What do you think?
Rate this book
Loki (2004) #1-4
Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers
There are two sides to every story. You've heard Thor's - now it's time to hear Loki's! Odin's least favorite son rewrites Asgardian lore from his perspective, featuring the breathtaking painted artwork of Esad Ribic (SECRET WARS). In this tale, Loki's insatiable lust for power will take on new meaning - as will his conflicted sentiments toward Sif, his antipathy toward Balder and his deep-seated feelings of longing and resentment toward his older brother Thor and uncaring father Odin. And if that's not enough, just stare at the lush painted art by Ribic, presented larger than ever before - you won't be disappointed! Plus: The first appearance of the Trickster God, a classic Tale of Asgard that reveals Loki's awesome origin and more! Collecting LOKI (2004) #1-4, THOR (2007) #12 and material from JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (1952) #85 and #112.
152 pages, Hardcover
Published August 20, 2019
75 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Robert Rodi
210 books123 followersRobert was born in Chicago in the conformist 1950s, grew up in the insurrectionist 1960s, came of age in the hedonist 1970s, and went to work in the elitist 1980s. This roller-coaster ride has left him with a distinct aversion to isms of any kind; it also gave him an ear for hypocrisy, cant, and platitudes that allowed him, in the 1990s, to become a much-lauded social satirist.
After seven acclaimed novels set in the gay milieu, Robert grew restless for new challenges — which he found in activities as wide-ranging as publishing nonfiction, writing comic books, launching a literary-criticism blog, and taking to the stage (as a spoken-word performer, jazz singer, and rock-and-roll front man).
In 2011, excited by the rise of digital e-books, he returned to his first love, publishing new fiction inspired by the work of Alfred Hitchcock. He also organized the republishing of his seminal gay novels under the banner Robert Rodi Essentials.
Robert still resides in Chicago, in a century-old Queen Anne house with his partner Jeffrey Smith and a constantly shifting number of dogs.
.
German version: Robert Rodi wurde 1956 in einem Vorort von Chicago geboren. Im Alter von 22 schloss er sein Philosophie-Studium ab. Schon vorher beschäftigte er sich mit Comedy. Sein erster eigener Roman, "Fag Hag" aus dem Jahr 1991 war ein großer Erfolg. Es folgten mehrere andere komische Romane, zahlreiche Kurzgeschichten und Sketche. Robert lebt mit Partner und Hund in Chicago.
After seven acclaimed novels set in the gay milieu, Robert grew restless for new challenges — which he found in activities as wide-ranging as publishing nonfiction, writing comic books, launching a literary-criticism blog, and taking to the stage (as a spoken-word performer, jazz singer, and rock-and-roll front man).
In 2011, excited by the rise of digital e-books, he returned to his first love, publishing new fiction inspired by the work of Alfred Hitchcock. He also organized the republishing of his seminal gay novels under the banner Robert Rodi Essentials.
Robert still resides in Chicago, in a century-old Queen Anne house with his partner Jeffrey Smith and a constantly shifting number of dogs.
.
German version: Robert Rodi wurde 1956 in einem Vorort von Chicago geboren. Im Alter von 22 schloss er sein Philosophie-Studium ab. Schon vorher beschäftigte er sich mit Comedy. Sein erster eigener Roman, "Fag Hag" aus dem Jahr 1991 war ein großer Erfolg. Es folgten mehrere andere komische Romane, zahlreiche Kurzgeschichten und Sketche. Robert lebt mit Partner und Hund in Chicago.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 29, 2023
8'5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Edición especial de este one-shot para recrearse con el arte de Esad Ribic. Con un mayor tamaño y hojas en acabado mate para disfrutar al máximo de las acuarelas del dibujante croata. ¡Cada viñeta es una obra de arte!
En este caso su "musa" es Loki, quien goza de un protagonismo absoluto. Con un diseño avejentado donde las arrugas surcan su rostro. Incluso desdentado y con aire decrépito que contrasta con el aura divina de Thor. Como luz y oscuridad. Como el bien y el mal.
Y es que Loki ha conseguido derrotar a Thor y, mientras lo mantiene en cautiverio y a la espera de ser decapitado, deberá plantearse si es el trono de Asgard lo que realmente quiere y como de importante es Thor para la existencia de Loki. ¿Tendría sentido la vida de Loki sin Thor? Un guión correcto y buena narrativa de Robert Rodi. Pero lo que realmente da sentido a esta edición es el dibujo.
Edición especial de este one-shot para recrearse con el arte de Esad Ribic. Con un mayor tamaño y hojas en acabado mate para disfrutar al máximo de las acuarelas del dibujante croata. ¡Cada viñeta es una obra de arte!
En este caso su "musa" es Loki, quien goza de un protagonismo absoluto. Con un diseño avejentado donde las arrugas surcan su rostro. Incluso desdentado y con aire decrépito que contrasta con el aura divina de Thor. Como luz y oscuridad. Como el bien y el mal.
Y es que Loki ha conseguido derrotar a Thor y, mientras lo mantiene en cautiverio y a la espera de ser decapitado, deberá plantearse si es el trono de Asgard lo que realmente quiere y como de importante es Thor para la existencia de Loki. ¿Tendría sentido la vida de Loki sin Thor? Un guión correcto y buena narrativa de Robert Rodi. Pero lo que realmente da sentido a esta edición es el dibujo.
July 17, 2013
Loki is my favorite Marvel character, followed by Thor. Indeed, he is my favorite villain in literature or film. He's a complex character who goes beyond simple "bad-guy." He needs to cause chaos, but has also switched sides. Moreover, his backstory is tragic, allowing readers to sympathize with him even as they root for Thor. So, I was eager to read "Blood Brothers" in which Loki, from his own POV, succeeds in taking Asgard.
The book opens with Thor in chains before Loki, now king of Asgard. He loves seeing Thor brought so low, but finds himself burdened with the actual work of ruling. When Loki is alone, Hela appears to convince him to execute Thor. What commences is Loki's struggle with the decision as his history unfolds. At one point, Balder reveals to Loki that there are many universes, many Lokis, many Thors, all locked in the same cycle. And in all of them, Loki is defeated. What is disturbing is that the Asgardians excuse their cruelty toward Loki as part of a this cycle. Yet, they do not excuse Loki's action on the same principle. He is held accountable; which further reinforces his tragic nature. Loki has no choice in his destiny, but is condemned for it none-the-less.
Loki slowly comes to the realization that, as light needs darkness, Loki needs Thor. But, like all other Lokis, he will not be allowed to escape his destiny. Only this time, the taste of Thor's victory is bitter - for Loki and for readers. I am not certain if the authors intended it to be so, but this story not only makes Loki especially sympathetic, it portrays our usual heroes (Sif, Balder, Thor) as cruel bullies who tormented and ridiculed Loki all his life; dividing brother from brother. When Loki reveals why he will kill Thor and not the others, it is heartbreaking. For the first time, I did not like Thor and I did not want him to triumph.
Usually, I do not comment on art since it is so subjective. However, in this instance I must because it seriously impacted my enjoyment of the story. I HATED it. Primarily, I did not like how the artist drew Loki as a shriveled, ugly old man with missing teeth. It's so cliché for a villain to be ugly in any case, but here it was jolting because Loki is not the typical villain. Plus, he's a shapeshifter. Why would he choose to look that way? It just didn't work.
The book is filled out with two of Loki and Thor's original encounters by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and an excerpt of Loki from the Siege saga. The Lee/Kirby stories were a nice addition, though the Siege bit is an odd choice since it doesn't stand alone. There is also unused art from the main story and the creators' "pitch" for the storyline.
Overall, though I hated the art work, the story was so compelling and emotional I will still give it 4 stars. Highly recommended. One thing readers should note is that though this book includes "Loki #1-4", it should not be confused with Thor: The Trials of Loki, which also includes a completely different "Loki #1-4"!! I almost didn't buy this because I thought it was the same material.
The book opens with Thor in chains before Loki, now king of Asgard. He loves seeing Thor brought so low, but finds himself burdened with the actual work of ruling. When Loki is alone, Hela appears to convince him to execute Thor. What commences is Loki's struggle with the decision as his history unfolds. At one point, Balder reveals to Loki that there are many universes, many Lokis, many Thors, all locked in the same cycle. And in all of them, Loki is defeated. What is disturbing is that the Asgardians excuse their cruelty toward Loki as part of a this cycle. Yet, they do not excuse Loki's action on the same principle. He is held accountable; which further reinforces his tragic nature. Loki has no choice in his destiny, but is condemned for it none-the-less.
Loki slowly comes to the realization that, as light needs darkness, Loki needs Thor. But, like all other Lokis, he will not be allowed to escape his destiny. Only this time, the taste of Thor's victory is bitter - for Loki and for readers. I am not certain if the authors intended it to be so, but this story not only makes Loki especially sympathetic, it portrays our usual heroes (Sif, Balder, Thor) as cruel bullies who tormented and ridiculed Loki all his life; dividing brother from brother. When Loki reveals why he will kill Thor and not the others, it is heartbreaking. For the first time, I did not like Thor and I did not want him to triumph.
Usually, I do not comment on art since it is so subjective. However, in this instance I must because it seriously impacted my enjoyment of the story. I HATED it. Primarily, I did not like how the artist drew Loki as a shriveled, ugly old man with missing teeth. It's so cliché for a villain to be ugly in any case, but here it was jolting because Loki is not the typical villain. Plus, he's a shapeshifter. Why would he choose to look that way? It just didn't work.
The book is filled out with two of Loki and Thor's original encounters by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and an excerpt of Loki from the Siege saga. The Lee/Kirby stories were a nice addition, though the Siege bit is an odd choice since it doesn't stand alone. There is also unused art from the main story and the creators' "pitch" for the storyline.
Overall, though I hated the art work, the story was so compelling and emotional I will still give it 4 stars. Highly recommended. One thing readers should note is that though this book includes "Loki #1-4", it should not be confused with Thor: The Trials of Loki, which also includes a completely different "Loki #1-4"!! I almost didn't buy this because I thought it was the same material.
January 22, 2018
A perfectly fine Loki story that feels more like a retelling of the actual Norse mythology rather than something set in the Marvel universe. Nothing too exciting, but it captures the nature of Loki as an ultimately tragic character pretty well. Esad Ribic's artwork is usually hit or miss for me, and I didn't like it all that much in this book — it looks drab and monotone, and I don't like the way he draws Loki as this ugly, goblin-like creature. Overall though, it's a solid comic, and a fine deeper look at the character.
June 19, 2012
This is one of my top three favorite graphic novels. The others are "The Trials of Loki" and "Thor: Ages of Thunder". The artwork and writing in all three books is excellent though very different. I loved this story so much, I bought the hard cover version. The story delves into Loki's past and helps the viewer understand some of the taunting and teasing he had to endure growing up which led him to a path of poor choices based on anger and hate. Its basically a "what if" story. What if Loki finally beat Thor and did get the throne? What would happen? This story attempts to answer that. This is a great book for Loki lovers and those interested in a more psychological story about relationships. Its not about action or typical comic book superhero vs supervillain fighting. Oldman Loki is bitter and physically shows the toll of years of hate, yet he is not past being redeemed and some part of him really could find it in his heart to love. I found this story very interesting and worth reading over again many times.
July 28, 2021
I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.
I downloaded this book off of Kindle Unlimited because well, I love Loki. I'm not even gonna deny being THAT MCU fan, but I wanted to read this one specifically because it was written in 2004, pre MCU. This book starts with Loki conquering Asgard, finally defeating Thor and facing the consequences of being King of Asgard. Loki soon finds this isn't all he had cracked it up to be and after a conversation with Hela, he decides that Thor's death is the only thing that is going to end the cycle of Light vs Dark in his life. But we follow Loki as he meets various faces such as Odin, Frigga, his real mother, Lady Sif and others. Overall, I did really enjoy this book but I feel like I would have enjoyed it more had I had it in a physical copy as the font and lettering was a little tough to read digitally.
I downloaded this book off of Kindle Unlimited because well, I love Loki. I'm not even gonna deny being THAT MCU fan, but I wanted to read this one specifically because it was written in 2004, pre MCU. This book starts with Loki conquering Asgard, finally defeating Thor and facing the consequences of being King of Asgard. Loki soon finds this isn't all he had cracked it up to be and after a conversation with Hela, he decides that Thor's death is the only thing that is going to end the cycle of Light vs Dark in his life. But we follow Loki as he meets various faces such as Odin, Frigga, his real mother, Lady Sif and others. Overall, I did really enjoy this book but I feel like I would have enjoyed it more had I had it in a physical copy as the font and lettering was a little tough to read digitally.
July 14, 2016
Well... I had always been a HUGE fan of Loki, having watched every single movie he was featured in! <3 Of course, Tom Hiddleston (<3) played a major role in helping me... fall in love with this mischievous trickster! But, to be honest, apart from his OVERLY good looks and hilarious sarcastic lines, there's something more that makes him eventually grow on you... The key word here is COMPASSION. Loki undoubtedly has a really interesting, yet tragic and a bit... buffling past and childhood, in general... Once you understand this, you are able to come to the conclusion that the notorious Prince of Lies isn't some evil twisted psychopath, but a torn misunderstood grown-up with some family issues...
Anyway... Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers was the very first Marvel comic book I ever read, and the only thing I can say is that it was DEFINITELY an excellent first choice for me! Although, it is actually a comic collection/album I would like to draw my attention to the first part, featuring the 4 issues of the comic series "Loki". To begin with, Ribic's illustrations were simply BREATHTAKING, and their dramatic-like style matched perfectly with the plot! Now, speaking of the plot, it really succeeds in revealing efficiently Loki's sorrow, frustration and bitter anger, as well as a soft, somewhat caring side of his. As for the tragic ending, it is sure to bring tears to your eyes and leave you with a feeling of injustice and abhorrence towards Thor (I have no intension of spoiling, just... ). It is also important to mention that the plot gets a bit buffling at a point, as it should, following the traits of Loki's extraordinary personality, but it is certainly something not to worry about. All in all, this MASTERPIECE should doubtlessly have a place on your bookshelf, for it is sure to leave you with a variety of mixed feelings and of course broaden your knowledge on Loki's childhood matter. The only actual reason I rated this comic book with only three stars is that I would really like Rodi to concentrate more on Loki's childhood flashbacks, apart from emotions... That's however not a good reason to avoid reading this AMAZING book... :)
Anyway... Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers was the very first Marvel comic book I ever read, and the only thing I can say is that it was DEFINITELY an excellent first choice for me! Although, it is actually a comic collection/album I would like to draw my attention to the first part, featuring the 4 issues of the comic series "Loki". To begin with, Ribic's illustrations were simply BREATHTAKING, and their dramatic-like style matched perfectly with the plot! Now, speaking of the plot, it really succeeds in revealing efficiently Loki's sorrow, frustration and bitter anger, as well as a soft, somewhat caring side of his. As for the tragic ending, it is sure to bring tears to your eyes and leave you with a feeling of injustice and abhorrence towards Thor (I have no intension of spoiling, just... ). It is also important to mention that the plot gets a bit buffling at a point, as it should, following the traits of Loki's extraordinary personality, but it is certainly something not to worry about. All in all, this MASTERPIECE should doubtlessly have a place on your bookshelf, for it is sure to leave you with a variety of mixed feelings and of course broaden your knowledge on Loki's childhood matter. The only actual reason I rated this comic book with only three stars is that I would really like Rodi to concentrate more on Loki's childhood flashbacks, apart from emotions... That's however not a good reason to avoid reading this AMAZING book... :)
September 10, 2025
Picked this up right after kingdom come, and I liked it just about as much, simply because Loki is starting to become one of my favorite all time marvel characters. The art is stunningly beautiful, and the story itself manages to capture the complicated and depressing story of Loki’s upbringing, at least from his point of view. Totally recommend.
November 16, 2023
A friend had grabbed this, thinking of me because they knew I was a fan of Loki, and honestly, I really liked it! The art was honestly my favourite part of it, overall - the expressions and use of color are just. So incredible.
Overall, not my favourite storyline, but definitely not my least!
Overall, not my favourite storyline, but definitely not my least!
June 2, 2022
Better than the TV show.
October 18, 2024
This is a tale of Loki taking control of Asgard and attempting to kill Thor. It seems silly. The trickster, Loki, does not exist without his oppositions in the world of Asgard.
April 18, 2025
I really like this one. It does a lot of interesting stuff with Lokis character like seeing him actually be a ruler, bringing in his mom, and discussing how he is a character trapped to fate. All things I wanted from the films and never got. The art was pretty good too but I wasn’t a fan of the designs, particularly blonde Loki really jumpscared me. Never make Loki blonde. I also didn’t like just how much female sexualization there was in here. Hela looked much cooler in Thor: son of Asgard and she didn’t need to show off her tits in that one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2014
I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks
"Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers" by Robert Rodi is a graphic novel that tells the story of Loki, God of Mischief, who has conquered the throne of Asgard. Everyone who has ever humiliated him is imprisoned, including his stepbrother, Thor. This four part series shows Thor's infamous foe in a new way, and the throne of Asgard isn't everything Loki thought it would be. "Blood Brothers" is a story about self-discovery and the meaning of destiny.
I had some mixed feelings with this graphic novel. Part of me liked it, part of me was kind of bored with it. Not much actually happened. Considering that this is about Loki, Thor's archnemesis, Loki himself just wallowed in self-pity the whole time and couldn't seem to make a decision about anything. Loki has gained the throne of Asgard, he's imprisoned everyone that he hates, including Thor, Odin, and Sif. This whole story is basically a dialogue Loki is constantly having with himself as he debates about executing Thor, questions his destiny, and realizes the throne isn't what he wanted. All he's wanted is Thor to feel the same humiliation he has felt for many years. If you are looking for a book with tons of action, you aren't going to get it here. This series is one big character study on Loki...nothing else.
Another thing that annoyed me on occasion was the fact that random characters would be introduced and ultimately go nowhere. For instance, early on, there's an appearance by Lorelei. What was her point exactly? It seemed like she was just included for one page just for male readers to drool over her. Loki's stepmother Frigga pops up for a page...okay...that went nowhere. She was just there to verbally abuse him for a few lines. Even Loki's biological mother makes an appearance...and again, went nowhere. Early in the book a cloaked figure enters Asgard and is calling for Loki and villagers keep pointing the direction for the figure to head. So when the figure arrives where Loki is located, reveals itself to me Loki's mother, you think something epic is about to occur. No. Not at all. Loki just houses her somewhere. At least the scenes with Thor, Sif, and Odin were a bit longer and had something to do with characterizing Loki and influencing his thought process over the course of the story.
So let's talk about the art since this is, after all, a graphic novel. Overall, I liked the style and artwork. It had a very gritty nature to it. It was in color, but the colors were muted and dark. The panels almost had a sepia-like tone to them. The story would flashback and forth between the present and to the past where Loki would be thinking about his childhood or some particularly moment where he had felt humiliated. The back and forth was a bit jarring at first. There's no warning that you are heading into a flashback. But for some reason, you know you've just entered one. There's not an abundance of details, but there's enough to set the scene. A lot of the panels are heavy in shadows and shading. My one complaint about the artwork, and this goes for most male artists, was the depiction of women. Jeez, so many partially exposed female chests. Seriously, the women are barely covered in anything. They try to make up for that by having a half naked Loki later on, but ladies, you don't want to see this Loki naked. Tom Hiddleston he is not. As for the writing, overall, pretty descent. A bit too flowery on occasion and exaggerated and over dramatic. Like I said, Loki is so full of self-pity it's not funny. I kept thinking to myself, "shut up Loki, jeez!" The people of Asgard have a very Shakespearean type of language, but the style felt too much on occasion.
The nice thing about this book, since the story itself is only about 100 pages, is that it includes some character designs, along with three additionally comic stories. There is "Journey Into Mystery #85" (which is Loki's first appearance in the Marvel universe if I'm not mistaken), "Journey Into Mystery #112" (about how Odin claimed baby Loki and defeated the Frost Giant, Laufey), and "Thor #12: Diversions and Misdirections" (where Loki is gender-bending and rewriting history). This is horrible, but I had a lot more fun with these three additional stories than I did with the actual main story. These at least had plot and action.
Overall, I think I ended up being disappointed with "Blood Brothers." I think it had a few good moments, but I was ultimately a bit bored with it for the most part. I think I would have given this two-stars had it not been for the bonus material.
"Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers" by Robert Rodi is a graphic novel that tells the story of Loki, God of Mischief, who has conquered the throne of Asgard. Everyone who has ever humiliated him is imprisoned, including his stepbrother, Thor. This four part series shows Thor's infamous foe in a new way, and the throne of Asgard isn't everything Loki thought it would be. "Blood Brothers" is a story about self-discovery and the meaning of destiny.
I had some mixed feelings with this graphic novel. Part of me liked it, part of me was kind of bored with it. Not much actually happened. Considering that this is about Loki, Thor's archnemesis, Loki himself just wallowed in self-pity the whole time and couldn't seem to make a decision about anything. Loki has gained the throne of Asgard, he's imprisoned everyone that he hates, including Thor, Odin, and Sif. This whole story is basically a dialogue Loki is constantly having with himself as he debates about executing Thor, questions his destiny, and realizes the throne isn't what he wanted. All he's wanted is Thor to feel the same humiliation he has felt for many years. If you are looking for a book with tons of action, you aren't going to get it here. This series is one big character study on Loki...nothing else.
Another thing that annoyed me on occasion was the fact that random characters would be introduced and ultimately go nowhere. For instance, early on, there's an appearance by Lorelei. What was her point exactly? It seemed like she was just included for one page just for male readers to drool over her. Loki's stepmother Frigga pops up for a page...okay...that went nowhere. She was just there to verbally abuse him for a few lines. Even Loki's biological mother makes an appearance...and again, went nowhere. Early in the book a cloaked figure enters Asgard and is calling for Loki and villagers keep pointing the direction for the figure to head. So when the figure arrives where Loki is located, reveals itself to me Loki's mother, you think something epic is about to occur. No. Not at all. Loki just houses her somewhere. At least the scenes with Thor, Sif, and Odin were a bit longer and had something to do with characterizing Loki and influencing his thought process over the course of the story.
So let's talk about the art since this is, after all, a graphic novel. Overall, I liked the style and artwork. It had a very gritty nature to it. It was in color, but the colors were muted and dark. The panels almost had a sepia-like tone to them. The story would flashback and forth between the present and to the past where Loki would be thinking about his childhood or some particularly moment where he had felt humiliated. The back and forth was a bit jarring at first. There's no warning that you are heading into a flashback. But for some reason, you know you've just entered one. There's not an abundance of details, but there's enough to set the scene. A lot of the panels are heavy in shadows and shading. My one complaint about the artwork, and this goes for most male artists, was the depiction of women. Jeez, so many partially exposed female chests. Seriously, the women are barely covered in anything. They try to make up for that by having a half naked Loki later on, but ladies, you don't want to see this Loki naked. Tom Hiddleston he is not. As for the writing, overall, pretty descent. A bit too flowery on occasion and exaggerated and over dramatic. Like I said, Loki is so full of self-pity it's not funny. I kept thinking to myself, "shut up Loki, jeez!" The people of Asgard have a very Shakespearean type of language, but the style felt too much on occasion.
The nice thing about this book, since the story itself is only about 100 pages, is that it includes some character designs, along with three additionally comic stories. There is "Journey Into Mystery #85" (which is Loki's first appearance in the Marvel universe if I'm not mistaken), "Journey Into Mystery #112" (about how Odin claimed baby Loki and defeated the Frost Giant, Laufey), and "Thor #12: Diversions and Misdirections" (where Loki is gender-bending and rewriting history). This is horrible, but I had a lot more fun with these three additional stories than I did with the actual main story. These at least had plot and action.
Overall, I think I ended up being disappointed with "Blood Brothers." I think it had a few good moments, but I was ultimately a bit bored with it for the most part. I think I would have given this two-stars had it not been for the bonus material.
June 3, 2011
There are two parts to this graphic novel: the main story of the book is collected from the mini-series Loki (#1-#4) by Robert Rodi, art by Esad Ribic. This story takes a tack not unlike John Gardner's Grendel. In Gardener's novel, Beowulf's saga is told from the monster's point of view; In Robert Rodi's Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers, the story begins with Loki having deposed his step-father (Odin) and defeated his half-brother, Thor, to rule Asgard. The central conflict of the story is whether Loki should have his brother executed, or simply let him wallow in humiliation for the remainder of his days. This allows Rodi to explore what turned Loki into "the trickster God," how his psychology was formed and affected by his environment and those around him, and his fitness to rule.
This is a very psychological graphic novel, with the tension coming from Loki's flashbacks of pain and his decrees as ruler; there is hardly any action. While this meant that Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers will never appeal to the segment of comic fandom that requires widescreen action panels, I very much enjoyed the story. I like the fact that while Thor & Loki have been used for decades as traditional comic action fodder, Rodi takes the time to mine the mythological depths, to tell a taught character tale, in which dysfunction in family relations and moral repercussions of one's actions can be dealt with.
And speaking of the art, Esad Ribic paints (rather than draws) beautiful and expressive panels, which serve to lend a more "classic" and "deep" aspect to this graphic novel. The art definitely enhances the story and makes the whole thing seem both more "realistic" and "mythological" appearance.
The graphic novel comes with some nice extras from the Loki series—the original pitch/treatment from the author, and a bunch of character sketches. However, there is a fair amount of filler. There are two issues from the 60s of Journey Into Mystery (#85 and #112) showing the first appearance of Loki in the Thor comic and giving his comic origin story. There is also an issue from J. Michael Stracynski's run on Thor in 2007 (#12) which out of context doesn't do very much, other than show you that other writers also dealt with Loki's complex psychology (in JMS's run, Loki appears as a woman, which if you're not familiar with the JMS run, can be quite confusing...). While these three issues are fun, they are so off-topic from the main story they serve to bring the whole package down a notch, in my opinion. I'd have rathered the book be shorter but only deal with Rodi & Ribic's mini-series.
This is a very psychological graphic novel, with the tension coming from Loki's flashbacks of pain and his decrees as ruler; there is hardly any action. While this meant that Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers will never appeal to the segment of comic fandom that requires widescreen action panels, I very much enjoyed the story. I like the fact that while Thor & Loki have been used for decades as traditional comic action fodder, Rodi takes the time to mine the mythological depths, to tell a taught character tale, in which dysfunction in family relations and moral repercussions of one's actions can be dealt with.
And speaking of the art, Esad Ribic paints (rather than draws) beautiful and expressive panels, which serve to lend a more "classic" and "deep" aspect to this graphic novel. The art definitely enhances the story and makes the whole thing seem both more "realistic" and "mythological" appearance.
The graphic novel comes with some nice extras from the Loki series—the original pitch/treatment from the author, and a bunch of character sketches. However, there is a fair amount of filler. There are two issues from the 60s of Journey Into Mystery (#85 and #112) showing the first appearance of Loki in the Thor comic and giving his comic origin story. There is also an issue from J. Michael Stracynski's run on Thor in 2007 (#12) which out of context doesn't do very much, other than show you that other writers also dealt with Loki's complex psychology (in JMS's run, Loki appears as a woman, which if you're not familiar with the JMS run, can be quite confusing...). While these three issues are fun, they are so off-topic from the main story they serve to bring the whole package down a notch, in my opinion. I'd have rathered the book be shorter but only deal with Rodi & Ribic's mini-series.
July 5, 2015
FYI: This book contains the same material as the graphic novel "Loki." However, this edition contains more material on the same subject- such as Loki's first appearance and issues containing his backstory, so if you want to read the Loki miniseries, I would go with "Thor and Loki" because you get more bang for your buck.
Just to be clear, "Loki" contains only "Loki" #1-4, some concept art, and the story proposal. This edition has all that, plus Loki's first appearance and backstory(Journey into Mystery #85 and 112, and Thor #12 [where Loki goes back in time].)
Loki miniseries:This book does exactly what the description says, although I had to read it twice before fully appreciating it (but I think you always have to read comics twice before you can.) It's truly a character study, and the writer Robert Rodi does it with an interesting scenario. It starts off with Loki, already having beaten Thor and become ruler of Asgard. The book doesn't bother to explain how, because that's not the point. The question is, what would Loki do if he won? If he had beat Thor, and become King? And so the book explains that, mainly, what would Loki do with Thor?
The book does a really good job of showing Loki's side, without really taking a side. It explains from Loki's perspective why he is the way he is, and doing so makes you realize that there is a grain of truth in his argument. He is not completely in the wrong, and that fact itself makes Loki a fascinating character. Definitely worth a read for Thor or Loki fans.
The art is interesting too, very dark and plain tones (nothing too colorful), but very dramatically portrayed. Although I didn't love it (I prefer more color among other things,) I must say that it is very good art.
Back-issues: I think this really seals the deal for this collection. It gives critical history to Thor and Loki's relationship, including their first battle and how Loki became Thor's brother in the first place. It just makes the story of the brothers so much deeper, and as a result makes this a great collection. Plus you get to see the campy old comics, next to the darker, more adult "modern" issues... it's interesting to see where comics have gone. This collection has classic Loki, a deep Loki, vengeful Loki, and Lady Loki... all you need is Kid Loki and Agent of Asgard issues and this could be a set!
Just to be clear, "Loki" contains only "Loki" #1-4, some concept art, and the story proposal. This edition has all that, plus Loki's first appearance and backstory(Journey into Mystery #85 and 112, and Thor #12 [where Loki goes back in time].)
Loki miniseries:This book does exactly what the description says, although I had to read it twice before fully appreciating it (but I think you always have to read comics twice before you can.) It's truly a character study, and the writer Robert Rodi does it with an interesting scenario. It starts off with Loki, already having beaten Thor and become ruler of Asgard. The book doesn't bother to explain how, because that's not the point. The question is, what would Loki do if he won? If he had beat Thor, and become King? And so the book explains that, mainly, what would Loki do with Thor?
The book does a really good job of showing Loki's side, without really taking a side. It explains from Loki's perspective why he is the way he is, and doing so makes you realize that there is a grain of truth in his argument. He is not completely in the wrong, and that fact itself makes Loki a fascinating character. Definitely worth a read for Thor or Loki fans.
The art is interesting too, very dark and plain tones (nothing too colorful), but very dramatically portrayed. Although I didn't love it (I prefer more color among other things,) I must say that it is very good art.
Back-issues: I think this really seals the deal for this collection. It gives critical history to Thor and Loki's relationship, including their first battle and how Loki became Thor's brother in the first place. It just makes the story of the brothers so much deeper, and as a result makes this a great collection. Plus you get to see the campy old comics, next to the darker, more adult "modern" issues... it's interesting to see where comics have gone. This collection has classic Loki, a deep Loki, vengeful Loki, and Lady Loki... all you need is Kid Loki and Agent of Asgard issues and this could be a set!
June 18, 2012
I’m usually one to side with the heroes: clearly I’m cheering for Batman over the Joker (no matter how great his one-liners are), if I were a mutant I would choose Charles over Erik, and if the right path is harder than what’s easy that’s the road I go on down but when it comes to villainous Loki, he has my vote.
Having lived my life never being the best or the favorite but minded the shadows while others were in the spotlight, relating to Loki comes easily. Sure, I have never gone to extreme measures for attention but maybe if I had sorcery skills I might have engaged in a few tricks of my own (especially involving clones). So when I found out Robert Rodi gave a voice to Loki’s side of the story, I was all for it and I am very impressed with the results.
It begins with Loki gloating over the fact he has defeated the All Father and has imprisoned/publically humiliated Thor. The God of Mischief has finally taken over the throne of Asgard but then realizes there is more to ruling then having everyone bow to you. Loki has to do some serious thinking as to what everyone expects him to do now that he is ruler and Hela thinks his first order of business should be to execute Thor. He seems appalled at the idea that Hela instills in him and after visits to Balder, Odin, Sif, and even his mother shunning him, his resolve is strengthened. He will execute Thor…
Or will he?
An excellent portrayal of Loki and the demons that haunt him. And in the end, we learn what really matters to the God of Lies.
(Also included in Blood Brothers: the original Loki proposal, character sketches, three parts of Stan Lee & Jack Kirby’s The Mighty Thor, and J. Micahel Straczynski & Olivier Coipel’s Thor #12)
Having lived my life never being the best or the favorite but minded the shadows while others were in the spotlight, relating to Loki comes easily. Sure, I have never gone to extreme measures for attention but maybe if I had sorcery skills I might have engaged in a few tricks of my own (especially involving clones). So when I found out Robert Rodi gave a voice to Loki’s side of the story, I was all for it and I am very impressed with the results.
It begins with Loki gloating over the fact he has defeated the All Father and has imprisoned/publically humiliated Thor. The God of Mischief has finally taken over the throne of Asgard but then realizes there is more to ruling then having everyone bow to you. Loki has to do some serious thinking as to what everyone expects him to do now that he is ruler and Hela thinks his first order of business should be to execute Thor. He seems appalled at the idea that Hela instills in him and after visits to Balder, Odin, Sif, and even his mother shunning him, his resolve is strengthened. He will execute Thor…
Or will he?
An excellent portrayal of Loki and the demons that haunt him. And in the end, we learn what really matters to the God of Lies.
(Also included in Blood Brothers: the original Loki proposal, character sketches, three parts of Stan Lee & Jack Kirby’s The Mighty Thor, and J. Micahel Straczynski & Olivier Coipel’s Thor #12)
August 23, 2013
What if Loki finally got everything he ever wanted? Defeated Asgard, had Odin, Thor, and others imprisoned, and sat on the throne? This is what would happen. It was interesting to read a Marvel tale from the villain's point of view. We learn his motivations first hand, and we discover that we can actually sympathize with the God of Mischief and Father of Lies. The artwork was a bit strange. I couldn't get past how Loki was portrayed as an ugly, shriveled up old man when he is always described in the original myths, other comics, and even in the films as extraordinarily beautiful. He looked gross in this book, even with missing teeth! It's not very difficult to look past that and enjoy the story though. Also included in this volume are some Journey Into Mystery comics from the 50's written by Stan Lee which were hilarious and the final one was from the Siege series and although it did not fit in that well, it might have been my favorite. Hela is growing on me.
July 8, 2021
A story which redefines the relationship between Thor and Loki, as we see the latter finally achieving his goal of ruling Asgard. There's no interest in showing the build up to this or the aftermath, just Loki grappling with his past through conversations, and it's all the better for it. It's a wonderful insight into the God of Mischief, his relationships, and what defined him to become his brothers antagonist. The artwork is stunning, and I especially like the withered look for Loki, as though his hatred and venom has aged him considerably. This is an excellent story which feels very much like its own thing, and is all the better for it.
July 23, 2013
I have a feeling Tom read this before or during the filming of Thor because there's definitely a feel to his portrayal of Loki that is reflected in this book. I liked it. I liked the idea of the several different Lokis throughout different worlds and times, and that they were always tied to their version of Thor. I didn't quote like the ending, however. I feel it could have been different, been better, but that's probably just the large HEA-lover in me speaking.
If you like the mythology and have a soft spot for Loki, you may like this four-issue series.
If you like the mythology and have a soft spot for Loki, you may like this four-issue series.
December 23, 2017
This gets two stars only because the artwork is beautiful - most of the frames are painterly in presentation, and present a very different feel than your traditional comic. It's too bad the story they illustrate is so horrible.
The title is a misnomer - Thor is a shadow in this book, locked up in Asgard, which is now under Loki's rule. He's the object of much thought and action, but I don't think he actually says a word in the entire book. Instead, we get almost 100 pages of Loki's incessant narcissistic insights, as he basically whines about having won the day. He shows himself to be a lord of misrule in many ways, as he alienates allies, shirks decisions, and basically spends the entire book wondering about fate and his role in it. All for an ending that is utterly predictable and taken to an extreme. The writing is so overwrought as to be practically unreadable. There is almost no real action, and I think 80% of the text is Loki's words. I think I get what Rodi was going for, but he made the experience of seeing through Loki's eyes miserable - instead of evoking sympathy, he induced rage. I'm not sure who this story is for - Loki fans will despise him here, and Thor fans will be annoyed by his absence (even with top billing). If you enjoy looking at comics rather than reading them, this might be worthwhile. Otherwise, skip it.
The title is a misnomer - Thor is a shadow in this book, locked up in Asgard, which is now under Loki's rule. He's the object of much thought and action, but I don't think he actually says a word in the entire book. Instead, we get almost 100 pages of Loki's incessant narcissistic insights, as he basically whines about having won the day. He shows himself to be a lord of misrule in many ways, as he alienates allies, shirks decisions, and basically spends the entire book wondering about fate and his role in it. All for an ending that is utterly predictable and taken to an extreme. The writing is so overwrought as to be practically unreadable. There is almost no real action, and I think 80% of the text is Loki's words. I think I get what Rodi was going for, but he made the experience of seeing through Loki's eyes miserable - instead of evoking sympathy, he induced rage. I'm not sure who this story is for - Loki fans will despise him here, and Thor fans will be annoyed by his absence (even with top billing). If you enjoy looking at comics rather than reading them, this might be worthwhile. Otherwise, skip it.
August 24, 2025
The opening tale stands out as the strongest, offering a deeper look into Loki, his family ties, and his dynamic with Thor. The two classic issues from the ’60s and ’70s feel dated but carry a certain charm for fans of that era. The final story adds layers but leans on time-travel twists that can feel forced.
Esad Ribić’s work in the first story is stunning and perfectly suited to the tone. The older issues have a nostalgic simplicity, while the last tale brings back beautiful visuals that support the narrative well.
The first story thrives on character-driven moments, with Loki’s depth shining through. The older tales fall into typical tropes of their time, while the last story provides solid portrayals but suffers from some questionable logic.
Rich and immersive in the first story, more dated and heavy-handed in the older issues, and evocative again in the final one—though not without moments that break consistency.
Overall enjoyable, but only the first story feels memorable. The rest are standard, pleasant reads without much innovation.
RATING: 3/5
Esad Ribić’s work in the first story is stunning and perfectly suited to the tone. The older issues have a nostalgic simplicity, while the last tale brings back beautiful visuals that support the narrative well.
The first story thrives on character-driven moments, with Loki’s depth shining through. The older tales fall into typical tropes of their time, while the last story provides solid portrayals but suffers from some questionable logic.
Rich and immersive in the first story, more dated and heavy-handed in the older issues, and evocative again in the final one—though not without moments that break consistency.
Overall enjoyable, but only the first story feels memorable. The rest are standard, pleasant reads without much innovation.
RATING: 3/5
November 29, 2024
It was an interesting experience to read this around the same time I rewatched Disney+ show Loki as there are several topics covered in both.
The questions of what defines a Loki? Is it that they always lose? That they’re usually alone, rejected by almost everyone? How is it that they seem to always serve the purpose of helping everyone around them reach their full potential while never reaching it themselves?
I really loved all the reflections in this story about a character that’s complex and constantly in a gray area. He’s considered a villain, but is he evil?
This is a well-told story of Loki from his perspective, I enjoyed it a lot and the ending caught me off guard, but I think it was the right ending to drive the point of the topics covered in the story.
The questions of what defines a Loki? Is it that they always lose? That they’re usually alone, rejected by almost everyone? How is it that they seem to always serve the purpose of helping everyone around them reach their full potential while never reaching it themselves?
I really loved all the reflections in this story about a character that’s complex and constantly in a gray area. He’s considered a villain, but is he evil?
This is a well-told story of Loki from his perspective, I enjoyed it a lot and the ending caught me off guard, but I think it was the right ending to drive the point of the topics covered in the story.
January 29, 2025
Dura historia y con un severo trabajo de arte, en lo personal la versión más madura en que he vislumbrado a estos personajes del universo Marvel en todo este mundo de fantasía.
Excepcional dibujo que perturba, horroriza y asombra de traer este fantástico mundo a la vida con entrañables personajes y la exploración de sus psiques así como su relación que de verdad me dejó impactado puesto que nunca he sido tan fan de estos personajes en particular, esta obra me hizo replanteármelo.
Creo que mi problema es que la trama no cubre tanto como siento que debería, se limita a contar su historia, revisar a estos personajes que no está bien pero por lo menos esperaba o me hubiera gustado un enfoque diferente.
Excepcional dibujo que perturba, horroriza y asombra de traer este fantástico mundo a la vida con entrañables personajes y la exploración de sus psiques así como su relación que de verdad me dejó impactado puesto que nunca he sido tan fan de estos personajes en particular, esta obra me hizo replanteármelo.
Creo que mi problema es que la trama no cubre tanto como siento que debería, se limita a contar su historia, revisar a estos personajes que no está bien pero por lo menos esperaba o me hubiera gustado un enfoque diferente.
December 29, 2018
Este tipo de comics se acerca al arte, aporta una visión diferente, cierta virtud al presentar a los personajes de una manera poco mainstream, más real, pero sin dejar de ser comic.
La perspectiva de Loki y la lucha contra si mismo, con sus demonios pasados, presentes y futuros, no creo que nadia haya explorado a un personaje o abordado la personalidad de esta manera.
Una lectura compleja pero entretenida.
A muchos les desagradará la ilustración, sin embargo es de lo mejor de la obra completa, así se debe de observar, por la visión completa de la obra, una gran obra, con una historia penetrante y unos gráficos fuera de lo normal, por fin.
La perspectiva de Loki y la lucha contra si mismo, con sus demonios pasados, presentes y futuros, no creo que nadia haya explorado a un personaje o abordado la personalidad de esta manera.
Una lectura compleja pero entretenida.
A muchos les desagradará la ilustración, sin embargo es de lo mejor de la obra completa, así se debe de observar, por la visión completa de la obra, una gran obra, con una historia penetrante y unos gráficos fuera de lo normal, por fin.
June 20, 2020
This was an odd story with some gorgeous art. An older looking Loki has finally succeeded in taking over Asgard, deposing Odin and locking Thor up. But being the Lord of Asgard is not quite what Loki expected, what with those who helped him coming to claim their due, the citizens wanting their grievances heard, and Thor's allies, also locked away, still getting under Loki's skin.
Unfortunately, there's no real climax to the story and the other one third of this graphic novel is filled with some other tales of Loki, including some from the 1960s.
Unfortunately, there's no real climax to the story and the other one third of this graphic novel is filled with some other tales of Loki, including some from the 1960s.
July 12, 2025
"Can it be true? Is it to be Loki to be without hope? And if so ... to whom can a God appeal for mercy?"
Really exploring Norse Mythology in a way that feels epic and deep. Loki is fleshed out as a tragic villian, fuelled by feelings of inadequacy and jealousy. Even in victory he loses, because even with no one to oppose him, he is his own worst enemy.
The art is fantastic, a real sword and sorcery vibe that reminds me of the work of "Frank Frazetta". It really helped set the tone of the story.
Really exploring Norse Mythology in a way that feels epic and deep. Loki is fleshed out as a tragic villian, fuelled by feelings of inadequacy and jealousy. Even in victory he loses, because even with no one to oppose him, he is his own worst enemy.
The art is fantastic, a real sword and sorcery vibe that reminds me of the work of "Frank Frazetta". It really helped set the tone of the story.
May 30, 2018
3.5 stars ... i dont know this was really hard to rate?
okay so i really love the concept of this and the whole seeing things from lokis perspective was great, i dont know, i just sometimes found it hard to follow at some points and im also not the biggest fan of the art style of this (like oh my god that is not how female anatomy works!) but like it was still a good story and like i said, i love the idea behind it!
okay so i really love the concept of this and the whole seeing things from lokis perspective was great, i dont know, i just sometimes found it hard to follow at some points and im also not the biggest fan of the art style of this (like oh my god that is not how female anatomy works!) but like it was still a good story and like i said, i love the idea behind it!
January 1, 2019
A great take on the beginnings of Loki’s rule should he ever defeat Thor.
Loki does not have a good time and realizes he is fated to forever trick himself into his fate without his knowing. One can’t help but feel bad for Loki because his beginnings were in turmoil and he seems to have been a mere puppet to Odin and Asgard in general
This collection also includes some of Loki’s earliest appearances as well as an issue from JMS’ run which seems to connect to this story.
Loki does not have a good time and realizes he is fated to forever trick himself into his fate without his knowing. One can’t help but feel bad for Loki because his beginnings were in turmoil and he seems to have been a mere puppet to Odin and Asgard in general
This collection also includes some of Loki’s earliest appearances as well as an issue from JMS’ run which seems to connect to this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2018
Starts from an interesting setup, but in the end I felt it's too narrow: characters other than Loki are not really capable of expressing themselves, and the ending is like a bad joke. I liked the art, but in comparison to e.g. The God Butcher then I'd say Ribic's work is still a bit rough. I guess he got better as he went along.
February 19, 2018
3.5 🌟
This book has some of the most iconic art yet some of the most 'rushed' looking images. This is too bad, because at times it effects the experience of reading this comic. However, the story is great. Loki is my favourite Marvel character, and it was fun to let him tell his side of the story.
This book has some of the most iconic art yet some of the most 'rushed' looking images. This is too bad, because at times it effects the experience of reading this comic. However, the story is great. Loki is my favourite Marvel character, and it was fun to let him tell his side of the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews