Loki

Biodata

Background and history

Odin found Loki as a Frost Giant infant and raised him as an Asgardian prince 2494. Loki grew up competing with Thor for recognition, particularly from their parents. As children, Thor and the Warriors Three sometimes bullied him; Loki developed his elusive illusions partly to avoid being cornered by them 4281. His jealousy also extended to Baldr. At Baldr's birthday banquet, Loki exploited a gap in the protections Odin and Frigga had arranged, disguised himself, and gave a mistletoe branch to the blind Hodr to throw at Baldr 2494.

Loki's schemes do not erase his attachment to his family. He secretly creates an illusion of Odin to distract Surtur and give Thor's group time to escape, though Thor believes Loki has abandoned the fight 562. When an older Loki tells him that Mephisto's rise could destroy the universe, the younger Loki considers erasing his own existence from history and stories to save his mother and brother. He says goodbye to them before returning to face that fate 601 602.

The older Loki has a different perspective on that history. As the God of Stories, he uses seven black magpies to set plans in motion across time, involving figures including Mephisto, Zemo, Surtur, Kang and Frigga 599 600. He eventually seeks to sever his world's timeline to escape the recurring fate he believes awaits Asgard's gods. Deathstroke confronts him at the Bifrost observatory and challenges the premise of his plan 631 632. The story also depicts Lokis from multiple time points; their actions are not always those of the younger prince at the same point in his life 611 634.

Appearance

Loki has long black hair and is slight beside the much larger Thor. His attire includes green clothing and, at times, a golden horned helmet 546 599 631.

• Older self — Appears with shallow facial wrinkles, a green robe and a horned helmet 599.
• Female form — Loki later appears as a woman; changes of appearance are also familiar to him as a practitioner of deception magic 4655 5334.

Personality

Loki enjoys riddles, pranks and being seen as the cleverest person in the room. He conceals information even from allies, and his wish to impress Frigga and outshine Thor helps drive his displays of skill 600 4281. He is also cautious: he avoids leaving tracks, distrusts suspicious offers and favors surviving a danger over meeting Asgardian ideals of glorious sacrifice 4555 5573.

His feelings toward Thor are less simple than his taunts suggest. He mocks his brother and pursues the throne, yet offers Thor practical help on Earth, devises a strategy for one of Thor's arena fights, and repeatedly acts to protect him 1764 2421 2549.

Abilities and skills

Illusion and deception magic

Loki specializes in magical misdirection. His illusions become tangible after his experience of Ragnarök, and Deathstroke considers him exceptionally skilled at magic that deceives the senses 3163 5575.

• Creates false appearances, including an illusion of Odin used to divert Surtur 562.
• Uses a false image of the Dark Celestials' leader to lure out the Exterminator Celestial 5574 5575.
• Can strengthen his frost-mist illusions by drawing on the Casket of Ancient Winters 3673.
• His spellcasting is restricted when Yggdrasil is dead, and he cannot reliably escape a spatial trap on his own 3163 4280.

Disguise and shapeshifting

Loki assumes other identities for infiltration and manipulation 2494 631.

• Impersonates figures including the sisters of Destiny, The Stranger, Odin and Heimdall 2494 631.
• Disguises himself as a woman to help Deathstroke ambush Apollo 3231.

Planning and manipulation

Loki uses knowledge of an opponent's habits to turn them into part of a scheme 600 5574.

• His future self distributes instructions through black magpies and writes a story intended to conceal changes occurring elsewhere in the universe 599 600.
• He identifies a killer robot's weaknesses and gives Thor a winning strategy for their Sakaar arena match 2421.
• His plans can backfire: an attempt to undermine Baldr through an arranged marriage provokes a fight and wider disorder in Asgard 2521 2522.

Combat and other magic

Loki is physically weaker than Thor but still capable in close combat and protective spellwork 4561.

• Uses daggers and a freezing spell against impostors posing as Iron Man and Squirrel Girl 4561.
• Casts protective wards over himself, Frigga and Sif before investigating an unknown threat 4525.
• Can operate the Bifrost when given its greatsword key 566.

Equipment and items

• Love daggers — Inconspicuous weapons Loki uses against impostors in a deceptive dimension 4561.
• Casket of Ancient Winters — Taken from Asgard's vault; Loki can use it to enhance his frost-mist illusions 3669 3673.
• Gungnir — Entrusted to Loki with instructions to use it against the Serpent 2502.
• Staff from Deathstroke — Given as payment for Loki's help against the Celestials 5579.

Relationships

• Thor — Adoptive brother, rival and frequent target of Loki's pranks. Loki also advises and protects him 562 1764 2421 2549.
• Frigga — Adoptive mother. Loki seeks her approval, shows her affection and prioritizes her safety 601 602 5579.
• Odin — Adoptive father. Loki craves his recognition, while Odin's treatment of him contributes to their strained relationship 578 566 634.
• Baldr — Brother and rival whose popularity fueled Loki's jealousy; Loki later tries to undermine him during Ragnarök 2494 2521 2522.
• Deathstroke / Su Ming — Adversary to Loki's future self, but also a collaborator in later operations, including the mission against the Celestials 631 3231 5575.
• Hela — A close sibling figure who worries about Loki's safety 677 4555.
• Amora — Uneasy ally whom Loki recruits to help control prisoners during Ragnarök 2526.
• Mephisto — Party to deals made through Loki's schemes; a later bargain to save Thor leads Loki to Blazing Hell 600 2549.