#Mildred the Midgard Serpent’s sister

[thebibliomancer]

#Thor & Loki double trouble #Thor #Loki #Mildred the Midgard Serpent’s sister #exceptional expression work here

[9worldstales]

Loki & Thor in “Thor & Loki – Double Trouble” n° 1

I really, really, really wanted to read this one from when it was announced so here are my two cents on it.

BEWARE FOR SPOILERS?

Well, for start it seems to be an AU story.

Asgard is still standing, but Loki looks and is dressed up as in “Loki: Agent of Asgard”.

Either old Loki used to dress like that, or we’re dealing with a parallel world. Anyway the art is beyond cute and the characters have all that sort of adourable, funny and expressive expressions I can’t really get tired of them. They manage to fit them even when you see them in the distance so yes, I love it.

So the story... well, it’s pure funny situation after funny situation for a plot that so far is just Loki tricking Thor into retrieving for him the lur of Luramena, then, once he has it, he uses it to summon Mildred, the sister of the Midgard serpent (Jormungand, in the myth one of Loki’s children foreordained to kill and be killed by Thor, though I’ve no idea how this story will handle it, if it’ll do it at all).

Anyway as of now the plot is simple but well, it’s only 20 pages.

What got me beyond the cute and funny art is the relationship between the siblings... which reminds me more of the relationship between two kids than anything else.

But let’s dig a little more into the plot first.

After an one page introduction of Asgard, we start with Thor, showing up to introduce himself and brag about his awesomeness for 2 pages.

Loki then joins, clapping at him and Thor is immediately a lot less happy. Loki introduces himself and... Thor tries to dismiss him.

This pushes Loki to begrundigly admit they don’t get along and...

to immediately torment Thor, starting with stealing his apple and escaping from him in a somewhat funny way that gets people to clap at him until Thor jumps on him and threaten to beat him. The people around, who probably have a good sense of self preservation, leave the place empty.

Thor is annoyed, while Loki eats Thor’s apple (which in his annoyance Thor has forgotten he wanted to retrieve) and tries to persuade Thor to accept the AWESOME challenge he has in mind for him.

Thor isn’t the sharpest pencil in the box but correctly points out Loki’s challenges are actually dares and they’re terrible. For Thor, that is.

Loki seems to love them and not see them as a big deal. The way he’s enthusiast of them and complain about how a challenge was a lifetime ago when it was actually only three days ago, make him sound as if he’s just living for them.

I mean, his enthusiasm is so contagious even though Thor knows listening him is a bad idea, he just can’t resist and hear him out.

However, despite Loki being delighted by this new challenge, Thor has enough good sense to refuse... for the 5 seconds flat before Loki asks him if he’s refusing because he’s afraid. Thor being Thor has to prove he’s fearless so Loki gets exactly what he asked for.

So, red Riding Hood Thor (I can’t help but call Thor as such due to how he looks when he pulls his red hood on his head) tries to sneak in the vault. Loki, very, very obviously helps him, causing the guards to feel hungry (that or that one was the most unnatural dialogue ever). However, as soon as Thor gets the Lur, Loki tattles him out, calling the guards. Thor successfully escapes and Loki successfully distract him, causing him to end up in the moat. Still Thor comes back with the lur and hands him to Loki...

...who immediately plays it summoning the before mentioned Mildred.

At this point Loki would like Thor to handle the rest but the latter forces him to stay and help him.

Loki seems a bit less happy about this development but the story ends here.

So, now that we’ve made a quick recap, let's talk about the siblings' relation.

As I said they reminds me of little kids.

Thor, the older kid, seems to be annoyed by his little brother’s antics, he looks like he wants to just focus on his life and his interests and whatever and be at the center of the attention.

When Loki shows up he’s not pleased even if Loki wasn’t doing anything troublesome and wouldn’t want people to pay Loki attention.

On the other side Loki seems the little kid who just madly wants to play with his big brother... but his way to play with him is to annoy him endlessly (like how he steals Thor’s apple and challenge him to catch him) and put him into troubles (the whole challenge thing).

He doesn’t seem to know how to interact with Thor in a way that could be enjoyable for them both.

He's very thankful Thor helped him to retrieve the Lur and insists what they did was 'teamwork'. Look at that proud little face as he says he couldn't have done that without Thor.

It's not 'you did it' or 'I did it', it's 'I couldn't have done it without you', it's 'teamwork'. Really, this seems to be Loki's idea of playing with his brother and have fun with him. He just doesn't seem to realize he's the only one having fun and that, in truth, Thor wanted no part in it.

On the other side Thor doesn’t seem to know how to deal with Loki either. He either try to keep him at distance or fall for his traps.

When, in the end, he decided Loki too had to help him deal with the serpent, Thor goes at it in a straightforward manner, by FORCING Loki to help, grabbing him angrily and holding him there, where instead Loki, for all his faults, 'persuaded' Thor to help.

Now it would be nice to see them learn to get along but I’m not sure this is meant to have a plot that’s not just funny scene after funny scene so we might as well never truly get some serious development and this will remain a gag AU comic.

Still I can’t help but find it adourable. I love Loki’s enthusiasm and the way he gets his brother to do what he wants, but at the same time I can’t help but also like Thor who has to put up with such a terrible little brother (I had a terrible little brother as well so I sympathize).

I love the art too and its expressivity.

I would have loved to comment this panel after panel but instead I’ll just recommend you to read it if you want a cute and funny story, that’s clearly not in the same (dramatic) setting as the current “Thor”.

But whatever, those are hard times and I think some fun is more than welcomed.

#thor and loki double trouble #thor odinson #thor #loki #loki laufeyson #9 worlds comic study

[9worldstales]

Loki & Thor in “Thor & Loki – Double Trouble” n° 2

I really, really, really wanted to read this one from when it was announced so here are my two cents on the new number.

BEWARE FOR SPOILERS?

So, “Double trouble” continues on the same line on which it’s started. It’s fun and cute and it’s based on having a funny situation after another, in total contrast with “Thor” of this month.

Anyway, where were we?

We’ve left Thor and Loki having to deal with Mildred, the sister of the Midgard serpent, which is really not happy at having been summoned.

The story starts… showing us two panels. In one we can see Thor’s eyes, in the other Loki’s.

Although they’re physically different, the fact they’re shown in the same way, remarks a similarity. It’ll be something recurring in this episode.

Thor is conveniently saying it’s all Loki’s fault.

Now... I won’t deny Loki has a HUGE share of the blame, but Thor knew they shouldn’t take the lur, knew it could be dangerous, and that giving it to his brother was a bad idea and yet did it anyway over a dare. He was a willing accomplice and, while he couldn’t figure out the full extent of what this would have caused, he could have avoided the whole thing by saying ‘no, I’m not retrieving the lur’. He didn’t, afraid he would look a coward so yes, he’s also to blame.

Loki, who’s still being held there by Thor, points out whoever is the fault (and he remarks he’s not conceding anything), this doesn’t matter as they’re both doomed.

He seems relatively calm and rational (really, Loki, shouldn’t you worry a little?) and I really wonder why he wanted to play that lur so badly, he recognized Mildred so maybe he knew what playing it would cause, beyond causing mischief.

I mean, to use a way to say from my country which is particularly fitting here, was the play worth the candle?

Mildred attacks, parting them and sending them both flying.

Thor says he guess it’s up to the more HEROIC brother to make short work of this mess as he tried to use his hammer against Mildred.

Indeed, the siblings have a poor relation, as this is also a jab implying Loki is ‘less heroic’ (coward), as well as a demonstration of Thor’s big ego. Loki doesn’t seem offended though as he pats dust away from his clothes and smiles as he agrees and look at his brother.

There’s to wonder why Thor kept him there if he thought he could solve it on his own, did he want to show off?

Mjolnir hits Mildred. Thor seems proud of this but Loki is much faster to understand this only angered her more.

As the siblings hurriedly and not so heroically run away (in an hilarious way... I mean, look at them!), chased by a furious Mildred, Thor tells Loki to be the one to think of something.

Loki’s plan… is to have a bouquet of roses magically appear and then to try to swoon Mildred over.

Honestly it’s hilarious (he even has a shine effect around) and, considering the cover, one might even think it would work (it doesn’t as Mildred uses her tongue to toss him away) but it’s not really particularly clever or make special use of magic, which should be Loki’s two strongest points.

Still it’s interesting how he tries to deal with her pacifically, not fighting but trying to ‘make friends’.

Anyway, as Loki flies away, Thor comments he’s not her type.

Mildred heads for the market, devastating it. It’s probably a good thing this is meant to be a funny thing or there would be a massacre. Instead the market place seems to be empty.

Thor points out they need a new, new plan to which Loki retorts it’s Thor’s turn.

I like the visual of the panel, with Mildred’s body cutting the 4 panels in halves and Loki and Thor alternating between panels, Loki on a side and Thor in the other, well balancing the symmetry of the scene.

Thor spots the lur and makes a run for it, telling Loki to distract Mildred. Loki points out that was what he was trying to do previously but it didn’t work.

So… I take if this was what he was trying to do when he attempted to seduce her, Thor didn’t realize and he didn’t take the hint.

It’s also clear Loki doesn’t look pleased with this plan, yet he still does what his brother says and, after catching Mildred’s attention, since Thor has previously suggested he was rejected because he wasn’t her type, he turns himself in a snake… maybe thinking she might like him more in this form.

She doesn’t.

As Thor grabs the ‘dreaded object of his brother’s schemes’ (which actually belonged to Odin and Thor totally contributed in handing it to Loki) Loki, in his snake form, escapes from Mildred, urging him to act.

Thor explains he believes if a note summoned her, another note might send her back so he bets on him guessing it. I’ll say it would have been better ask Loki first if he had an idea which one it could be as it’s Loki who’s the magician but whatever, Thor has the good luck of being the heroic main character.

Loki, still in snake form, comments it’s a solid plan… (it’s not really, it’s more a risky bet in Loki’s style) and then we see him draped on his brother’s shoulders, which is kind of cute, as he wonders if it did work, wearing the same expression as his brother.

Call me weird but I find adourable Loki crawled on Thor’s shoulders in snake form and Thor isn’t even fazed by it, as if this was perfectly normal for him.

Anyway turns out Thor has summoned an even bigger snake, which Loki recognizes as Mildred’s mom.

Mildred is dragged home by her mother and while Thor and Loki comment on how she’s going to be grounded, a voice calls them, saying their names in 2 different fonts. It’s Odin who wants to know what’s going on.

In the most (im)mature manner the siblings blame each other in a mirroring way, each refusing to act as an adult and take his share of the blame.

Odin though, is distraught over the loss of his favourite ice cream stall (who cares about the rest of the market and possibly of the city being in ruin?) and, as the siblings get another image in which their position mirror each other...

...he condemns them to clean up duty.

Thor is pissed but, as he carries a huge load of ruins, comments maybe this will curb Loki’s craving for mischief. Obviously not, as Loki, who’s carrying just a rock, immediately starts suggesting something. Thor cuts him, insisting he doesn’t want to hear it.

Loki is disappointed, he doesn’t get what Thor’s problem is.

Thor, covering his ears, insists Loki does this to him every! Time!

Loki still doesn’t get the problem, saying he’s just trying to keep the days lively with intriguing solutions to their problems and asks him if he wouldn’t like the cleanup done faster… so Thor can go chase his adouring fans.

Really, I do wonder if Loki does all this not so much for the mischief but because this is the only way he knows to have Thor paying him attention. He really doesn’t seem to get what he’s doing that’s so bad… but he seems to get that Thor would prefer to be elsewhere than with him.

Anyway Loki’s ‘brilliant’ plan is to use his cunning and genius and… some sort of crystal ball he has snatched from Odin’s vault while Thor was escaping from the guards because sacred objects can be useful and it’s better to be prepared. When Thor asks what the ball does Loki claims he’s glad Thor asked… but it turns out he has no idea what it does and discovers it just by testing the ball.

I take back my previous speculation about Loki having better chances than Thor to know which note to play with the lur. It seems Loki’s way to deal with magical objects it’s not to read instructions but to test try it on the nearby object. Really Thor, why would you trust ANYTHING in your brother’s hands?

Well, credits when it’s due, Thor tells him to put it back and, after finding back his hammer that he has somehow left behind, that it will be a bad idea.

I’m not really sure why we had this scene with Thor searching for his hammer. Is it a clue Thor isn’t the ordered type? Is it going to be relevant later on because, let’s say, Thor picked up the wrong hammer or something like that? Or it’s just to fill space? No idea.

Anyway as Loki asks him if he wants to resume clean up duty, Thor gives up.

Loki tells him to then shut up and let the smart brother do some cool magic.

Now… hum… I’m not really sure it’s smart to use some magical artifact Loki doesn’t really know how it works but whatever, we know this is just the prelude for another disaster.

Again they reinforce the previous dynamics, where Thor defined himself the heroic brother, Loki calls himself the smart brother… and even if Thor knows it’s a bad idea, ultimately he plays along because he doesn’t want to do the clean up.

Anyway the panel with Loki holding the ball is quite awesome, there’s the focus on the shining ball, Loki on the front in a powerful position and Thor behind, which causes him to seem conveniently of the same idea as his brother, which, symbolically, proves how they’re actually the same. Loki partially standing in front of him connects their figures, reinforcing the idea they’re on the same page.

In a way this episode showed them more similar than they seem to think to be, remember also how they previously blamed each other in an almost mirroring manner?

Or how Thor totally risked everything randomly playing the lur even if he had no idea if it would make matters better or worse?

I don’t know if there’s a goal in this comic beyond being funny, but I wonder if it could be they could understand they’re more similar than they think.

Whatever, Loki is clearly very happy to do his cool magic to the point he doesn’t even notice some sort of hole is opening up below them. Thor does and manages to warn his brother about it just in time for Loki to begin to say he is sure it’s noth—before they fall through it, losing hold of the hammer and the ball..

Thor blames Loki for this (forgetting he has allowed him to play in hope he wouldn’t have to clean up things) while Loki insists he maintains no responsibility.

Again though the image plays on how they’re similar. Both let go of their objects and both are in almost exactly the same pose, although Thor is upside down compared to Loki.

The comic ends here.

I’ve to say this volume was very well balanced in term of portraying both the siblings, with the visual depicting them often in the same position or in a mirroring one, but also with them making mistakes similar to their counterpart, or adopting their same behaviour.

So, as I said before, I don’t know if this comic has a point beyond the cute and funny tales but maybe it’s trying to set up the brothers so that they’ll realize they’re more similar than different?

We’ll see, maybe the meaning is just to make us smile, and in these times of pandemic this too is an important goal.

Anyway I love how cute and funny it is, I love the characters’ expressions and the dynamic of her art, the costant bitching of the siblings and... everything really.

Really, maybe it’s just a weird AU universe story but it’s lovely, you must read it.

As for me I just can’t wait to see the next episode!

#thor and loki double trouble #thor odinson #loki #thor #loki laufeyson #9 worlds comic study