDK this is the worst way to show you hate Nazis...
The art seems to be deteriorating. The Frost Giants and Nazis start Ragnarok, Odin comments that Loki's back from banishment. There's a flashback to Balder catching Loki looking at the stupid stones and Loki kills him. Balder for some reason is Odin's "all-seeing eye" has a weird connection to Odin.
The purpose of the facility Thor is being studied is eugenics.... and they're not the villains...
Thor goes off about his memories of the Asgardian Black sun and I need people to stop fomenting the myth that it's a pagan symbol. We go back to Asgard being attacked. Odin sends Loki to "a room with no doors." Loki is unrepentant for the evulz.
Odin is killed by an Ice Wolf who is in turn killed by Thor. And we have this sappy shit.
Then in another very badly executed twist and against comic tradition, it turns out tha Dr. Donald Blake was actually BALDER ALL ALONG.
Apparently Odin plans to remake Asgard. They go back to the lab and this guy trips me up because he looks like a beardless Thor in a lab coat. ¡Que cientifico tan mamadisimo!
They are studying Thor's harness and such. Trying to reverse engineer it and add more features. Only Thor can use it so that's why he's kept around. Then Thor asks them to make him a hammer. Then Thor goes around being a white savior, and gets offers from the US military because he's special enough to help in the army.
Oh and there's the masked Nazi again (Loki) and some other one fucking around with the stones again. Magic bs happens.
Loki makes the Hulk go apeshit and unites the Avengers in the typical fashion of the comics. Thor saves the day. Bleh bleh. THE END.
All the Laufey discourse reminded me of how hilarious I find this panel from the old timey comics (Journey Into Mystery #112). Like they just looked at Loki and are already talking shit and going off about his rancid vibes. I also appreciate how baby Loki's hair stands up like little horns.
Read Journey Into Mystery (1952) Issue #112 comic online free and high quality. Unique reading type: All pages - just need to scroll to read
