The Star Loki's Not Low

The Star Section: Lifestyle Ad Value: RM 47,105 15-Jun-2021 Size : 936cm2 PR Value: RM 141,315 Loki's not low key WORLDS OF WONDER Loki's not low key By GRAEME MCMILLAN THERE is more to Disney Plus' Can't get enough of Loki? Here's an essential Loki comics reading list to unravel new series Loki than Tom Hiddleston's admittedly unmistaka MarvePs greatest trickster. ble charm, as great as that may be; the Marvel version of the mythical figure, which debuted in 1963's Journey Into Mystery #85, has more than half a century's worth of comic book history of mischief and troublemaking behind him, with his crimes ranging from the near-genocidal to the utterly mun dane. If the TV show has left you wanting more, then here's where to find it. LOKI Omnibus, Vol. 1 The earliest appearances of Marvel's Loki are a strange thing to revisit from today's perspective; he's at once more archly stereotyp ically evil, while also managing to be almost cartoonishly unthreaten ing. (In his very first appearance, he's defeated by getting stuck in a piece of construction piping, and Loki reappeared as a woman in the 2007 Thor series. then almost drowning; when he first faces the Avengers, he falls down a trapdoor and gets stuck in a lead-lined furnace. It's all very silly stuff.) Nevertheless, this is where everything begins, and there's a LOKI.» certain thrill watching Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and their peers figuring out how to make Loki work in real tkne, in front of everyone's eyes. The upcoming Loki Omnibus col lects the character's major appear ances from the first five years of his existence; think of it as Marvel Loki 101. Thor by Walt Simonson Omnibus If there's one thing that Thor fans can a^ee on, it's that the mid-1980s run on the monthly comic by writer and artist Walter Simonson is arguably the high point of the character's comic book existence. Running from 1983 through 1987, Sijnonson modernised and TRUSTEE One of Loki's more memorable tricks included turning Thor into a frog. redefined the hero and his support ing cast with stories that ranged existential horror that threatens of Lies currently is, in terms of from the epic in scope - Asgard is multiple realities at once. MarveFs complicated comic book attacked and Odin falls! - to the Everyday stuff for the superpow mythology: a 2019 series in which intimate. ered set, perhaps, but Loki ends up Loki - who has, yet again, died and In amongst it all are some of the complicating matters in unexpect come back to life - tries something best Loki stories ever told, includ ed ways that just might not be as new: being a good king to the Frost ing his attempt to, essentially, use a nefarious as they seem in this fast Giants. love potion as a way to take over paced, delightfully queer mash-up That's not as easy as it might Asgard, and what happens when of teenage angst and superhero seem, not least of all because he gets his ultimate revenge on soap opera. no-one believes Loki has turned Thor by turning him into a frog. over a new leaf, Loki might not (You're really not ready for the actually be back from the dead adventures of the Frog of Thunder, Loki: Agent of Asgard: The after all, and most importantly; its I promise.) Beautifully Ulustrated Complete Collection kind of boring to be the ruler of a and unfailingly fun, it's a high If there's one lesson that everyone kingdom in the first place. "Late point for all involved. familiar with Loki really should Show with Stephen Colbert" writer have learned early on, it's that he Daniel Kibblesmith and Oscar Loki: Mistress of Mischief can't really be trusted to follow Bazaldua keep both plates and Audiences may think of Loki as orders - something that the Time heads spinning with this collection Thor's brother - half-brother, tech Loki turned spy for Asgard in this Loki's first appearance was in Variance Authority is currently of the most recent "Laki" comic. nically -but things are more com 2014 series. 1963's Journey Into Mystery #85. learning in the Disney Plus series. plicated than that, which only Unfortunately it appeared that Fantastic Four Epic seems fitting considering just how Journey Into Mystery, by doomed to a particular kind of Asgard's ruling bodies hadn't real tragedy from the very start. Their ised that by the time this 2014 Collection: The New slippery Loki can be when he Kieron Gillen: The Complete wants to. Journey Into Mysteiy run is funny, series began, with Loki a some Fantastic Four When the character returned Collection Vols. 1 and 2 moving and just might convince what untrustworthy spy in theory But wait, you say: What about the to comics after what certainly Loki died again in 2010, but that you that the Lord of Lies isn't really working for his home kingdom.,, Time Variance Authority? Where looked like certain death some wasn't the end, of course... except, a bad guy - or, at least, he doesn't ish. can I find out more about them? years earlier, Loki reappeared as a it kind of was. What followed was have to be. What foDowed is a suitably twist- Part of the answer is actually in the woman. Writer J. Michael the birth of a new kind of Loki that filled, surprisingly touching story list above; the group was first men Straczynski (Sense8) and artist didn't fall so easily into "hero" or Young Avengers by Kieron by Al Ewing and Lee Garbett about tioned during Walter Simonson's self-determination, the ability to Oliver Coipel transformed Loki "villain" categories, and sought Gillen and Jamie McKelvie Thor, but their first appearance on into a none-more-goth femme redemption for his past sins. Oh, defy destiny and just who and the page came during Simonson's fatale for their 2007 relaunch of and he was also a child - which Omnibus what Loki really cares about. time on the Fantastic Four comic, the Thor comic, but her need to meant that even those who hadn't Not content with being the charac (Spoilers: it's not only himself.) A when their "Office Space"-esque cause the kind of trouble that only immediately turned against him ter responsible for the formation of key text for anyone interested in potential is taken to the limit and benefits her in the long run stayed weren't too willing to take him seri the original Avengers, Loki ended serious Loki-ology. beyond. (There*s also the chance to exactly the same... up to and ously when it mattered. up joining the Young Avengers - see the Hulk, Spider-Man, including a super-villain team-up Kieron Gillen and Doug before you ask, it's exactly what it Loki: The God Who Fell to Wolverine, and Ghost Rider team with Spider-Man's arch-nemesis Braithwaite used this as the basis sounds like: a group of teenage up to become a new Fantastic Four Norman Osbom, amongst many for a story that redefined the char superheroes - in 2013, just in time Earth and fight monsters and aliens, if others. acter as one in his own right, for the team to defend against an And so, we come to where the God that's your thing.) - Reuters.

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