How Loki is going back to full villainy at Marvel Comics

You hate to admit it, but you love villains, and somehow Loki is just better when he’s bad. Thankfully, the Trickster is turning up the villainous notch soon.

Oh, Loki, the genderfluid comic character of many titles and good-to-bad alignments. The Trickster shifted to a benevolent allegiance in Loki: Agent of Asgard, before falling back into the ambiguous middle ground in Thor (2018). Well, aside from all the stabbing. Everyone has their personal preference when it comes to Loki. Their favorite outfit. Favorite comic panel. Heck, even their favorite of his 17-and-counting powers. However, we all love it when he’s a villain, and the God of Mischief is reprising his full-villain-form at Marvel Comics.

We’re not sure if the MCU version of the shapeshifter will take on a heroic, villainous, or anti-hero-ish role in his upcoming Disney+ debut… or if he’ll just muck up some Midgardian history and start his Instagram influencer career. However, his comic counterpart is shifting to the nefarious side once again, with the help of Mjolnir. (Well… Maybe. We’re still not sure if this is the real Mjolnir.)

Thanks to a couple of upcoming Marvel Comics, the character is taking a break from his path of do-goodery. Revived once more, Loki will headline his titular comic series in July. As the description for Loki notes, he’s back and has a nondescript plan:

"After dying a grisly death in WAR OF THE REALMS, Loki learned a valuable lesson in warmongering: Don’t get caught. But now he has a whole new set of responsibilities—and his brother Thor is not about to let him walk away from them this time."

This just proves Loki is exceptionally apt at two things: dying and villainous shenanigans. Beyond the fact that the Prince of Asgard is apparently avoiding his royal responsibilities, we have a feeling that isn’t the only act of rebellion we’ll see next month.

With Marvel Comics’ announcement of Avengers: Loki Unleashed! in September, his solo run could be the spark that sets the scoundrel up for his villainous arc. While trickery is his gimmick, we also know that he doesn’t just shift from good to evil based on his calendar. He needs something to inspire him, and we think his comic series next month will better illustration his transformation into his villainous form. (Yet again.)

Seeing as he will feature a new “source of mystical energy” in Avengers: Loki Unleashed!, things will get interesting (and dangerous) for the Avengers. While the team of heroes might hope the new extra-powerful villain was playing on their side this once, we’re glad the God of Mischief is back to his old tricks.

Although we’re just enthralled that Loki is back to being bad, we’re equally excited to see how he gets there in time for September. The journey to villainy is part of the fun, right?