Overview
Loki Laufeyson, known by adoption as Loki Odinson and by his title as the God of Mischief, is a fictional character portrayed by Tom Hiddleston in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and the Norse mythological god of the same name. Loki was introduced in Thor (2011), and has since become an important recurring figure of the MCU; following the original Loki's death in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), a variant of him from an alternate timeline is introduced in Avengers: Endgame (2019), diverging from the events of The Avengers (2012), headlining the television series Loki (2021) alongside Sylvie, a female variant of him who he works with in the series.
, the character has appeared in eight films, takes the lead role in the live-action series Loki (2021), with a number of alternate timeline variants appearing in Loki, the animated series What If...? (2021), and in The Good, the Bart, and the Loki (2021), an animated short film that serves as a crossover with The Simpsons franchise, including Classic Loki, Kid Loki, Boastful Loki, Alligator Loki, President Loki and more.
Loki's character has borrowed a number of characteristics and storylines from across the history of the character in Marvel Comics. As in the comics, Loki has generally been a villain in the MCU, variously attempting to conquer Asgard or Earth, and having allied himself with more powerful villains to achieve his aims. He has particular antagonism for his adoptive brother Thor, and is known to variously ally with and then betray Thor and others, and to regularly return from apparent death. In his development through the series, he becomes less of a supervillain and more of an antihero.
Concept and creation
Loki initially appeared in the science fiction/fantasy anthology Timely Comics' (Marvel Comic’s predecessor) publication Venus No. 6 (August 1949) as a member of the Olympian gods exiled to the Underworld.
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