Loki Appreciation 2019

[Prof. Aegis]

I saw that shirt last week online and bought it on a whim. I just loved the "Chaos and Destruction" wording and the happy Loki image.

[Raye]

Yeah, it's super cute, I bought one too.

So is the final issue of Thor double sized or something? I was feeling like a preview or something seemed due, since the last issue was on July 10th, but checked the release date and it's not out until the 28th. price is the usual 3.99 tho. Just seems a bit strange that an issue that will likely set up some of the status quo for Loki and Jane's books comes out after 2 issues of both those books have already hit the shelves. Since i presume that is where we will (finally) see the resolution to the whole thing with Loki and Freyja. At least i hope it is. Just curious about the delay i guess, though it may just be that DelMundo's art takes time.

[Raye]

Good news! Loki #1 went to a second printing! https://twitter.com/kibblesmith/stat...08416384733188 See? the second i placed an order for a subscription, Bri's golden touch kicked in. She's magic.

To be fair, Marvel is apparently pretty conservative when it comes to initial runs, if the Previews list is anything to go by https://www.previewsworld.com/NewPrintings where Marvel has, by far, more second printings than any other publisher, which points to them not overprinting very much, and just relying on going to print again if the shops want more. That list also reveals that for Loki and Valkyrie's second printings, they are getting new covers, tho admittedly, Jane's seems to be the more appealing one, with Russel Dauterman providing the art, while Loki just gets the interior artist, Oscar Bazaldua. (I am guessing they did not actually commission a new piece, but are instead using existing art of both characters, quite possibly character designs, so since Dauterman designed Jane's new costume....) However, keep in mind, that is WITH Marvel shipping an extra 50% of issue 1, so that means at least some of the shops that got extra copies managed to sell all of them, even the extras, and came back for more. So yeah, i think it will do ok, and we won't be looking at depressingly low sales pointing to cancellation in like 6 issues. (unless the initial orders before the overship were ludicrously low) I also think Loki will do better than most books digitally and in trades, which will help some too.

Also, given the Pinterest, i think Kibblesmith may actually be serious about making Loki a cowboy.

[Karabaja]

About the kids. Two nights ago we had a huge storm here, with power outage, phones and internet dead, the whole package. So my 7yo was having trouble falling asleep, and when a thunder crashed seemingly very near by, she yelled at the window: "Thor, will you stop it already, go argue with Loki and your dad!" she had me laughing, because I let her watch only the snippets of the movies, but she decided she loves them, Loki in particular. I can't wait till she's older and we watch them and read the comics together

[Raye]

aw, that's cute! I hope my niece like Loki and Valkyrie (een tho Valkyrie is not like the movie version who she knows, but I sent pages, so she knows that) and maybe I can let her read JiM etc.

So I never posted about this earlier because i needed time to go through them. But Kibblesmith did two more interviews, but they are both podcasts again, this seems to be his preferred format for some reason, but it's time consuming. So to recap main Loki related points again if you don't have a couple hours to spare:

First one: https://twitter.com/TheMarvelists/st...06503040077824

The interviewer says that when he heard of the book he was like 'oh no, the hardcores will descend on it/Kibblesmith' meaning, you know, THOSE fans, which even my by admittedly hardcore fangirl position are fucking crazy. The fans that give the fandom a bad name. and Kibblesmith says it is for the hardcore fans, and that Loki doesn't get opportunities like this often, and i mean, this is for them. (though hopefully that doesn't mean pandering to some of their more bizarre wants)

He also says Agent of Asgard was 'tremendous' but it was kind of unusual for Loki, it was his first (named for him) ongoing solo, so this is still kind of uncahrted territory for Loki

says he talked with Chris Hastings about Vote Loki

Says Hiddleston is in NY doing Broadway and that the poster for the show he's in has an eerie similarity to the Loki #1 cover, and says if it gets a second printing, he'd push for using that obviously, that did not pan out.

discuss (after some funny discussion on where Hulk, Fing Fang Foom, and Galactus get pants) how he's kinda new to the comic writing scene, so he's still looking at a lot of stuff from a fan perspective, and (mostly in regards to Black Panther vs Deadpool and the Wakanda Forever/X-Force similarities) is like can i point stuff like this out in the books? and says Loki is kind of the same thing, in universe. so i guess he's kind of prone to pointing out some things that other characters accept as normal, but don't actually make sense kind of thing. and that goes back to the letter in the back of the first issue. Where you get punished for noticing something odd and pointing it out, because if it exposes a weakness in an authority figure, they consider that an attack.

Says he gives Loki 'flickers of omniscience because he's a god' so that explains some of the captions. But he kind of uses it to point out weird things he's noticed over the years in the comics.

is asked if the Loki book will make readers cry, and, with ZERO hesitation, he says 'yes, 1000%' says Loki is 'all about big feelings' so...

Says he feels Loki has 'gotten over a big hump' where he can now have a solo without some kind of caveat or gimmick attached to it, where him just being in a book is enough, it doesn't have to have a hook, of running for president, or he's a secret agent, (even though that was largely window dressing and was largely abandoned not too long into the run) or whatever. (though I would argue Loki being a hero now is kind of a hook here, but it's not like, in the title i guess)

Asked about his inspirations for the run, says a lot of it is just 'i get to write a MU comic' and just, doing everything Marvel-y, but it's not like a direct riff on previous things, he mentions Simonson's Thor, specifically, with Loki and Thor and Asgardians. Because he feels Loki has been around long enough that he is a part of the larger MU and not be confined to one corner of it. (he is rambling a bit off topic of the question here but is interesting so whatever) and says that everyone in the MU knows who Loki is, and they think he's a jerk. so now 'he's trying o prove he's a hero, and everyone kind of knows... but it's a little bit hard to swallow.' and that's why they have him visiting Iron Man. To demonstrate it's not just an Asgard focused book.

Says that due to all this, and him knowing everyone from Thanos to Squirrel Girl, you can tell pretty much any type of story with him, and he wants him to interact with all sorts of MU characters and do lots of different things.

Says he is on a redemptive path, but still indulging all his impulses. (some of which I am sure are not good ones)

Interviewer comments that is spinning out of WotR and what does that mean for the book, and Kibblesmith says he feels that's kind of par for the course, and not that unusual these days. but that it creates a fun energy to that.

Somehow the gods/Loki being creatures of story comes up and he brings up Sandman and JiM as an example of how that can be used to make the stories very poetic and non-literal, which he may touch on, but that his run will be more standard superhero-y. but elements of that, i guess. Says he likes the idea of a character 'that can get punched in the face by Captain America, but can also exist in the aether of reality'

Says issue 5, there will be some changes to the nature of Loki's powers and situation that will open up storytelling possibilities.

Asked if the moments that will make us cry will involve Drrf, Kibblesmith deflects, gushes about the art. hm.

Says the inspiration for Drrf is that Loki is defined by the fact that he is an outcast, and he wanted someone that he saw his past self in, (I remember saying pretty much this, so I guess i was on the mark there) to have a mentorship or quasi-parental role to embody the responsibility he has now. says Frösti is kind of Drrf's foil in the book.

Says that with most characters you kind of need an excuse to go into mystical/trippy dream like sequences, but with Loki, you can basically do it any time you need to, so that makes things interesting, and I guess we can expect some weirdness at times.

Says that, good guy or bad, Loki is mischievous, and that is the core of his character.

Says that some of the reviews commented that they didn't see the long game machinations Loki is known for in the first issue, and Kibblesmith was like, 'oh you don't, do you? muahahaha' kind of reaction, so i take this to mean Loki is up to some ****. I presume the casino plays into this. He seemed to have a plan there, of some kind, he clealry intended to cause some damage, he provoked that fight intentionally, and his captions commented on causing 'enough damage' we just don't yet know what exactly he was trying to accomplish in a bigger picture there.

holy **** that one packed in a lot.

Second one: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas...=1000445721751

This one they are apparently mostly talking MCU phase 4 stuff, so a lot of it revolves around the movies and uses that as a starting point. it starts out with Loki's Disney+ series and he is, of course, excited for that.

Says the reception to Loki has been very positive (he said this in the last one as well, and it's something we have noticed in the thread as well) and that he's very popular so him being the protagonist in a book is 'a breath of fresh air' and he is, or has become, a fan as well and he thinks his enthusiasm for the character is coming through for fans.

Says that as Hiddleston's portrayal has leaked into the comics, that his popularity has exploded. (though personally, my interest began before Hiddleston started leaking in)

Says that after WotR, he's 'the hero of the realms' which comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility and 'Loki's not good at that part'

says when asked if Hiddleston was a primary source for the voice and if he could hear him in his head when writing, Kibblesmith said no, that all the portrayals 'come together to form a cohesive blob of character' and that he's been around for nearly 60 years in the comics so it's not that different than writing Batman or Wonder Woman where you are trying to get at the core of some wildly different portrayals.

Says that what's different about Loki is that a lot of what the audience has decided upon as his core character is recent, because he's a former villain and that he's 'had a long journey to almost anti-hero, and we'll see if that works out' and that Kieron Gillen and Al Ewing have had a huge impact on the character. But, to kind of put my own thoughts into this, i think what he's getting at is that despite the long history, his fans have latched on to the more recent stuff because that represents who he is now more than the older portrayals. Even though the older stuff still informs how he got to this point, those older portrayals no longer define him as a character.

then they talk MCU for a long while. interesting, but not relevant here.

[Snoop Dogg]

https://twitter.com/Al_Ewing/status/1157980366650707971



https://twitter.com/Al_Ewing/status/1157980662391091205

Anyway, to say this means a lot to me is an understatement. That moment was the culmination of a lot of stuff, both in the book and in my personal life, so to see that it resonated with someone else so strongly that they got a tattoo is just... mindblowing.

Thank you to everyone who still remembers and loves LOKI: AGENT OF ASGARD. It means everything in the world.

[Prof. Aegis]

Kibblesmith definitely has a plan in place and while he says this series will be more superhero-y, he will intertwine elements JiM and AoA characteristics and concepts. Plus with issue 5 opening up his powers should hopefully help to give more depth and growth to Loki. As he said it would open up story possibilities so that's a good thing and can help give more strength to the series as well.

Overall, I like what he had to say (and what you took the time to transcribe! (thank you!)). This Loki series has great potential for fantastic stories. And some great depth of character moments as well.

[Raye]

those tattoos are great! I've always been chicken about getting a tattoo... like i'd like to have one, or more, but have never actually gone through with it.

And yeah, i like most of what i heard there, and it does sound like he has a plan. I admit i am a bit worried about this new power, though. He says it opens up possibilities, but it certainly sounds like it's time related somehow, and that's a hard one to work with, and could disconnect him from the other characters if they aren't careful, if he's not quite all there. This is part of the reason I wasn't really too keen on the God of Stories thing, nevermind the characterization shift that accompanied it, it's one of those abilities that tends to create barriers when it comes to forming relationships because the character doesn't quite exist in the same world as everyone else, or think about things in the same way. Think Dr Manhattan.

[Prof. Aegis]

But to me Dr. Manhattan was nigh omnipotent, where Loki, let's say it is time-travel related, could have parameters on his powers, be it energy, consequences, etc. that can help curtail his disconnections and still help keep him grounded and connected to others. I think that is part of it. If the new powers have some limit or parameters then he should be okay and it should still work. If they are more god like without any consequences and restraint then it will separate Loki and his humanity and connection to others will be gone. I'm hoping that's not the case.

I also like that Kibblesmith indicates there's a lot more long game plans in the first issue than we might have first seen or thought of. That's good too, knowing there's more foundational story bits that will build up and pay off down the series.

And yes, those tattoos are great! Raye, go for it. They don't hurt for long and it can be some beautiful art!

[Raye]

Yeah Manhattan was more powerful, but I think time powers can lead to the same sort of disconnectedness, at least it does with some other characters I've seen. It's more the knowledge and altered perception that could cause it, though i am sure raw power could complicate things further. It depends on the exact nature of the new power, and how strong it is, and I'm probably overthinking it, but it is still a bit of a worry of mine. I am interested in Loki more for him on a personal level and his relationships. Or potential relationships, at least, since he is only just getting to a place where a lot of characters besides villains are giving him a shot. Powers are not of as much interest to me as how he acts and thinks, so I just don't want there to be something that gets in the way of that. Also i think Loki's powers are so ill-defined, just a vague handwave of 'magic' I think it may be better to get those ironed out before piling new ones on him... (to be fair, Ewing did put some limits and rules on his shapeshifting... but it kinda ended with the shapeshifting. the rest was just 'magic')

But I do agree that it is good that he seems to have a long term plan and lots of ideas. Sometimes, you hear stories of writers where editors tell them that the odds are against them and they should have a plan to have it wrap up in 6 to 12 issues, and it somehow defies the odds and then they're like '...now what?' because they hadn't given much thought beyond the first arc or two, assuming that would be all they got. I mean it usually works out, they, and the editors, usually come up with something, but still, good to know there are long term plans being laid from the very first issue. Hopefully he gets to them.

[Prof. Aegis]

I get what you're saying and totally agree that it could complete mess up Loki and the series. But I'm going to go on the side of giving Kibblesmith some positivity on doing the right thing and adding on to the development of Loki from Gillen and Ewing. He seems to understand the development that has occurred and wants to expand and grow that. I'm going to be supportive until I see otherwise. Knowing he has a long term plan for Loki and his series gives me hope that he knows how to make this character and series grow and develop and keep the human aspect intact.

BTW, I ordered the Kotobukiya Loki Statue. I'm being very selective anymore with my collection and this is one I know I want. Yeah, I won't see it till April, but I'm okay with that. LOL

[Rosebunse]

About the kids. Two nights ago we had a huge storm here, with power outage, phones and internet dead, the whole package. So my 7yo was having trouble falling asleep, and when a thunder crashed seemingly very near by, she yelled at the window: "Thor, will you stop it already, go argue with Loki and your dad!" she had me laughing, because I let her watch only the snippets of the movies, but she decided she loves them, Loki in particular. I can't wait till she's older and we watch them and read the comics together

This is adorable! We always said that the angels were bowling lol


Thanks for the interviews, Raye! I have been away for a bit!

I know it sounda crazy, but I do hope the fangirls are catered to a bit. Yes, they are ravenous weirdos, but the industry needs them and their cash. Plus, some of their ideas ideas could work...maybe...the less crazy/rapey ones.

Those tattoos are a prime example. The recent stuff needs to have those dedicated fans or else the industry is doomed.

I think what Kibblesmith meant about the voice is that the current Loki, even with his long 60 year history, is fairly new. Yes, the old stuff should have an impact, but it isn't going to be as felt because it isn't really as important for Loki. He's practically a different character, both in design and story.

[Snoop Dogg]

https://twitter.com/kibblesmith/stat...21738193489926

come with me
and the kree
hopefully
to the pages of LOKI

[Raye]

so, which is it going to be? Loki goes to space, or the Kree come to Earth and/or Asgard?

I get what you're saying and totally agree that it could complete mess up Loki and the series. But I'm going to go on the side of giving Kibblesmith some positivity on doing the right thing and adding on to the development of Loki from Gillen and Ewing. He seems to understand the development that has occurred and wants to expand and grow that. I'm going to be supportive until I see otherwise. Knowing he has a long term plan for Loki and his series gives me hope that he knows how to make this character and series grow and develop and keep the human aspect intact.

BTW, I ordered the Kotobukiya Loki Statue. I'm being very selective anymore with my collection and this is one I know I want. Yeah, I won't see it till April, but I'm okay with that. LOL

Oh, I am overall fairly optimistic (about most things, really) and Kibblesmith did do well with the first issue, so that eased any fears quite a bit. Just it is a worry at the back of my mind, is all.

This is adorable! We always said that the angels were bowling lol


Thanks for the interviews, Raye! I have been away for a bit!

I know it sounda crazy, but I do hope the fangirls are catered to a bit. Yes, they are ravenous weirdos, but the industry needs them and their cash. Plus, some of their ideas ideas could work...maybe...the less crazy/rapey ones.

Those tattoos are a prime example. The recent stuff needs to have those dedicated fans or else the industry is doomed.

I think what Kibblesmith meant about the voice is that the current Loki, even with his long 60 year history, is fairly new. Yes, the old stuff should have an impact, but it isn't going to be as felt because it isn't really as important for Loki. He's practically a different character, both in design and story.

My concern there is that from a purely selfish perspective, I don't want the books to become something I don't like, so I hope they aren't catered to too heavily. That's what fan fic is for. A little nod here and there, ok, but there are definitely limits to what I would be ok with making it's way into the official books. They'll read it even if every one of their weird fantasies isn't catered to. and there are dedicated fans, (like us, i think), who aren't after really weird fetishy stuff in the books they can cater to as well.

[Raye]

ANOTHER podcast:

http://comicbookclublive.com/2019/08...l-kibblesmith/

and apparently he was sick with a fever when he recorded this so... he may be slightly delirious?

Anyway, here we go again, incase you don't have anything better to for an hour do at 2:30 in the morning, like me (though Kibblesmith's part is over after about 25 minutes):


They asked if he pitched the book, or if editorial approached him with the idea, says he was working on Black Panther vs Deadpool and was pitching on something else to Wil Moss, which didn't end up happening, but WotR was being planned, and they knew Loki was gonna die and come back, and they knew a spinoff book was going to happen, so they asked him if he wanted to do that. So i guess Loki was a consolation prize. But apparently Wil Moss framed it like 'Loki is like a Black Panther who is also a Deadpool' (.... true, i guess) in that he's this nobly born son of a king and they live in an isolated advanced society.... but Loki just 'goes chaotic neutral, like, immediately and... that was their pitch to him, and I guess that's why they approached him.

calls dibs on a Loki/Jughead crossover

guy says that whenever there has been a Loki series or Loki centric comic before, that Thor is usually a factor, in that he's kind of this presence in his life that's weighing on him, but he's not actually there most of the time, that he's just this external factor that's motivating him in some way, (also true) and that he liked that Thor was a big part of the first issue and that it was almost more of a buddy comedy. Kibblesmith says that's because it just seemed like the most logical starting place, given how WotR ended. That with how Loki died and came back and took over the throne of Jotunheim, the new status quo is very much about the symmetry between the two brothers, so it seemed logical to include Thor, like it would be ignoring a significant part of the story to NOT include him. But i hope it's not just for th first issue, personally, I like seeing them pal around now that they are on better terms, and there's no ugly lie getting in the way.

Says Thor sees Loki getting Jotunheim as a happy ending, Loki sees it as 'a desk job'

guy says Drrf almost seems more like the main character than Loki in a way, Kibblesmith says he's like Loki 2.0. Says Drrf is like the only one who accepts Loki as king, because Loki was kind to him, and that he is sort of a co-protagonist, and we see how things are going under Loki's leadership through Drrf.

Says he's excited about rounding out 'a new supporting cast that isn't strictly Asgard based'

Asked if Loki is going to be doing a tour of the Marvel Universe, Kibblesmith says that is the plan in the long run because, as he's said before, Loki knows practically everybody. Says Loki is this indestructible character who can teleport, (and that was one of the things that appealed to him about Lockjaw as well, but 'thank god Loki can talk') so he can go pretty much anywhere.

Says that is ultimately what he wants to do with the book, that it's 'not about Loki killing Balder' or whatever, but that he wants him to go on all sorts of different kinds of adventures, from street level to cosmic

Says the new power/curse 'changes the way that Loki exists and interacts with the Marvel Universe' ... and 'kind of the way the Marvel Universe works'

during fan questions at the end, someone asks who would be the character parallels in Archie with Thor, he says Thor is Betty and Loki is Veronica. accurate.