Loki has been the breakout star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since he first upstaged his brother, Thor, in Thor's own movie. His upcoming series has been electrifying news for his massive fandom, and each newly released detail undergoes the best forensic scrutiny the Internet can assemble. Now having been gifted a whole trailer at last, there's plenty of new clues to study, and there's a big hint alluding to the introduction of Marvel's most evil and powerful villain: Mephisto.
An Unholy Moment
The scene that has fans in a tizzy is 1:56 into the trailer. Agent Mobius (Owen Wilson) is handing something to a child. The scene is shot in chiaroscuro, their shadowy bodies outlined by the light streaming in from a stained glass window. But something about that pretty church window isn't right, and a closer look shows a devilish figure mockingly posed like a saint. Ringed by dark moons and with red demon horns fit to upstage Loki's golden helm, it's a clue that demands fans to notice it.
Who is Mephisto?
Mephisto is a Silver Age villain invented by none other than Stan Lee and first penciled by the legendary John Buscema. A riff on the Faustian character Mephistopheles, who himself was an agent of Satan and a tempter of souls, Mephisto became a way to represent hellish influence in comic books without actually mentioning Satan. The Hell he works for isn't the Christian hell, nor even the Grecian Hades, but a splinter dimension. And sometimes he works out of Las Vegas. He's one of the biggest behind-the-scenes manipulators in comic book history, a perennially popular villain who relishes his devilish role.
Mephisto's Impact
Though Mephisto has appeared in Marvel films before in the Nick Cage-led Ghost Rider adaptations, he hasn't officially been part of the MCU. Speculation fueled by his comic book legacy led fans to hope Mephisto would become part of the Infinity War. Instead, the alien sorcerer Ebony Maw took on most of Mephisto's role. As Thanos' sycophantic advisor, Maw did the job without upstaging the warlord, but it was a minor disappointment for a lot of fans.
Mephisto's original role in the Infinity Gauntlet storyline by Jim Starlin and George Perez is one of the appearances comic fans frequently use to highlight how much he means to the Marvel Universe. At first glance, it may appear as though Mephisto is helping the Avengers survive the doom Thanos brings with him when empowered with the complete gauntlet, but in truth, the demon is out for himself. He presents himself to Thanos as an advisor and instructor, doling out sometimes questionable advice like an imp on the titan's shoulder. Eventually, it's clear Mephisto simply wants the gauntlet for himself. This isn't his only major role as antagonist — he's featured in plots that force almost every hero from Peter Parker to Thor to make a deal with this devil at least once in their publication history.
Mephisto's Power
Mephisto claims a slate of powers that make sense for a demon of his caliber. Classified as a magic-user, he's an immortal that's untouchable within his dimension. When incarnate in the mortal realms, he's still terrifying to behold. As an illusionist, a master manipulator, a shape-shifter and as a devil that whispers abhorrent ideas one's ear, he's virtually unstoppable. He's even capable of altering time, which is more bad news for the Time Variance Authority. Destroying him in the physical plane is only a setback, as Mephisto can reform at home and return to seek revenge. He's the sort of villain that no longer has to show his power to inspire fear itself — his reputation has done the work for him.
Loki is a trickster with a few passing similarities to Mephisto tucked under his helm, making this evil demon a potent foil to someone who wavers into mischief more than cruelty these days. If Mephisto is behind any of the time-traveling hijinks and disasters waiting in the upcoming series, Loki is in for a devil of a time.
Loki stars Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Sophia Di Martino, Sasha Lane, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Richard E. Grant. The series arrives on Disney+ in May 2021.