Loki: A Look At The God Of Mischief's Major Alternate Forms

WARNING: SPOILERS for Loki, episode 2, 'The Variant'

MCU fans have been sent into a spin by the second episode of Loki, which revealed that the Loki variant who has been attacking TVA Hunters is actually a female form of Loki, played by Sophia Di Martino. While the reveal may have come as a surprise to those who have come to the Marvel world through the films, it is one that comic fans have long been waiting for.

In the comics, Loki, as a God of Mischief with powers of shapeshifting and illusion, has taken on many different forms over the years. Here are all the major alternate Lokis from Marvel comics.

Lady Loki

Unlike the movie Thor: Ragnarok, in which a small group of Asgardians managed to escape the destruction of their home world the comics Ragnarok event saw both the destruction of Asgard and the death of all Asgardians, even the major players like Thor, Loki, and Odin. However, eventually the souls of the Asgardians are reincarnated on Earth. Following his own rebirth, Thor begins to track down other reborn Asgardians in the hope of rebuilding Asgard.

He eventually discovers Loki, now in the form of a woman, as he stole the body into which Thor's then lover Lady Sif was supposed to be reborn, leaving Sif's soul trapped in the body of an elderly woman in a nursing home. Supposedly tired of mischief, the new Loki re-introduces herself as the God of Lies. She promises to always tell Thor the truth, and while she keeps the promise, Lady Loki always twists that truth to manipulate Thor.

Though she eventually returns to a primarily male form, a new version of Lady Loki regularly appears in the Loki: Agent Of Asgard series, as Loki had by then been confirmed as gender-fluid.

Serrure/Kid Loki/Teen Loki

During the comics 'Siege' event, Loki was killed by the Void, but due to earlier schemes he had his name removed from the Book of Hell, and was returned to life as Serrure, a young hustler on the streets of France. He is located by Thor, who is able to restore Serrure's true identity as Loki, but omits the memories of his former crimes, hoping to give his brother a clean slate in his new life. Thor takes Loki back to Asgard, and while the other Asgardians are wary of him at first, they eventually grow fond of the child.

When confronted by an echo of his past self, claiming that his death at the hands of the Void was part of a larger plot, Loki rejects him, wanting to forge his own path, and transforms his former self into a Magpie, Ikol. Unfortunately, during a later adventure, the young Loki finds himself tied to a magical artifact that Mephisto plans to use to conquer the world. Discovering that the device will lose power if he ceases to exist, young Loki sacrifices himself, allowing Ikol to inhabit his body and become 'Loki' again. However, Loki retains the experiences and conscience of his young self, leaving him horrified by everything he had turned himself into.

"I am the crime that will not be forgiven!"

Sometime later, Loki, aged up to a teenager, briefly joins the Young Avengers. While this is part of a plot on Loki's part to fully regain his powers, remnants of the younger Loki sometimes appear to him as his conscience, keeping him from ever fully betraying the team.

King Loki

During the Loki: Agent Of Asgard series, Loki places himself at the service of Asgard's All-Mother, Freyja, in the hope of repenting for his past crimes. Unfortunately, it seems Loki's path to redemption may be derailed with the appearance of King Loki. King Loki claims to be Loki from the future, returned to his evil ways. Loki is disheartened, led to believe that a return to his previous dark path is inevitable.

However, Loki is convinced otherwise when his friend, Verity Willis, points out that King Loki does not recognise her. His friendship with her means he is on a different path, and his future is not set in stone. Following this event, Loki sends King Loki to an altered future, and briefly disappears, but eventually shows up on Verity's doorstep, not as the god of mischief or lies, but as the God of Stories.

Some fans speculate that the 'Agent Of Asgard' story will be adapted in the potential second season of Loki.