Loki has been the God of Mischief. Lately, he’s been playing the role of the hero. Basic heroism has gotten a little boring for him, so he’s decided to apply to be an Avenger. It was his villainy that brought the team together for the first time, so it’s a perfect fit, right? Writer Daniel Kibblesmith continues a tale of a displaced agent of chaos-turned-hero in Loki #2. The story is drawn by Oscar Bazaldua. Color comes to the page courtesy of David Curiel. Kibblesmith’s cuts a clever plot that is thoughtfully brought to the page by Bazaldua and Curiel. 

Tony Stark isn’t exactly expecting Loki when he shows-up. Loki wants to be an Avenger, but he’s not exactly all that experienced with the idea of a job interview. He’s dressed casually. (Actually seems to have picked-up cues for a casual dress from a classic rooftop photoshoot with John Lennon in New York in August of 1974.) Suffice it to say, Stark has a very vivid memory of the long history Loki has with the Avengers. He has no intention of letting him join. Loki has other things in mind in another deeply charming 20 pages with a displaced god who is looking to find himself. 

Kibblesmith cleverly sets the mood of a bored god in Marvel Manhattan who is simply trying to understand himself. The choice of making Loki look like John Lennon in New York in 1974 (complete with glasses, t-shirt, and jeans) is a clever one. That was a point for Lennon where he was sobering-up and cleaning-up his life. Kibblesmith’s characterization of Loki at this stage in the god’s life feels very much restless, lost, and looking to understand himself. Kibblesmith has a brilliant contrast between godlike razor-sharp wit, and restless slumming. To figure out what the Hela he wants to do with the rest of his life...in a way, this is sort of “Loki in identity crisis,” mode. It’s a fascinating exploration into the personality of a very clever character. In Kibblesmith’s hands, Loki is a LOT of fun to hang out with for 20 pages or so a month.

This issue is largely a comic drama. It IS peppered with a few fantastic moments that extend the plot of the series in various directions, but the interaction between Loki and Tony Stark really is the center of the issue. Bazaldua could have simply allowed Kibblesmith’s clever dialogue and narration to deliver the drama. Instead, Bazaldua aids the drama along with very nuanced physical expressiveness between Loki and Stark that adds considerably to the heart of the issue. Curiel’s colors sharply identify the contrast. Between the range of greens and yellows that are Loki’s trademark, and the range of reds that are Iron Man’s color scheme. Loki’s encounter with a couple of casually cosmic-looking mystery figures at the end of the issue allows Curiel an opportunity to get really flashy with the color. 

Kibblesmith and Bazaldua have established an appealingly firm foundation for Loki-as-protagonist in the first couple of issues of his series. A man who is lost and trying to find himself through weird, casually fantastic adventures is a fun guy to hang out with once a month.

Grade: A+