Loki: Where Mischief Lies

DNF - PG 15 (approx)

Why?

Oh, so very many reasons.

First I want to state that this will be my last book by Lee. It would have been, no matter how it turned out. For more information on why, check this out and this out. (There's, honestly, a lot of reasons I am done with this author, her handling of diversity is an ever climbing one, as well.)

The absolute only reason I even tried this book is because I love Loki. He is my favorite character from the Marvel ‘verse and I have actually never found an incarnation of Loki that I didn't love. Until now. More on that in a minute. First I want to share part of an interview with Lee. The question was [How did you] make him your own character even though he already has these predetermined things through the movie and mythology?

Lee's answer was, basically
When I really sort of let go of that and stopped doing research and reading other people's version. [...] when I sort of let go of other people's ideas about him and looked at him as not a character that has existed in this franchise [...] that was what really made all the difference.

...

I'll be the first to say it, I'm not a published author. I've never written a book good enough for that. Lee has. She's a good enough author (what ever I think of her) to have multiple published books, to have Disney approach her and say ‘hey, we think you'd be a good fit' so kudos to her.

But what the hell? This is not how you write a book about an established character. You do your research. You pick a version - if there's more than one - and you understand that character. Otherwise, this is an original Lee character merely named Loki. At the best, this is bad fan fiction. I mean really, really bad fan fiction. To the level of ‘I don't really care about the character's personality and set history and traits, I'll just half ass something and all the girls will love it because he's hawt.' bad fan fiction.

(I had assumed that this would be following the MCU, because I would imagine that more people have seen the movies than read the comics and they, naturally, would want to appeal to the biggest audience they can. Because of this, most of my comparisons will be from the movies.)

So, Loki. Lee's Loki is a poor little woobie that can't do any magic.

Not my Loki.

https://youtu.be/bbq2mYimFrY

(Too lazy to click on it? Okay, Thor is telling Bruce and Valkyrie the story of how Loki turned himself into a snake (because Thor loves snakes) and when Thor went to pick it up to admire it (like you do) Loki turned himself back and was all ‘bleh, it's me!' and stabbed Thor. They were eight at the time.)

...

Lee's Loki wouldn't have the ability or the guts to stab a marshmallow. And, why doesn't he have that ability? Because Frigga has cautioned him to, basically, be ashamed of his magic.

Not my Frigga. Look, the lady wasn't perfect, but she was a good mom. She loved Loki and was proud of him.

https://youtu.be/UcoNxqkyGTQ

(Too lazy to click on it? Frigga is telling Thor that she's never regretted teaching Loki magic, and she did it because Odin and Thor cast such big shadows, she hoped that magic would help Loki find a little sun for himself.)

Basically, what Lee's Loki is, is any poor little misunderstood YA hero with a bad family.

Loki's situation sucked, yes. But Frigga loved him. Thor loves him. (Odin's a dick and doesn't count.)

Now, I didn't actually get far enough to experience much of the Loki and Thor dynamic in this book, but I have heard enough about it to know that, once again, it firmly resides in ‘bad fan fiction' territory.

(I've heard that) Lee's Thor is stupid and a bully to poor widdle Loki.

Not my Thor.

https://youtu.be/CpZakOJlRoY

(Too lazy to click on it? It's awesome. Click on it.)

Look, my brother's favorite character in the MCU is Thor. Thor is a good guy. He's a sweet guy. He probably has the biggest heart of all the Marvel character's I've seen. He's not what these other reviews are describing.

I also didn't get to experience the ‘big deal' that is, as Lee tweeted ‘a canonically pansexual and gender fluid character.' Which, honestly, only sounds like a good thing, because the way it's been described is not how you do good rep. Also? This is not groundbreaking.

In 2013 Al Ewing (the writer of the amazing Loki: Agent of Asgard) stated: “Loki is bi and I'll be touching on that. He'll shift between genders occasionally as well.” (First, note, bi.)

It's sounds like Lee's Loki is ‘I'll be touching on him being pan and mention he's gender fluid once.' This isn't Hollywood movies, guys. We don't have to be afraid of diversity.

Does anyone remember A-Force: Warzones? It was this all female team up from Marvel. There was no switching genders, all characters used were already established as that gender. (Like, they didn't feminize Wolverine, or anything.)



...

So...Loki being gender fluid is groundbreaking? Or maybe you'll try telling me that just mentioned once in passing is better gender fluid rep than the gorgeousness that is Mistress Loki.

Whatever.

I'm - ... I think I'm finally done. Let me check my copious notes.

Oh, right.

You guys know the trope Draco in Leather Pants? That's only actually used to describe fan fiction. (Particularly bad fan fiction.) Well, not no more. Now we can use it to describe this book.

From the tropes description page:
The writer's attempt to make the villain more “sympathetic” will likely cause them to remove everything that made the character so cool/well liked in the first place.

...

Dear Loki, you have now been diagnosed with Draco in Leather Pants syndrome. I suggest you shake it off before the start of your new Disney+ series.

Me? I'm going to go read some good fan fiction.