Some LGBTQIA Marvel comic and film fans have found representation in Loki, the orphaned son of a Frost Giant adopted by Odin and later made an Asgardian prince. The recent Marvel films present him as a stylish, charismatic schemer with a mind full of mischief, serving as an outright villain or an anti-hero by turns. Although the MCU and comic book versions of Loki differ somewhat from those in Norse mythology, the famous trickster thumbs his nose at heterosexual norms and the gender binary in either universe.

Loki in the Norse Myths

While the Marvel films show Loki as a son of Odin, his background in the original old Norse tales is a bit more complex. The myths usually say he’s the son of a jotünn named Farbauti and Laufey, a mysterious woman whose origins aren’t discussed in any surviving narratives. His relationships with the Aesir and Vanir tribes of Scandinavian deities are rather complicated, as he comes to their aid in some instances while foiling their plans in others. Historian Daniel McCoy divulges that he was a frequent source of discord, chaos, and trouble. A short list of his misdeeds includes the following:

• Kidnapping Idun for her collection of golden apples
• Distracting the giantess Skaldi, who came to Asgard demanding restitution for her father’s death, by making her laugh
• Killing Baldur by placing a mistletoe spear in a blind god’s hand and instructing him to throw it

Breaking the Gender Binary?

Loki may be a schemer in the original myths, but he’s also a shapeshifter. This enabled him to change forms, species, and genders in quite a few stories. There’s the famous tale of how he became a mother by changing into a mare and giving birth to Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged steed. He also prevented Baldur’s resurrection by masquerading as a cold-hearted giantess who refused to mourn him.

On her website The Viking Answer Lady, historian Christine Ward points out that the trickster may have been regarded as bisexual, owing to his gender shifting and sexual activities with male figures. Nevertheless, she offers a caveat that most early sources on Norse mythology were penned after the Christianization of Scandinavia. She adds that these writers may have possessed a bias against queerness and “unmanly” activities performed by men.

Loki in the Marvel Universe

Reimagined by Marvel comic book writer Stan Lee as an Asgardian anti-hero, Loki debuted on the printed page in 1949 and on the silver screen in the 2011 movie “Thor.” PinkNews writer Amy West mentioned that the character was portrayed as heterosexual in early comic releases, but writers have pushed to develop the Norse trickster as a queer character. Actor Tom Hiddleston, who plays Loki in the MCU films, has also commented that he views the character as bisexual.

Meanwhile, Pride writer LaTonya Pennington revealed that author Mackenzi Lee has a young adult novel in the works, with the Scandinavian deity as a genderfluid and pansexual character. Moreover, Pennington also briefly discussed the traditionally problematic queer-coding of villains, referring to the act of creating stereotypical characters as evil characters and linking their villainy to being queer or transgender. Even so, Pennington opines that this doesn’t apply to Loki, as Lee’s reinvention plus Hiddleston’s on-screen portrayal results in a complex character who displays irresistible charm yet struggles with self-acceptance and the ramifications of past actions.

The Norse Deity and Queer Representation

Both in ancient mythology and modern fiction, Loki is described as a troublemaker, yet one with a sophisticated and mesmerizing nature. At the same time, his genderfluidity and queer orientation are fascinating to modern audiences. Although medieval European audiences may have viewed him in a negative light because of these traits, some now argue that they are essential for his balanced, positive queer representation in the Marvel universe.