WOTN Review: Loki #1 (Marvel Comics)

Mischief in the Realms in Loki #1

Oh, Loki. Even when things are going his way, he can’t resist starting something, can he? Loki #1 is immediately following the events in War of the Realms. So don’t read it if you’re not up to date (unless you’re cool with spoilers).

To be fair, Loki does have a few good reasons to want to blow off steam. Even if he’s got more reason than ever to avoid doing exactly that, this is Loki we’re talking about…so…here we are. And it wouldn’t be a story about Loki without a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of mischief.

Loki #1 is the start of a new series. Though presumably, it will tie in with what Thor is doing, and vice versa. One thing we do know about this series? It isn’t going to be boring.

Writing

Loki’s new series is off to a strong start in Loki #1. Daniel Kibbelsmith has taken the reigns for this latest take on the god of mischief, and you can already tell he’s having a lot of fun. Kibbelsmith made sure to fit as much into this issue as possible, but it doesn’t feel rushed either. If anything, Loki’s temperament almost makes it feel leisurely at times.

And it’s a good thing, too, because this issue had a lot of ground to cover. They couldn’t ignore what Loki had just gone through in War of the Realms, especially since it seemed to be the foundation. Then, the main plot is established, adding some chaos and a cameo or two from our favorite Asgardians. Time went by quickly.

This issue bounced back and forth between fun and playful tones to something darker. It was an interesting balance that works very well for Loki’s character. The issue itself started in a way that immediately caught our attention. And then the conclusion ensured that we’d be picking up Loki #2 (but it wasn’t a cliffhanger – promise!).

Art

If you’re wondering about the artwork for Loki #1, just check out that cover to get a good idea of what you’re in for. I’m absolutely in love with the way they designed the series name here. It’s just so perfect.

Oscar Bazaldua and David Curiel were the artists for this issue, and they did a stunning job here. The magic and elemental effects, in particular, were noteworthy, especially during a few panels that could have been an illusion or a vision (sorry for the vagueness here, but I don’t want to spoil anything). These panels probably wouldn’t have had the impact they did had they not been so artfully drawn.

The antagonists of this issue were striking but for different reasons. The artistic team did a great job of rendering them, of course. But their presence affected the background itself, enhancing their appearance.

Conclusion

Loki #1 was a strong start to this new series. It’s already looking to be as exciting and chaotic as I had hoped – which is saying something. I loved including the War of the Realms plot, plus all of the cameos that went with it, including the smaller one. It was a nice touch.

I think we all have an idea of where this plot will lead in the long run. Marvel has been hinting at it for a while now. But that doesn’t diminish the excitement, at least not for this reader.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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