Having survived his father’s digestive tract in “War of the Realms,” Loki is back with a new solo run. Is everyone’s favorite trickster god up to the task of carrying the story? Well, it is this week’s Pick of the Week, so let’s see how the trickster god’s story goes.
Written by Daniel Kibblesmih
Illustrated by Oscar Bazaldua
Colored by David Curiel
Lettered by VC’s Clayton CowlesEARTH’S MIGHTIEST HERO! ALL-NEW ONGOING SERIES! After dying a grisly death in THE WAR OF THE REALMS, Loki learned a valuable lesson in warmongering: Don’t get caught. But now he has a whole new set of responsibilities – and his brother Thor is not about to let him walk away from them this time. Late Show and BLACK PANTHER VS. DEADPOOL writer Daniel Kibblesmith takes the god of mischief in a thrilling new direction!
There are a few things that can make a great Loki comic. Often these include morally ambiguous behavior in spite of a desire to do good, a sense of playful trickery, and most importantly: cleverness. Comics with Loki at the center have been on a sliding scale from amazing – such as Kieron Gillen’s “Journey into Mystery” – to less than impressive, like “Vote Loki” (amusingly, both comics are visually referenced on the very first page). So how does Daniel Kibblesmith’s “Loki” comic manage to compare?
The comic kicks off at an interesting point in Loki’s life, wherein the aftermath of “War of the Realms” placed him as the new king of Jotunheim. There are a myriad of ways that this story can go – how Loki can try to fill the shoes of his evil frosty father, or how the weight of the crown can weigh on him – but the story instead has him ditching his duties to go gamble. To be fair, that’s a very Loki thing to do.
Fortunately, this leads into a bit of super-powered action, as Loki gets into a fight with a former-supervillain security guard. This serves as a decent setup, while establishing Loki’s tone, and by extension, the comic’s. Loki is absolutely witty, like when he dismisses the Norn Stones as not even in the top six of all-powerful stones. We also get a good grasp of how he treats his role as king of Jotunheim when he settles a dispute over a stolen ax with a twist on the old King Solomon tale: “use the ax to cut itself in half – granting one half to each aggrieved party.” What it lacks, however, is the multi-layered plans and plots that make Loki so amusing to watch; he’s basically making it up as he goes, which is all well and good, but not where Loki shines.
Loki’s narration helps carry the story, dropping insights into things to come. Most notable is the mention of magic having a price on Earth; this may be a significant point later on (or it could just be a neat little detail to mention, I suppose we’ll find out). There’s a nice mix of comedy in the mix as well, but comedy with a purpose. Animating a giant snowman with Norn Stones to serve as his right hand man? Amusing. Naming it Frösti? A funny little touch. Having it actually defend the realm them ominously state “I would kill for my king,” though? Now that adds actual foreshadowing to this amusing gag.
As much as this is a Loki story, it runs parallel to that of Thor. Their positions mirror each other in many ways, so it makes sense that writer Daniel Kibblesmith brings Thor in for most of the story. His handling of Thor has some ups and downs; the way he reacts to what he’s sure is a trick from Loki is incredibly amusing, but he also seems to have accepted his role as All-Father of Asgard with far less difficulty than one would expect. No doubt the other “Thor” comics will explore his side more, but in this case it lets him serve as a foil to Loki. Interestingly, Thor’s the one to get the “call to action,” even if it may not be intended for him.
Continued belowArtistically, Oscar Bazaldua’s illustrations are very solid, especially when combined with the color work from David Curiel. The team brings a great level detail to the characters and scenery, balancing realistic shading with a clear and strong comic style. The character designs are particularly strong, from Nightmare’s dramatic posing on a throne of skulls to the detail put into Thor’s smirk as he thinks he sees through one of Loki’s tricks (and his six-pack abs).
Similarly, we’re given some great scenery to enjoy within each establishing shot. Asgard’s buildings stand magnificently in the background, and the icy crystals hanging in Loki’s throne room add style to the chamber, but the real scenery work comes through at the end, in the Halls of the All-Knowing. We get a massive library, towering beyond sight – which is a beautiful scene to any bibliophile.
David Curiel’s colors really bring the comic to life, adding a vibrant energy that complements Bazaldua’s designs. Even the frozen world of Jotunheim seems alive with the glowing whites and blues, contrasted by the sudden shift to red and black upon Nightmare’s arrival. The use of lighting adds another level of energy to the scenes, emphasizing the details in the characters and the force of the action.
Overall, “Loki” #1 is a solid start. It doesn’t have any clever machinations running yet, but it still has plenty of wit and some excellent artwork, so I look forward to seeing where it goes from here.
Final Verdict: 7.7 – A good start for Loki’s new adventure. A witty comic with great humor, backed up by excellent artwork.
