After only a few episodes on Disney+, Loki is already looking like it might change the game in the MCU. But that's no surprise for a character who quickly became a fan favorite when he debuted in the first Thor movie. He's been around Marvel Comics for decades with dozens of stories to his credit.
Now that Loki has his own MCU series, fans have started speculating on which of those stories might make the cut. Some Loki-focused stories would make for great arcs while others should be left out. Only time will tell which ones get used and which ones don't.
10 NEVER USE: Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself
Loki's contributions to the Fear Itself storyline were interesting, to say the least. At this point, he was a younger version of himself and back to being regarded as a villain. But he still did what he had to do to help Thor. Well, as much as he could, in any case.
It's unlikely that this specific story would be adapted simply because it was part of the larger Fear Itself comics event. Removed from it, this specific Loki story wouldn't make a lot of sense and it's hard to imagine Fear Itself being used in the MCU.
9 DEFINITELY ADAPT: The Trials Of Loki
It's always been accepted that Loki is a villain. Even when it seems like he's on the side of the angels, he's usually running his own game. But The Trials of Loki asked if Loki is evil by choice or if his destiny as a bad guy is beyond his control.
This idea has been explored to an extent in the MCU. But future seasons of Loki represent a superb opportunity to dig into the God of Mischief's past and truly explore his motivations. Now that Ragnarok has happed and Asgard has fallen, he might not be as tied to destiny as he once was.
8 NEVER USE: X-Men: The Asgardian Wars
It's not often that the X-Men get mixed up in the business of Asgard, though it does happen. After finding a "gift" from Loki and refusing it, the X-Men incurred the wrath of Asgard's resident trickster. And the New Mutants ended up there as a result.
While this would be a great story to adapt, there are a couple of requirements that need to be meant. Specifically, the MCU would need both the X-Men and Asgard. The X-Men will show up at some point, though they'll probably have better things to do. And Asgard is gone. The time for this story has passed.
7 DEFINITELY ADAPT: Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers
This entry stands out from other titles because it was a motion comic. Still, the story was quite engaging, regardless of the format. It focuses on Loki being forced into attacking Thor by Karnilla the Norn Queen. But he is unsure of the situation and honestly tries to do right by Thor as the mini-series comes to an end.
Any exploration of the relationship between Thor and Loki in the MCU will be welcomed by fans. This story would work as a flashback story or even as an arc that brings the brothers back together. As it stands right now, Thor isn't even aware of the variant Loki's existence. This could be how he finds out.
6 NEVER USE: The Mighty Thor: The Surtur Saga
Walt Simonson's work with Thor in the comics remains the most iconic run of the Thunder God's career in Marvel. And The Surtur Saga is easily one of the best stories he told, due in no small part to the ominous arrival of Surtur on the scene.
To an extent, aspects of this story have already played out in Thor: Ragnarok. The big mitigating factor in using this story at this point is the fact that Surtur's fate is unknown. He may not have survived the events of Ragnarok, and he's kind of important to the story.
5 DEFINITELY ADAPT: Loki: Agent Of Asgard
As part of his redemption process, the young version of Loki agreed to do missions for the All Mothers of Asgard. It was an interesting arc as he ended up working with heroes no one ever thought they'd see him with.
While the exact story would be incredibly difficult to adapt at this point, there are options. Loki could end up in the Earth-based Asgard, trying to earn the respect of its new leader, Valkyrie. He could still become an Agent of Asgard.
4 NEVER USE: Thor & Loki: Double Trouble
The relationship between Thor and Loki is complex. They are brothers, allies, and enemies, all at the same time. In Double Trouble, Loki's shenanigans ended up getting him and his brother stuck in another timeline. The duo needed the help of that reality's version of them to get home.
This was definitely a good story, but it's just not necessary in the MCU. There are a lot of great Thor/Loki stories to tell out there, ones that explore their bond on a much deeper level. Double Trouble just wouldn't do much to enhance their MCU narrative any further.
3 DEFINITELY ADAPT: Young Avengers: Style Over Substance
This is a long shot at best but still one worth exploring. The Young Avengers have had several incarnations over the years, each one with its own membership and personalities. Naturally, putting Loki in the mix just ups the ante significantly.
The MCU has been seemingly hinting at the Young Avengers for a while. Iterations of the characters have popped up in a few movies and series with more potentially on the way. If that does come to pass, working in a young Loki would be superb.
2 NEVER USE: Marvel Fanfare Issues 34 To 37
One of the most vexing parts of the MCU is the history of Asgard. It's depicted as an alien world filled with powerful beings that some humans mistook for gods. But in the comics, they are the Norse pantheon, meaning they are also gods.
This run of Marvel Fanfare was an interesting look into the Asgard of old. Keeping in mind that this is certainly a classic story of Loki's mischievous ways, it just doesn't fit with the version of Asgard depicted in the MCU. It honestly just wouldn't make a lot of sense.
1 DEFINITELY ADAPT: The Mighty Thor: Frog Of Thunder
At some point down the road, this is a story that just has to make its way in the MCU. It's too weird not to bring into the mix. While there's more to the story than this, it essentially revolved around Loki changing his brother into a frog.
Being a frog didn't make Thor any less worthy, though. He was still able to lift Mjolnir and regain his powers, albeit in frog form. Another classic from the Simonson era, this story is too absurdly unique to not use.