10 Hints Of What's To Come In Marvel's Loki Premiere
After inherent fanfare, Marvel's villainous God of Mischief Loki has returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in the form of his own Disney + solo series. As Loki finds himself in the clutches of organization The Time Variance Authority, the designated Loki "Variant" must navigate within a fascinating new world which both fears and respects him.
10. The Future
Loki is an expansive series that promises to visit several corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its concrete timeline, from the past to the far future. For comic fans, Marvel Comics has no shortage of interesting future timelines (some optimistic and some wicked) that Loki may be able to take advantage of.
The Days of Future Past, Old Man Logan, and the Age of Apocalypse time periods just to name a few alternate Marvel time periods found within the comics. The series premiere titled Glorious Purpose gave a peek into a familiar future, where Loki views his fate at the hands of the Mad Titan Thanos. The first sneak peek of the show released from Disney glimpsed a potential desolate New York City setting, which may be what is in store down the line.
9. Tales of Asgard
Loki wouldn't be the proclaimed "God of Mischief" without interfering in the affairs of other worlds, most notably Earth. Loki's unanticipated trip to Earth in The Avengers was far from the mischief maker's first visit to the blue planet, as the series premiere features the supervillain making quite an impact during his formative years.
Hijacking a Boeing 727 plane in the 1970s, Loki left an incomparable mark on the U.S., becoming the infamous swindler missing in action D.B. Cooper. While it's not confirmed, early concept art for the show featured Loki in another 1970s setting, this time coinciding with the release of Steven Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster Jaws. Expect more of Loki's pre villainous antics to be showcased before the first season comes to a close.
8. Loki vs. Loki
It seems that Loki's antics with the Tesseract in Avengers Endgame have caused much more than a temporal conflict to the timeline. Though it would take additional episodes for a solid confirmation, Loki's theft seems to have laid the groundwork for multiple versions of himself to form throughout the multiverse.
The Time Variance Authority is not only looking to partner with Loki due to his past crimes but for aid in tracking down another Loki committing felonies across several time periods. While the exact specifics of this other Loki are yet to be revealed, it's safe to assume that Prime Loki won't be too enthusiastic with another version of himself running around causing even more mischief than himself. There's only room for one Loki in the Marvel Universe; two would create an unbridled form of chaos for Earth's heroes.
7. The Nexus
Loki's series premiere opens with a video segment narrated by the incomparable TVA mascot Miss Minutes (voiced by Tara Strong). In the world of Marvel Comics, the nexus is categorized as a gateway between all existing realities. Prior to Loki, the Nexus infamously received air time through another inventive commercial in Marvel Studios' first original foray into Disney + with WandaVision.
As the MCU begins to expand into the multiverse concept, the nexus may act as a bridge to unify all of the alternate worlds and characters together at some point or another. At this point, it's still unclear where exactly Marvel plan to take the realm in which all realities meet but the seeds are being laid for sure.
6. Quantum Ore Shovel (AIM)
While the Quantum Shovel itself may have not any on the implications of the story at hand, it's the creators of the item that deserve an acknowledgment. The shovel's side panel reveals that A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) were the ones vital in the item's creation. A.I.M. was formally introduced in 2013's Iron Man 3 as a private think tank founded by scientist/businessman Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) and the main force opposing Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.).
Given the shovel's existence, it only means that A.I.M. has managed to stay afloat in future timelines and has now taken the corporation beyond Killian's former regime. In most Marvel comics and cartoons, A.I.M. is a science-based terrorist organization run by a handful of scientists, responsible for the creation of major antagonists including the maniacal supercomputer M.O.D.O.K. (Mental Organism Designed Only For Killing) and The Super Adaptoid.
5. The Time Keepers
Though the Time Variance Authority may have a tight ship run by a series of moving parts, the ones responsible for keeping all the parts in working order are the trio of "space lizards" known as the Time Keepers.
The Time Keepers are not only responsible for the creation of The Time Variance Authority, but its stable slate of dedicated employees intent on keeping time flowing as it should. In the wake of the chaos created by a war of the past, the Time Keepers came together to set things right by creating a singular timeline.
However, no one in the TVA seems to have even met the Time Keepers yet they are treated as mythological figures. Can the ancient time prodigies be trusted or are they just another threat in waiting?
4. Variants
As the close of episode 1 makes quite clear, Loki is not the only god of mischief currently occupying the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Loki is just one in a select number of Loki variants scattered across other regions of the multiverse. If there is more than one Loki lurking around, then that means there may be an onset of other fan-favorite MCU characters including Thor, Doctor Strange, and even The Avengers.
While it would be overwhelming to include other variants in this series, a showcasing of other existing Loki variants wouldn't be out of the question. Recent comics have seen Loki's influence extend to include Lady Loki, Kid Loki, and even President Loki.
3. Judge Renslayer
Acting as the magistrate for the Time Variance Authority is the mysterious Judge Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), who presides over any and all criminal variants entering the region. While Renslayer has allowed trusted agent Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson) to take Loki under his wing, there seems to be more to the judge than meets the eye.
Eagled-eyed comic fans will immediately recognize Ravonna as having a storied history with longtime Avengers enemy Kang the Conqueror in the comics. Given that actress Gugu Mbatha Raw has starred in a variety of popular feature films, it'd be disappointing to see the character simply relegated to a behind-the-scenes capacity. If Raw's recent comments are anything to go by, Renslayer's role in Loki will only continue to expand throughout the season.
2. Multiversal War
Opening the episode is a Time Variance Authority narrated by quirky mascot Miss Minutes. While the modus operandi of the TVA is quite fascinating, the real attention grabber of the video is the infamous multiversal war. Rumors online are already swirling on the significance of the multiversal war of the past and its potential relation to the MCU's future.
There is credible evidence of the multiverse having a presence in next year's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (given its direct title) and more unannounced projects such as a Secret Wars or Maestro Hulk project. Whatever the case may be, Marvel Studios seems to be going full steam ahead on its exploration of the multiverse.
1. The Power of The Time Variance Authority
The Time Variance Authority has well proved their valor by apprehending Loki but others less capable have immobilized Loki and lived to tell the tale. With their possession of various sets of Infinity Stones, it's clear that the TVA is endowed with a set of power that rivals even the strongest beings in the cosmos. When compared with Thanos and the might of former MCU threats, the Time Variance Authority are in a league of their own.
The Time Keepers are shown to be running the show but to what end is currently unclear. While the TVA may not be the "greatest power in the universe", the time bureaucratic agency may be relatively close to it.
As Loki's six-episode arc begins to unravel, only time will tell how closely the show will align itself with the source material at hand. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a tendency since day 1, of paying off certain key events when given the opportunity.