Lady Loki & 9 Other Candidates For The Evil Loki Variant

Lady Loki & 9 Other Candidates For The Evil Loki Variant

The central mystery of Loki emerged at the end of the first episode of the new Disney+ streaming series. There is an Evil Loki Variant hunting down agents of the Time Variance Authority. Though Mobius claims it’s a version of Loki, comic book fans know that list of potential suspects is long and complex.

It’s very likely that Loki will visit a number of alternate timelines in the series, and the Evil Loki could be from any one of them. The villain of the series could be a very different version of the God Of Mischief, or in classic MCU fashion, it could be someone else entirely, posing as the Asgardian prince.

Lady Loki

Lady Loki & 9 Other Candidates For The Evil Loki Variant

One distinct possibility for the Evil Loki variant is Lady Loki. This female version of the classic character first appeared in Thor #5 in 2008, with Loki resurrected in a new body following the events of Ragnarok. Rumors swirl about Lady Loki being one of the versions of the trickster to appear in the series, so it’s natural to suspect her. Given that Loki’s dossier in the Time Variance Authority lists his sex as genderfluid, it could be that Lady Loki isn’t an alternate version though, but simply an evolution of the existing character.

Matt Damon Loki

Matt Damon as Loki in Thor Ragnarok

While unlikely, the Matt Damon version of Loki from Thor: Ragnarok is technically a candidate for the Evil Variant Loki. While the true identity of the character is unknown, this Asgardian actor played the role of Loki in a play for Loki’s benefit at the beginning of the movie. Perhaps the tragic circumstances of the Asgardians that unfolded in the movie embittered the Matt Damon Loki and he is going through time, seeking revenge, still in his costume from the play.

Ravonna Renslayer

Ravonna Renslayer from Marvel Comics Kang

Actress Gugu-Mbatha Raw is playing Judge Ravonna Renslayer, a major figure in the TVA. Comic fans know Ravonna is a major figure in the life of time-traveling super villain Kang The Conqueror. Ravonna is a possibility as the variant because there are two of her in the comics, and her variants are at the heart of one of Kang’s greatest tragedies.

A princess from the 40th century, she becomes the lover of Kang after he annexes her timeline. She died when one of her generals tried to kill Kang, but comic readers later met an alternate version from another timeline, seeking revenge against Kang for not saving her in the first place.

Silver Age Loki

Loki first appearance in Marvel Comics Journey into Mystery 85 in a green-yellow outfit with horns

Another possibility behind the Evil Loki is just a truly evil Loki. Though the God of Mischief has been a villain throughout the MCU, he has done some nice things. A Loki who is simply the unrepentant villain from the original comic books in the Silver Age would be kind of fun for Tom Hiddleston to play.

Loki first appeared in Journey Into Mystery #85 in 1962, and then become the villain that sparked the formation of the Avengers a year later. An even earlier version of Loki appeared in Timely Comics, the antecedent of Marvel, in Venus Comics #6 in 1949.

Sorcerer Supreme Loki

Spider-Man teams up with Loki

Loki is a magician with extraordinary powers in the MCU. In the comics, he’s so powerful he was once selected as the Sorcerer Supreme. A version of Loki with the Time Stone in his possession could be a compelling villain against the Time Variance Authority. In Doctor Strange #381 from 2017, Loki is chosen to be the new Sorcerer Supreme by the Vishanti, leaving Doctor Strange powerless. Loki later fights alongside Spider-Man with his new powers, creating one of the unlikeliest Spider-Man friendships in comics.

President Loki

President Loki smiles in Loki

Those who have watched the trailers for the Loki series know a President Loki is going to appear. This could actually be the Evil Variant. This version of the character also has roots in the comic books. In 2016, Loki ran for President of the United States. The Vote Loki series shows the character running for office, but he ultimately loses. It’s deliberate on his part, as readers came to find out. Loki orchestrated his downfall to permit the actual winner to come to office.

Enchantress

Captain-Marvel-28-Enchantress-Teacher

The Evil Variant Loki may not be Loki at all, but someone impersonating him. One candidate is the Enchantress, a major Thor villain who has yet to make an appearance in the MCU. The Enchantress is one of the most powerful magicians in Marvel Comics, and the second version of the character originally obtained all of her mystical ability from Loki. He grants her these powers to make her a tool for his own purposes, something that could come into play in the MCU.

Kang The Conqueror

Kang the Conqueror fires an energy blast in Marvel Comics.

If a variant of Ravonna Renslayer is a candidate for being the Evil Variant, then so is her lover, Loki. In the comic books, the Time Variance Authority often battles against the ambitions of the Kang Dynasty. It could be the Evil Variant is Kang trying to undo the Sacred Timeline for some unknown purpose.

An Easter egg in episode one seems to suggest Kang is at least a possibility. At the end of the episode, TVA agents reference the Evil Variant using technology from the third millennium. In the comics, Kang hails from this era of history.

Kid Loki

Kid Loki wondering why people always think he's lying

Another major alternate version of Loki in the comic books is Kid Loki. Kid Loki is the reincarnated version of Loki after his death at the end of the Siege storyline in 2010. The young version of the character constantly battled the perceptions and prejudices of those who fought against his former self. He would try to make it as a hero, becoming a member of the Young Avengers. Given the presence of so many from the team in the MCU now or in the near future, it seems as though Kid Loki isn’t far behind.

King Loki

King Loki from Thor Agent of Asgard

The Evil Variant Loki could simply be an evil version of Loki. The most likely candidate is King Loki, a version of the character from the future in which an older Loki has conquered Asgard and destroyed Earth. A young Loki confronting the absolute worst version of himself makes a lot of sense for the series. Richard E. Grant has confirmed that he is playing a role in Loki, and given his resemblance to Tom Hiddleston, speculation has centered on him playing an older version of the character. Perhaps he is playing King Loki.