I loved the way Aguirre-Sacasa wove the old Norse myths of Loki the trickster into the Marvel version of Loki. He made him simultaneously more evil, and more pitiful than we'd ever seen before.

The art was...okay. There were times when it was quite good, more around the settings and backdrops, but the characters were, for the most part, bland and generic. ( )

3.5 stars. ( )

Tom Hiddleston, the actor who played Loki in the recent Marvel films, once said "every villain is a hero in his own mind" and this graphic novel explores that idea. In a way, it reminded me of Anne Rice's "Memnoch the Devil" as that was Lucifer's version of creation. So, while many of the tales within put Loki in a sympathetic light (most especially his statement to Frigga that he is "resigned to it [his fate]"), he's still the God of Mischief and Lies. And, even gods are not immune from lying to themselves.

This graphic novel is more like a retelling of major Norse myths, rather than a "comic" as the setting is not modern and Earth is only referenced rather than being a central location. Most of the book is taken up with the death of Balder, and Loki's machinations to bring it (and his supposed ascension) about. Loki is a liar, but even the original Norse myths do not paint Odin as a particularly good or loving father. Loki's isolation and loneliness are palpable throughout the book, and provide strong motivation for his anger. What I found interesting is that Thor is not portrayed as the good and long-suffering brother. He's arrogant, dismissive, and somewhat cruel toward Loki. Not at all like I am accustomed to him in other comics (who loves his brother no matter how far he falls). How much of this is in Loki's own mind is difficult to tell, but the final scene of the comic gives us Loki chained beneath the snake's venom. This event did occur in the original tales, though it was Odin, and not Thor, who tortured Loki in this manner. Since that event is not a product of Loki's lies, how much more might also be true?

Overall, this novel doesn't bring anything particularly new to the Thor mythos. What is does do is give Loki more depth, underscoring the fact that he is not simply a two-dimensional big bad, but a complex opponent worthy of a Mighty Hero. An excellent, albeit sad, tale for fans of the God of Mischief. Highly recommended. ( )