Loki: How Marvel's God of Mischief Was First Depicted as Genderfluid

Today, we look at at the first time that Loki was depicted as being genderfluid in the comic books.

In "When We First Met", we spotlight the various characters, phrases, objects or events that eventually became notable parts of comic lore, like the first time someone said, "Avengers Assemble!" or the first appearance of Batman's giant penny or the first appearance of Alfred Pennyworth or the first time Spider-Man's face was shown half-Spidey/half-Peter. Stuff like that.

As you may or may not have seen, there was a bit of a thing recently when Loki was confirmed as being gender-fluid on the Loki TV series on Disney+. It was initially revealed via a promo for the series that showed a Time Variance Authority (TVA) file on Loki where the seemingly omniscient TVA had "fluid" under "sex."

As I wrote recently in a news bit for CBR,

Kate Herron, the director of the series, explained, "I would say that details are marked in but it is something acknowledged. He's gender fluid in the Norse mythology and the comics and it felt like an important thing to, as you say, make sure it's canon."

The star of Loki, Tom Hiddleston, also talked about this part of the character and explained, "It's always been there in the comics for some time and in the history of the character for hundreds, if not thousands of years."

Similarly, the head writer of the show, Michael Waldron, added, "I know how many people identify with Loki in particular and are eager for that representation, especially with this character. We worked really hard."

LOKI AS GENDERFLUID IN THE NORSE MYTHS

Loki was a noted shapeshifter in the Norse myths, and in the poem, "Loki's Quarrel," Loki lived as a handmaiden for eight years.

Also, in a famous story, recorded by Snorri Sturluson in the Poetic Edda, Thor's hammer is stolen by the Frost Giants, who will only return it if Freyja is offered up as a bride. Loki and Heimdall come up with the idea of dressing Thor up AS Freyja.

From the story:

Heimdall, the fairest of the gods, like all the Vanir could see into the future. "Let us dress Thor in bridal linen," he said, "and let him wear the necklace of the Brisings. Tie housewife's keys about his waist, and pin bridal jewels upon his breast. Let him wear women's clothes, with a dainty hood on his head."

The Thunderer, mightiest of gods, replied, "The gods will call me womanish if I put on bridal linen."

Then Loki, son of Laufey, said, "Thor, be still! With such foolish words the giants will soon be living here in Asgard if you do not get your hammer from them."

So they dressed Thor in bridal linen, tied the necklace of Brisings around his neck and housewife's keys about his waist. They pinned bridal jewels upon his breast, and dressed him in women's clothes, with a dainty hood on his head.

Then Loki, son of Laufey, said, "I will accompany you as your maid-servant. Together we shall go to Jotunheim."

Forthwith the goats were driven home to be harnessed. The mountains trembled, and the earth burned with fire as Odin's son rode to Jotunheim.

Thrym, the lord of giants, said to his kin, "Stand up, you Jotuns, and put straw on the benches. They are bringing fair Freyja, daughter of Njord from Noatun, to be my bride. I have golden-horned cattle grazing in my yard. They are pure-black oxen, a joy to giants. I have treasures aplenty and rule over great riches. Freyja is the only thing that I lack."

Day soon became evening, and ale was brought to the giants' table. There Thor ate an ox and eight whole salmons, in addition to all the dainties that were served to the women. Furthermore, he drank three measures of mead.

Thrym, the lord of giants, said, "Have you ever seen a bride eat and drink so heartily?"

The maid-servant wisely answered thus: "Freyja was so eager to come to Jotunheim that she has eaten nothing for eight nights."

Thrym stooped beneath his bride's veil, wanting to kiss her, then jumped back the whole length of the hall. "Why are Freyja's eyes so fearful?" he said. "I think that fire is flaming from her eyes."

The maid-servant wisely answered the giant thus: "Freyja was so eager to come to Jotunheim that she has not slept for eight nights."

Then a poor sister of one of the giants came in and dared to beg a gift from the bride. "If you want my love and friendship then give me the gold rings from your fingers," she said.

Then Thrym, the lord of giants, said, "Bring me the hammer to bless the bride. Lay Mjöllnir on the maiden's lap, let the two of us thus be hallowed in the name of Vor, goddess of vows!"

When Thor saw the hammer his heart laughed within him, and he took courage. He first slew Thrym, the lord of giants, then he crushed all the giant's kin. Finally he slew the old giantess who had begged for a bridal gift. Instead of coins she got the crack of the hammer. Instead of rings she received the mark of Mjöllnir.

Thus Thor won back his hammer.

WHAT ABOUT THE COMICS, THOUGH?

The most famous example, of course, is when Loki was reintroduced following Ragnarok in 2007's Thor #5 (by J. Michael Straczynski, Olivier Coipel and Mark Morales)...

Loki remained in this form for a few years. But that was not the first time!

Interestingly, while it doesn't technically count, I think it is important to note that in one of Loki's very earliest appearances in Journey Into Mystery #92 (by Stan Lee, Robert Bernstein and Joe Sinnott), Heimdall specifically references Loki's ability to appear as a woman...

But it wouldn't be until Thor Annual #18 in 1993 that it actually happened in a comic book. That issue was part of Marvel's companywide deal where each Annual introduced a brand-new character. In this issue, Ron Marz and Tom Grindberg introduced The Flame, also known as Hrinmeer, a half-light elf/half-fire demon who believes that he is hideous based on fire demon beauty standards but by human standards is quite good looking.

Anyhow, in the back-up story in the issue (by Marz and Tom Raney), Loki tries to get Hrinmeer to work with him to take down Thor and Loki offers Hrinmeer lots of things, including Loki as a woman...