- "You must be truly desperate to come to me for help. What makes you think you can trust me?"
"I don't. Mother did. I used to know that when we fought each other in the past, I did so with a glimmer of hope that my brother is still in there somewhere. That hope no longer exists to protect you. You betray me and I will kill you."
"When do we start?" - ―Loki and Thor[src]
Loki is the son of Laufey, the ruler of the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, but shortly after his birth he was abandoned and left to die. Found by the Asgardian king Odin, Loki was raised by Odin and his wife Frigga as the Asgardian prince, along with their biological son Thor. When he grew up, he became known as the "god of mischief".
When Loki learned the truth about his father, he made a plan to force Odin to banish Thor so he could become next in line to the throne. The first part of his plan worked well, but Thor returned from his exile on Earth and ended Loki's reign of terror. Lost in the universe, Loki made a deal with The Other, a servant of Thanos, who gave him command over their army of the Chitauri to conquer Earth.
Once he came to Earth, Loki managed to take possession of the mystical Tesseract, but he was ultimately defeated by a group of superheroes called the Avengers. Thor returned him to Asgard, where Odin condemned him to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Biography
Early life
Loki as a young boy.
Loki was small for a Frost Giant, so his father, Laufey, king of the Frost Giants, abandoned him. In 965, Odin had found Loki alone in a temple and adopted him after a battle between the Asgardians and Frost Giants. Odin already had a son, Thor, who he had with his wife Frigga.[1]
As they grew up Loki always felt like he was living in Thor's shadow, considering that he is meant to be king as he matures. Frigga introduced Loki to magic and taught him how to use it.
Mangog Unleashed
Loki makes a pact with Ymir.
Loki's jealousy of his step-brother eventually led to the near-destruction of Asgard. Wanting to prove himself a better heir to the throne of Asgard Loki put into place a plan that was supposed to make him look like a hero in the eyes of Asgardians. He was wrong. Thor resented the Frost Giants, and when they slipped into Asgard and attacked the city, Thor had seen enough. Seeing Thor's resentment of the Frost Giants as an opportunity Loki initiated his plan. Loki told Thor that if he really wanted; he should venture into Ymir's realm; the land of the Frost Giants and destroy them all to finally ensure peace. Loki knew of a gateway in Ymir's realm; one that contained a being of Odin's own creation known as Mangog.[2]
Once Thor had fought off hoards of Frost Giants and eventually defeating Ymir himself; Loki told Thor to open the gateway; saying that it would unleash an everlasting flame that would defeat the Frost Giants once and for all. But in reality Loki wanted Thor to open the gateway so that Mangog would not only be unleashed in Ymir's realm, but Asgard and the rest of the nine realms as well; his plan was to unleash Mangog on Asgard and then use the Casket of Ancient Winters to defeat him. Thus making him look like a hero and the more worthy heir. But this plan backfired when Mangog was unable to be defeated by the Casket. Luckily Thor was able to return to Asgard, and after defeating both Surtur and Ymir's forces, Thor, with the help of Loki and his father Odin were able to defeat Mangog and bring peace back to Asgard; for the time being.[2]
The Trickster's schemes
Thor's coronation and banishment
Loki was present when Thor was supposed to ascend the throne, only to be interrupted by Frost Giants that broke into Asgard. After the frost giants break into Asgard, Loki follows the enraged Thor, along with Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, to Jotunheim to seek for answers. They then ensue in a battle against the Frost Giants. Loki discovers that he does not get harmed by making physical contact with the Frost Giants, as Volstagg had. After they were cornered, Odin arrives and takes the group back to Asgard, where Odin banishes Thor to Earth.[1]
Learning his true heritage
Loki shortly before discovering that he is a Frost Giant.
Loki then confronts Odin, where he discovers that he is actually Laufey's son, taken by Odin from a temple as he was seemingly left there to die. Odin became stressed by Loki's discovery and the exile of Thor, and falls into a deep Odinsleep.[1]
Revenge on Thor
Loki about to fall into space.
Loki takes the throne and refuses to take back Thor's banishment. He visits Laufey to allow him to go to Asgard to kill Odin and to take the Casket back, which Odin stole from the Frost Giants before. He also pays Thor a visit on Earth to say that Odin had died in order to keep him unmotivated. After learning that the Warriors Three and Lady Sif went to Earth, he sends the Destroyer to pursue and destroy them, and was successful until Thor got his powers back. Loki was then showing Laufey the way to Odin. Just as Laufey was about to kill Odin, Loki betrays and kills his cold-hearted father. Thor arrives to Asgard just as Loki was going to destroy Jotunheim. The others fought until Thor destroyed the Bifrost Bridge, only for both of them to be saved at the last minute by Odin, who woke from his Odinsleep. Loki, unwilling to face his father for his actions, lets go of Thor on purpose and falls into the abyss made by the destruction of the Bifrost Bridge.[1]
Loki in Thanos' Dimension
- "I was a king, the rightful king of Asgard! Betrayed!"
"Your ambition is little, born of childish need. We look beyond the Earth to greater worlds the Tesseract will unveil."
"You don't have the Tesseract yet. I don't threaten, but until I open the doors, until your force is mine to command, you are but words." - ―Loki and The Other[src]
After falling through the wormhole, Loki arrived in a part of the universe unknown to both the Asgardians and humans called Chitauri Space and came into contact with the Other, a servant of Thanos, who offered a pact that would allow him to become ruler of the Earth while Thanos and the Chitauri would take the Tesseract which was left on Earth and being studied by S.H.I.E.L.D., so Thanos gave Loki ancient knowledge through the powers of the Tesseract, providing him with a golden bladed staff with a blue gem that was powered by the cube itself. It acted as a very powerful weapon, and also as a mind control device, bending those who were touched by the gem's power to its will. Unbeknownst to Loki, while he could use it to puppeteer the minds of others, he himself was also being controlled by the Tesseract's will, the staff's power turning his green eyes crystal blue as long as he wielded it.[3]
Loki is confronted by the astral projection of Frigga.
He was still able to keep his mind and not become a mere puppet, but the grip it had on him fueled his hatred and desire to bring harm to humanity and his brother, Thor, beyond what they were. Thanos shows Loki how to temporarily control someone while still on the planet. Erik Selvig is taken to S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, where Nick Fury shows him a source of "unlimited power" and asks if he wants to study it. Loki temporarily controls him, and makes Selvig agree.[1]
One year later still in Thanos planet, Frigga, Loki's adoptive mother, finds out that he survived and tries to make contact with him, but Loki tells her its not the time to talk.[4]
War for Earth
Arrival on Earth
Loki arriving at Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S.
- "We have no quarrel with your people."
"An ant has no quarrel with a boot." - ―Nick Fury and Loki[src]
Accepting the deal without fear of failure, Loki turned his focus back to Earth in search of a suitable agent, someone close to the Tesseract. He found Erik Selvig, a friend of Thor's and a renowned astrophysicist, who had been summoned to the task of unlocking the secrets of the mysterious cube. In time, Selvig came to understand some of the Tesseract's capabilities, and through Loki's influence he developed equipment that would focus some of that power. When the time was right, Loki activated the Tesseract, forming a temporary portal that pulled him through to its location on Earth, the main facility of Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S.. He was immediately confronted by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who fired guns at him only to learn that bullets bounced off of his body. Nick Fury attempted to keep him away from the Tesseract after, but Loki managed to use the scepter to subjugate and control Hawkeye and Selvig, as well as a number of other agents by placing the tip of the scepter at their chest near their heart and allowing the power of the gem to overtake them. He explained to Nick Fury that he wanted the Tesseract as part of his 'glorious purpose' which was to free the Earth and humanity from 'freedom... life's great lie' as their one supreme king.[3]
Fury tried to flee with the Tesseract, but then decided to stay and allow himself to die with the cube if it meant stopping Loki as well. Selvig and Hawkeye informed Loki of Fury's intent, prompting Loki to gather the turned agents and leave with the Tesseract after attempting to kill Fury, avoiding Maria Hill's attempt to stop them. The energy it had unleashed consumed the area and the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. compound with it.[3]
Getting the last part to the portal
Loki in Germany
- "You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing."
"The soldier. A man out of time."
"I'm not the one who's out of time." - ―Captain America and Loki[src]
After securing an area to determine the next course of action for the cube, Loki noted the scepter's gem glowing and calling out to him. He allowed himself to enter a trance where he could appear to the Chitauri leader and his army in a metaphysical form. The Chitauri leader warned Loki that if he failed at his pursuit of earth and the Tesseract did not fall into their hands to be given to Thanos, that there would be no place for him to hide from the overlord's wrath and that he would beg for something as sweet as pain. Now unsettled about potential failure and more determined than ever, Loki went to Stuttgart, Germany with Hawkeye and other turned agents in order to retrieve iridium, necessary to stabilize the portal.[3]
Here he disrupted a gala at a large museum while Barton raided a secure installation for iridium. Loki struck terror into the hearts of patrons and guests by securing the one thing needed for Hawkeye to breach the iridium lock's security measures: the curator's eyeball. Loki strode out after the screaming crowd into the streets where he made several copies of himself, trapping the people and demanding that they kneel before him. Loki bragged that this was man's purpose, but a single man challenged him and his intentions. When Loki prepared to kill the old man, Captain America appeared and challenged him. Seconds later, the Quinjet carrying Black Widow also challenged him from the sky. After a brief battle with the super-soldier, during which Loki had the upper hand, Iron Man arrived and threatened to fire upon Loki, daring him to make a move. Outnumbered, he allowed himself to be captured, secretly plotting to use this to his advantage.[3]
Captured
Loki talking to Thor.
- "I've seen worlds you've never known about! I have grown, Odin's Son, in my exile! I have seen the true power of the Tesseract, and when I wield it..."
"Who showed you this power?" - ―Loki and Thor[src]
As they journeyed to the Helicarrier, Thor arrived and extracted Loki from the jet. Thor attempted to reason with Loki, imploring him to remember that they were brothers (even if not by blood) and to return home to Asgard and surrender the Tesseract. Loki, however, still resented his brother, and refused to cooperate. Thor was tackled by Iron Man before he could say any more, and Loki remained on his perch as he watched them battle before agreeing to ally themselves. They took him into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody aboard the Helicarrier, where he was placed in a confinement capsule designed to hold the Hulk. Loki taunted Fury about his attempts to control the Tesseract and his gathering of misfits to defend Earth. Loki's mere presence was enough to provide a disruptive element that would fragment the only group of heroes that had any hope of stopping him. When Black Widow arrived to speak with him, apparently to offer a deal in exchange for Hawkeye's freedom, he subjected her to a play of wits where he ferreted out her deeper misgivings, but was completely caught off guard when the spy tricked the trickster into revealing that there was already a monster among them and that it was not him. From this, she concluded that the monster was Banner and that he had planned to use the Hulk to destroy the ship and the heroes as well.[3]
Loki inside his cell
However Loki's plan to use the Hulk, only one aspect of his real intentions, did follow through as another jet carrying Hawkeye and the rogue agents came to his aide, following a signal from the scepter. The wounded Banner transformed into the Hulk, destroying much of the Helicarrier, while one of Loki's controlled agents freed him from the cell. Loki then used illusions of himself to trick Thor into entering the cell and to distract Agent Coulson. Loki mortally wounded Agent Coulson and ejected Thor's cell from the Helicarrier. Though he retrieved his scepter, Hawkeye was released from the mind control, and Loki headed to New York City, where Selvig waited with the Tesseract at Stark Tower.[3]
Battle of New York
Loki talking to Tony Stark.
- "What have I to fear?"
"The Avengers. It's what we call ourselves, sort of like a team. "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" type thing."
"Yes, I've met them."
"Yeah. Takes us a while to get any traction, I'll give you that one. But, let's do a head count here: Your brother, the demigod; a super soldier, a living legend who kind of lives up to the legend; a man with breath-taking anger management issues; a couple of master assassins, and you, big fella, you've managed to piss off every single one of them." - ―Loki and Tony Stark[src]
Loki prepared to welcome his army and begin his glorious, but brief, war on the earth. Tony Stark, still alive after the raid and having figured out his plan, caught up with him at the Tower and abandoned his wrecked Iron Man suit to threaten him. When Loki grew weary of the threats he tried to subjugate Stark with the scepter, only to be physically blocked by the arc reactor in Stark's chest. Annoyed, he threw the inventor out of a window, and was surprised when a freshly built Iron Man armor rocketed out after the man. Loki found himself briefly under attack when the fully suited Iron Man rocketed back up to retaliate before the Tesseract opened the portal, allowing Loki's Chitauri army to come pouring through. With his triumph near at hand he was confronted by his brother, Thor, who demanded that he at once deactivate the Tesseract or the thunder god would destroy it. Loki refused, claiming that nothing could stop his war.[3]
The brothers fought a second time, Loki's scepter matching Thor's hammer. Blasts from the gem almost completely destroyed the Stark Tower logo on the side of the balcony, blasting the giant letters and debris off the side. When the confrontation came to stalemate with them grappling each others' necks, Thor urged Loki to look around him at the destruction he caused and asked if he truly believed it would all end with his rule. While Loki was unsure of himself, his eyes reverted to their normal green state temporarily as he claimed it was too late to stop the madness, but briefly considered Thor's appeal to work together to end it all and redeem himself. The will of the Tesseract over his mind was stronger than his guilt, however, and he instead stabbed Thor with a throwing knife, preparing to strike him down with the scepter as he knelt before him and laughing in amusement at the sentiment. This did little more than enrage the thunder god, who disarmed his adoptive brother of his staff and picked him up before slamming him down hard on the ruined balcony.[3]
Loki catching an arrow that, not soon after, exploded making him fall onto Stark Tower.
Loki threw himself off the building as he was defeated and managed to land on one of the Chitauri's small flying craft. From there, he led an attack on the city. When the first of the Chitauri's massive Leviathans was destroyed by the Hulk, he commanded the Chitauri on the other side of the still-open portal to send the rest of their massive armada, overwhelming the city's defenses. An aerial chase after Black Widow left his craft destroyed by one of Hawkeye's arrows and Loki landed back on Stark Tower, where the Hulk confronted him. Loki's frustrated rant goaded the Hulk into simply picking him up and repeatedly slamming him into the ground. Loki was too stunned to fight or threaten any longer, more wounded physically than he had ever been before.[3]
When he eventually summoned the strength to crawl, he found himself face to face with six of the Earth's mightiest, having defeated the Chitauri army and closing the portal, he quietly requested the drink that Stark had offered before. After the Tesseract was relinquished to Thor, Loki was bound and placed in a metal muzzle (likely to prevent his pleading, threatening, or perhaps use of magic) and led to an open area in Central Park with his brother. From there, Thor used the power of the Tesseract to transport both of them home to Asgard.[3]
Imprisoned
Loki in prison.
After Thor brought him back to Asgard, Loki had to face Odin's justice. Though Loki tried to justify his actions on Earth, Odin openly told him that he will spare his life only because of Frigga's love for him. Odin then condemned Loki to eternal imprisonment, and for the first time called him by his true name―Loki Laufeyson.[5] After that, Loki was put into a crystal prison.
Return of the Dark Elves
War of the Realms
- "If I had not taken you in you would not be here now to hate me."
"If I had fully asked for true mercy, I'd say just swing it. It's not that I don't love our little talks, it's just...I don't love them."
"Frigga is the only reason you are still alive and you will never see her again. You will spend the rest of your days in the dungeon." - ―Odin and Loki[src]
After being condemned to eternal imprisonment, Loki was locked in a cell deep beneath the Asgardian Royal Palace. A year later, he was still there. Frigga alone continued to communicate with her him, and did so by way of a projection of herself to his cell. She also supplied him with books to help him while away the hours.
Unknowingly to Loki, a war was raging across the Nine Realms. A group of space pirates called the Marauders was attacking Vanaheim. After their defeat, they were locked in cells next to Loki's.
However, shortly after, one of the Marauders magically transformed and broke out of his cell, revealing himself as the Dark Elf turned into the monstrous Kursed warrior. Grasping an opportunity to harass his foster father, Loki advised the Dark Elf where to find the exit. Not long after the sounds of battle had died away, Loki learned that Frigga wass killed by the Dark Elves who attacked Asgard at the same time when the prison riot started. This knowledge sent Loki into a fit of rage.
Liberation
The same day, Thor decided to escape from Asgard and take Jane Foster, whose body contained the Aether, to Svartalfheim, the homeworld of the Dark Elves. However, he needed Loki' help because he was the only person who could help him to sneak out. Thor promised Loki they have their revenge for Frigga's death, and after that, he'll go back to hi cell. Loki seemingly agreed with Thor's proposal.[6]
In Dark World
Thor embracing the corpse of his brother as Malekith watches.
During a short battle with Malekith the Accursed, Loki was stabbed and appeared to have died in the arms of his brother.
Taking the throne
In Asgard, Thor declines Odin's offer to take the throne and tells Odin of Loki's sacrifice. As Thor leaves, the image of Odin reverts to the true form of a grinning Loki, who had made it back to Asgard and usurped the throne after disguising himself as a warrior. Odin's current status and whereabouts are unknown.
Powers and Abilities
Being a Frost Giant, Loki possesses the physical abilities of a typical Frost Giant, such as superhuman endurance and strength. When he was taken in by Odin since his infancy, Loki grew up, learning how to wield Asgardian magic against his opponents. In addition to his cunning, manipulative and strategic mind, Loki is one of the most dangerous foes a person could ever face in battle.
Frost Giant Physiology
Loki's true nature as a Frost Giant
Being a Frost Giant, Loki has a few physical abilities. Some of them are:
- Superhuman Strength: Loki was shown possessing strength that is above an average human. He can overpower and kill normal humans with ease and battle Frost Giants. He was shown capable of lifting a grown man by the neck and throwing him away from a considerable distance. He was even able to overpower Captain America, who himself is stronger than normal humans, with ease. Despite that, his strength is low compared to the likes of Thor and Hulk. His strength also extends his ability to leap distances far in excess of human capability.
- Superhuman Durability: Loki was noted to take on considerable amount of damage and survive. Not even most forms of human weaponry such as bullets can hurt him, and high caliber bullets merely bounce off him. He can take the punches of Captain America and not feel a thing. This ability was especially noted when the Hulk smashes him and flings him down, however after the attack he was in no apparent harm albeit shocked and appalled.
- Superhuman Longevity: Loki has the capacity to live for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. Loki was a baby at the end of the last great war between the Asgardians and the Jotuns over a thousand years ago.
- Superhuman Speed/Reflexes/Agility: Loki is fast enough to catch Hawkeye's arrows in mid-flight, inches away from his neck. He also used his speed in his fight against Captain America, during which he easily gained the upper hand, at one point even smashing Cap's shield into the ground. Indeed, had Loki not intended to humiliate the super-soldier, he could easily have killed him.
- Cold Manipulation: As a Frost Giant, Loki can generate cold, like when he froze the lightning in the Bifrost Bridge to jam its functions.
Sorcery
Loki learned how to wield magic while growing up in Asgard thanks to his adoptive mother Frigga. He was a skilled sorcerer and it was one of his best assets in battle. The abilities he demonstrated were:
- Illusionary Copies: Loki was particularly noted to fool enemies who try to attack him with an illusion of himself. Thor was noted to fall for this ability many times.
- Disguise: Loki could alter his attire, his voice and his physical aspect in order to resemble another person. He used this power to change his clothing from his usual armor, to a human suit, and to his battle armor. He was also capable to become identical to Thor, Captain America, Odin, and an anonymus Asgardian guard. He could also use his power to alter the appearance of Thor (making him look like Lady Sif or without a hand) and of his cell in the Asgardian dungeons.
- Hypnosis: He can influence the minds of others, such as when he manipulated Eric Selvig into researching the cosmic cube.
- Teleportation: Loki was also shown being able to appear in places that were seemingly impossible to enter by conventional means.
- Invisibility: Loki was able to render himself unseen to whoever he wanted to. Instead of letting light waves pass through himself, it was simply a trick of the mind. He was able to use his magic to mask his presence from Heimdall while he was in Jotunheim.
- Telekinesis: Loki was able to mentally move objects with his mind. Upon hearing about Frigga's death, in anger over her death, he threw some of his furniture around his cell.
Other Abilities
True to his title as the God of Lies and Deceit, Loki is able to trick and manipulate his enemies into doing what he wants. But was tricked and outsmarted by Black Widow He also capable of holding his own in a fight between those like Thor and Captain America. Loki has shown that being a "god" of a different world, he is able to understand, learn and eventually utilize Earth and other alien technology to an excellent degree, such as using the eye device on the scientist, learning to use the control console that controls the cage, and flying a Chitauri airship.
- Arcane Lore: Loki possesses great skill in wielding mystical artifacts, notably Gungnir, the Casket of Ancient Winters, and the Tesseract. He also has a great deal of skill in his use of arcane lore. He uses his knowledge primarily to conjure illusions and manipulate others to do his will. He has demonstrated the ability to cause the Casket of Ancient Winters to seemingly disappear into thin air, although it is not immediately clear if this was entirely Loki's doing or or in some way bound to an inherent property of the item. He also claims to know of secret pathways between worlds that allow him to travel without using more common transportation methods. As ruler of Asgard he also gained control of the Destroyer for a time.
- Expert Combatant: Loki has extensive combat training that allowed him to fight off and kill several Jotuns in Jotunheim, defeat and kill several S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives, and hold his own against Thor and Captain America for a time, the latter even commenting his fighting skills.But was quickly defeated by The Hulk
Equipment
When taking over the throne, Loki was seen wielding Odin's spear, Gungnir, which could fire beams of energy that could kill a mortal and injure an Asgardian. For a short while, Loki used the Casket of Ancient Winters to freeze Heimdall. When arriving at Earth for the first time, Loki wielded a sceptre that was capable of firing destructive energy bolts. By sticking the sceptre into the chest of a person, he was capable of twisting the person's loyalties towards him while retaining their normal personality. In battle, Loki always uses throwing knives to injure and/or kill his enemies, though he is also proficient with a spear.
Relationships
Friends and Family |
Enemies
Video game only
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Behind the scenes
Malekith the Accursed prepares to kill Loki in Captain America & Thor: Avengers!
- In the non-canon comic Captain America & Thor: Avengers! Loki helps his friends to free Fandral who is captured by the Dark Elves led by Queen Alflyse.
