Comics

Advance Review: “Loki: Agent of Asgard” #1

Published

10 years ago

February 4, 2014

“Trust me. I know what I’m doing.” Loki utters in the stunning opening panel of “Loki: Agent of Asgard.” Although the titular hero may utter the phrase, these lines are actually a message from Al Ewing. It takes a lot of trust to push a fan favorite character through a transformative journey. In this thoroughly impressive debut, Loki becomes something completely new albeit a little familiar. Ewing and Garbett never forget their history while they twist what we know into something unusual. Its utterly fascinating.

WRITTEN BY: Al Ewing
ART BY: Lee Garbett
PUBLISHER: Marvel
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: February 5th, 2014

As with most Marvel NOW titles, Loki begins with a sizeable info dump. It’s colorfully written, sure to make you laugh, and pitches the series perfectly. Loki is reborn new and youthful. He’s ready to pay for the sins of his past. He’s accepted a role as an agent of Asgard trying to make amends with all those he has wronged. Except, he’s not trusted, nor should he be. He’s still the same old Loki, although he swears he’s new and improved.

Al Ewing isn’t so sure. He takes time to revel in these questionable character moments. You’ll never be sure if you should trust Loki, but you’ll be along for the ride. The comedic voice in the narration is sure to entertain, and it provides a colorful dose of exposition that feels slightly sinister in how calculated and callous it’s communicated.

Loki comes clean about a lot of things. He’s an open book, or so it seems. He doesn’t want to be hung for his past offenses but aims for atonement in whatever way possible. By the end of the issue you should be fully in doubt as to whether or not this whole thing was one big lie, but that’s half the charm of Loki, and Ewing totally gets it.

Lee Garbett’s art is stellar. His opening panel is sure to drop jaws. His youthful depiction of Loki fills the book with certain energy. His panel in panel artwork lends an engaging and frantic pace to the story that keeps up with Loki’s narration. His throwbacks to the past show an incredible juxtaposition to who these characters once were.

The entirety of the issue is clean and pops off the page. Everything about it is new and youthful like Loki. Pacing is never a problem. The book is actually over far too soon.

Al Ewing and Lee Garbett have managed to twist a character like Loki in a dynamically new and fascinating way. This debut calls everything we know about the character into question before ending with a bang that throws all this business into an investigation of the truth. I’ve never had the pleasure of reading a debut issue that is bookended with such wonderful high notes. This is a heavenly new chapter in a storied character’s history that is sure to surprise and sow doubt. Loki cannot be an easy character to master but Ewing and Garbett make it look effortless.

Rating 4.5/5 Skulls.

Related Topics:Al Ewing LEE GARBETT Loki: Agent of Asgard Marvel Comics

Zac Thompson

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Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

Published

2 weeks ago

April 18, 2024

Meagan Navarro

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.