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Hellooo! I am still alive! I have not read any new Loki issues though, unfortunately. I've got issue #118 up on a tab at all times, but everytime I go to it I just feel immediate boredom. These early comics are just so goddamn boring!!!!!! I think I'm going to go ahead and just read more recent Loki-related issues rather than really trying to stick with the chronological order, because it's going to be soooo long before they give him (or any other characters) any nuance, and I've found myself so tired of these one-dimensional storylines, at least for now.

As of recent, I've just been thinking about Kid Loki so much. I really can't express how much I utterly adore the character. I've never felt so strongly about any character in any media, I think. I keep going back to issue 645 of JIM and feeling deeply depressed, and then repeating the process a few days later. I also read the Watchmen comics a few weeks ago and felt miserable about that as well. I've been writing bits and pieces of the JIM, YA, AoA, and Loki show entries, but none of them are very close to being completed. Wrote ~2300 words just about the JIM finale alone and feel semi-satisfied with it, but I'm going to have to go back and reread the other issues before I can adequately rave about them... Same with YA & the Loki show. It's objectively silly to complain like this about something I am not forced to do and literally no one is reading anyway, but such is my strange little brain. I'll get there eventually, I'm sure!

Issue #114 was pretty good. The villain was Absorbing Man (lame name) who could become the strength of anything he was nearby, whether that was steel, wood, or Thor himself. A genuinely powerful adversary!!! Loki's role in this issue was giving Absorbing Man his powers. Gotta say, they went with an interesting outfit choice for Loki this time. Can't say I dislike it more than the horns, though. And I'm rather fond of the little er... upside C shape in the middle of his crown. One tumblr post claims it represents the rune Kenaz, which is certainly a possibility... whatever it is, I dig it.

I enjoyed issue #115 as well! It was a continuation of the last, and it seems they've finally moved on to overarching plotlines rather than one self-contained plot per issue. I thought the way Thor beat the Absorbing Man was actually pretty smart (or perhaps I'm kind of dumb). Probably the coolest villain I've seen thus far (other than Loki, of course). I also liked Frankie Ray's inking on Jack Kirby's art. Plus, the Tales of Asgard side story had Loki being a little evil dude (shocker!) and making allies with one of Asgard's enemies. I really like seeing all the different ways Loki can use magic. He's so much more formidable than in the MCU. All around a good issue!

Issue #116 was fantastic. It's SUCH a breath of fresh air to change up the format. Instead of the usual Thor-slash-Don-Blake-fights-villain, the main premise was about Thor and Loki going through a "Trial of the Gods" where they had to be the first to make it out of very treacherous lands. Stupidest way to do a trial, but hey, it made for entertaining content. And Loki's use of the Norn Stones was really cool. The ToA story was alright as well - "Fortune cannot always favor the accursed thunder god! Eternity is endless! I shall never stop scheming!" Oh, Loki... How foolish you be.

I quite enjoyed Issue #117 as well. It's crazy how much more entertaining a continuing storyline is. In this one, having just finished the Trial of the Gods, Loki throws the bag of Norn Stones to Earth, where Thor must retrieve them to prove Loki was cheating. I really don't understand the power of Odin - he's supposed to be super wise and noble, but he can't tell when Loki is lying (as he is wont to do)? And he really wasn't watching the trial? Just chillin' for however long it took? So fuckin' lame... Also, there was a ton of anti-communist stuff, which I don't hate, but it's kind of a boring plot point. They had the main communist commander kill himself at the end, which was... wow. Anyway, on the right is an image of Loki doing some parkour.

There was some good Loki development in this issue, though; we actually sort of understand his purpose now! Not really anything extraordinary, but it's nice to know he's put some thought behind his evil-ness. Will put some of the panels below - they're a good read. Interesting art, though... They did him dirty.

Panel 1: Begone, then, weakling! What can you know of the ambitions of Loki? The hatred I have nurtured for lo, these many years?

Panel 2: I, who was born the son of a king-- I, whose father was slain by the hand of Odin-- I was meant to rule!! All the powers of evil are at my command! I have but to use them wisely, and they shall bring me triumph!

Panel 3: And, where Odin is kind, Loki shall be cruel! Where Odin is merciful, Loki shall be deadly! Where Odin is good, Loki shall be the true embodiment of all that is evil!

Issue #112 was pretty lame. Thor fought the Hulk, yadda yadda, blah blah. Loki was only in the little "Tales of Asgard" side story they've been doing, which is rather enjoyable compared to the main story most of the time tbh. It's fun to see them flesh out the history of Asgard :) And this ToA was a fun one! It was the story of how Odin found lil' baby Loki and adopted him into the royal Asgardian family. Take a peek at baby Loki; he's so cute! I do wonder if the two stray strands of hair looking like tiny devil horns mean anything...

It was kind of funny in a depressing way, though, because as soon as they picked him up they say "Loki! The very name has a ring of evil--A tinge of foreboding to it!" And it obviously makes sense in the context of Loki's character at the time, but it's still sad that they've been calling Loki evil since he was a literal baby... Their immediate negative attitudes towards him surely didn't help his already messed up little mind...

Issue #113 was alright. I almost thought there was going to be progress on Thor & Jane's nonexistent love life but of course they had to rip that away right at the end... Once again, the best part was the Tales of Asgard segment, which featured 10-year old Thor and Loki! The way they're drawn is SO goofy; Jack Kirby really doesn't know how to draw children. Check out their little T and L outfits, though! :3 Also, once again, everyone is just such an ass to Loki. He's a little shit but he's also a child... "Though he be not yet fully-grown, the seed of evil has already taken root!" Like goddamn... they fucking hate him. Wow. I feel so bad for him. And then, in the same breath, about Thor: "But, see how like a king the golden one walks! By Asgard, he is destined for greatness!" Fucked up if you ask me!

The 1st annual issue was pretty good, though the only non-reprint in it was Thor VS. Hercules. Pretty cool to see a crossover, if you will, of Norse and Greek mythology. Though the reason they even fought in the first place was because they both wanted to cross a bridge first??? Which kind of sours everything... I love and hate the idea of these noble men getting so pissy over such trivial things. It feels so pointless...

This was also the only story of the issue that Loki was in, albeit very briefly. Something to note is Loki's outfit, though! IDK if this is the first time he's in this getup, but it's highly preferred over his normal outfit with the horns and shit. I really do love the hood + little crown look (it's also what Kid Loki wears so I'm very biased). I think it's a lot cuter, though it's kind of funny to see a grown dude wear it.

This annual issue had some reprints of issues I'd skipped before, so they were interesting to read. #93 with Radioactive Man sucked ass. I enjoyed #95, though, which was about a duplicate version of Thor! Nothing else to note. I don't think I'll be too sad once I'm done with this era of Journey Into Mystery (highly anticipating the switch to Thor!).

I think Cobra is an EXTREMELY lame villain. Like how am I supposed to take him seriously (pictured right)?? And I am SOOOOO deeply sick of the little repeating love plot they've got with Odin not letting Thor marry Jane. It got old after the FIRST time. Please no more. I beg of you.

Also, Loki's little outfit is so goofy. It's so funny because they make him look like a middle aged dude with wrinkles and shit, but he's got the stupidest little green tights and yellow underpants and big ass helmet with horns and a ponytail. Who thought this was a good idea?? Pictured left is him looking real miserable. Soon after, he learns that all his "peers" have turned against him. No one likes him, unsurprisingly.

But overall, I did rather enjoy this issue... It was sweet. Stan Lee really does have a way with words: "And back on that small, seemingly insignificant planet, which spins eternally in the glittering cosmos man calls the universe..." - "Gently, the mighty immortal lifts the sleeping girl! Then, he slowly turns his back upon his defeated foes, and upon the house of darkness, as he walks into the shining light of morning!"

Also, happy 4th of July or whatever. I have to work so how happy can it really be...

Trying some stuff - made a little progress bar that I'll update whenever~ Plus I learned the summary/details thing which will make this all a bit more concise !!!! I've also made the "read _/_" part stickied so we'll see how that looks when this page gets long enough to scroll...

HTML is a beast and I'm suffering at its wrath! I've now got a shitty mix-matched-frankenstein's-monster-level of knowledge about HTML and CSS... But that's okay... anything for Loki...