save the Nine Worlds ... at least for more than yourself.

 

Loki: Whattajerkface!

In this 1985 CE issue of Thor #353 distinctively drawn by Walter Simonson, here is laid the device by which Thor: Ragnarok hangs: Marvel Surtur needing to dip his world-burning sword Twilight into the Eternal Flame in order to fulfill the Volva's prophecy of his destiny as the agent which destroys the Nine Worlds. This comic panel has the trio of Gods teaming up to prevent that.

And sure, Loki's selfish honesty's amusing by contrast, but when we look at the Norse Lore, we see a God who maliciously cuts off Sif's hair, steals Freyja's prized necklace Brisingamen, cravenly makes a deal with an enemy giant to kidnap Iðunn to deny the Æsir their sustaining apples of youth, carelessly underestimates in betting the Sun, Moon, & Freyja to get Asgard's wall built, has an affair that fathers two cosmic monsters that will kill two major Gods, and is ultimately responsible for killing Baldr, which is the temporal trigger for heralding Ragnarök, costing all of existence!

[Eagle-form Þjazi magically turns the tables on Loki's hostile stick attack.]

You read alot of modern empathetic reframing of Loki in certain cybercorners of Heathenry about his "being an agent of difficult change" but none of the above is truly about anyone other than himself. There's also arguments that in a couple of those situations things work out for the better (Asgard gets a wall, Odin gets Sleipnir, the Gods get amazing gifts & smartweapons, the dead get a caretaker [though that's Odin's decision] ... ?), but Loki's not shepherding circumstances for those ends, he's only doing it to save himself from the well-deserved punishment or death at the hands of the Gods for his own harmful actions in the first place.

If with our Heathen Worldview we are to judge reputations & worth by deeds, then Loki is not merely mischievous -- he's the worst traitorous níðingr who truly deserves to be bound while burning venom drips in his eyes. And while Loki's actions totally make for great storytelling, they aren't meant as examples. If we're searching for examples of guile or craftiness, we can far more clearly find better motives in the actions of other Gods. Sure, Odin does some Bolverk-ian con-man things, but the reason is his long-game to get the edge that will save all of his creation from Ragnarök, or at least make the outcome less devastating by degrees so something survives (which he succeeds at). And Thor's ruse in keeping Alviss talking so the wise dwarf's surprised by the rising sun into petrification speaks volumes not only about how Thor's cleverness perhaps approaches his strength when used, but about how much he loves his daughter Thrud by saving her from an unwanted suitor.

Given Loki's rap sheet, odds are he's very likely not standing in your corner, he's only standing in is his own ... and that's the same corner he ultimately traps himself in.

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Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires' Norse Gods and Giants at age seven. Since then he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the Map of Midgard project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay. If you have employment/opportunities in investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer, do contact him.