Loki: Agent of Asgard, Vol. 2: I Cannot Tell a Lie

Loki: Agent of Asgard

by Al Ewing, Jorge Coelho (Illustrator), Lee Garbett (Illustrator)

AXIS tie-in! Loki faces Doctor Doom! But with Valeria Richards in the mix, who's the hero of this story...and who's the villain? Doom has sentenced Loki to death for the crimes of his future self, King Loki! But with the Red Skull drowning Latveria and the entire world in a wave of telepathic hate, will there even be a future left to save? And when the events of AX IS invert Loki, he begins a noble quest for truth, justice and the Asgardian way...which pits him against the Enchantress, Lorelei...and the brutish Thor, god of evil?!


COLLECTING: LOKI: AGENT OF ASGARD 6-11

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Fantasy, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Mythology

112 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2015

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holy Event Hijack, Batman!
Because we all love it so much when these crossovers turn fun titles into sludge. Thanks, Marvel!



And the last volume really was a lot of fun to read. Sadly, this one didn't quite live up to it, but the problem wasn't in Ewing's writing, it was in the mashed-up way the story unfolded. It was just...all over the place.



There's a whole thing with Doom in Latveria, that makes the most bit of sense, because it has to do with Future Loki. So if you've read the first volume, you should be ok with that part.

But then there's a whole thing where Loki is in love with Amora, and they're good, that has to do with the crossover event. I got it, but I wasn't happy with the jarring transition, or the storyline.
Again, it was alright, but it was kinda ruined for me because of Axis.


Then there's a whole part with Loki battling Evil Thor during the Axis event. It's workable, but I'm just so fed up with these crossover things *wrinkles nose* that I'm not sure how much I actually enjoyed it.
It was probably ok, but I had such a frowny face while I was reading it.
Stop messing with these individual titles, please!



Another section happens once the spell has been broken (off-page), and you get some Thor/Loki action.
Since Loki can't tell a lie, he's forced to admit what he did in the beginning, and Thor goes a bit..nuts.


I'm assuming this will be the start of the next part of Loki's story, since he seems to be in deep shit with everyone. Here's hoping everything gets back on track in the next volume!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really should be volume 3 of the series. It's integral that you read the Original Sin: Thor & Loki mini-series as it changes the whole direction of this series. The series is OK, although I did prefer the younger version of Loki where he was trying to do good. Original Sin knocks this series on its ear 6 issues in and really forces the writing into a corner. I don't see how Loki can continue being an agent of Asgard by the end of this volume.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good one omg like I love the way it builds up with Dr doom fighting Loki and then the inversions happening and what Loki does there and how he saves the people over there and the whole thing is quite funny and I like the role Verity plays here and when Loki actually becomes a good guy, then what he does and its interesting seeing how Al explores the concept of this inversion and probably the only tie-in of the whole AXIS event thats fun to read and yeah I personally liked the stuff with Enchantress here and what Al ewing explores here plus the complications between Loki and Verity increase!

Then the fight with Thor and the reversal and finally the big revelation of what he did to Child Loki and omg when it happens, its like a massive moment and what Thor does next, its passionate and continues that whole story thread so well and as a reader you start feeling the emotion of loss and moral dilemma like what this Loki did was he right or wrong and is it incorrect for him not wanting to be his future evil self aka "King Loki" and like such meta-textual thing and Al explores it wonderfully here and I just love the drama and next volume promises to be an even better one!

So yeah this one continues the stakes from the first volume and amps up the story with King Loki and the fate/pre-decided future and all that, just good stuff!

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate giving this book only three stars, but there it is. The problem is not really with Ewing's character work on Loki, who remains delightfully complicated. The biggest problem is that the Axis event entirely hijacks the book for a few issues. I had no interest at all in this event, but it kind of looks like Ewing didn't have a choice as to whether or not Loki would be included. Still, it was a major disruption to the book, and the Axis stuff wasn't even all that good.

But Loki does turn into a rainbow unicorn, so it has that going for it.

[Ｆｒａｎｋｈ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm presently reading Journey Into Mystery issues which focus on Kid Loki this week, but I know I had to review this volume sooner rather than later because I've delayed it for an entire month now. I actually forgot some of the stuff that happened for Agent of Asgard, most probably because as interesting and as potentially riveting the idea of a newly-minted Loki in his twenties trying to make amends and rewrite his bad-guy reputation, there are certain aspects to this series that would make it unreadable in general especially when you're not a Marvel comics reader like I was so there are so many stuff that got past me because I was just inherently unfamiliar with them.

I had to re-read issues 6-10 of this collection just a few hours ago and it just occurred to me how uneven it was that I had to change my perfect five-star rating from my initial one last month. I remember enjoying what I read because it was woven with mythology elements, but the more I thought about certain plot points in this volume, the less incomprehensible they got and that lessened my enjoyment upon re-reading them again.

The first volume comprised of the first five issues were fun; it introduced this version of Loki quite nicely--he was young, hip and eager to change opinions of the people he had wronged. The redemption angle of AoA prove to be a selling point that hit my sweet spot,; one that is beguiling for me whose only connection and knowledge about Loki is mostly movie-based as portrayed by the painfully orgasmic Tom Hiddleston. This was why Agent of Asgard easily appealed to me on that shallow surface; I like looking and reading about a pretty-faced Loki and his antics and shenanigans. I continue to be hopeful for the development of his characterizations and his relationship with this "walking human detector" Verity Wills whom he was growing increasingly fond of even when he shows it in confusing ways.

I can certainly detect a genuine friendship developing between both sides which should be challenging for either of them, considering what they are as individuals. It's delicious irony to pair the self-made God of Lies with a woman who could always see through any deception. I think this is mostly why Loki likes her company; in a weird way, he knows she has the ability to keep her true, and all throughout this volume she's definitely giving him a hard time every time she knows he's withholding things from her. The best part of this ordeal is that readers can see Loki tries to form some kind of trust with her which might come off uncharacteristic for him but to me it's rather endearing to see him vulnerable around Verity especially when he doesn't even know that he is.

Now, no matter how I look forward to more Loki-time for this series, this second volume left a bitter aftertaste because four out of the five issues collected here are tie-ins to the crossover AXIS event in Marvelverse. Here Loki gets confronted by Doctor Doom, Thor is a bad guy, etc. It's just damn confusing for someone who doesn't follow other titles so I'm not nearly invested in crossovers unlike with DC whose crossover stuff I always try to keep track of when they affect my Batman comics even if I have yet to read them completely myself.

The second volume suffers because of these woefully unnecessary tie-ins to Agent of Asgard. It would have been so much better if they kept everything about this series standalone for now. This version of Loki is developing as a character and it's reckless endangerment to throw him at whatever convenient storyline he could fit in and rather poorly at that as seen here in AXIS. Heck, he even made an appearance in a Ms. Marvel Valentine issue which was cute and nonsensical fun, but again, it's fanservice for the sake of pleasing female fans who totes want to hang pin-up posters of this hot twenties Loki.

Now, I'm not saying I don't belong to that crowd because I probably do, but I much prefer this character to be well-written and interesting in the long run. This was why the second volume was a complete let-down because it's as if the writers won't let this version of Loki have his time in his own spotlight and in his own series to figure out how he will grow and progress as a titular hero. It's sad, really. However, the silver lining does come up by the tenth issue which finally switches back to something standalone and intimate for Loki.

See, once Al Ewing focuses his lens back on actually telling a Loki-centric tale woven with fantastic mythological elements from the Norse lore, this series really does shine and hold up as a riveting piece of fiction. The next issues that will be compiled in the third volume (11-13; it's ongoing at this point) hold promise because ever since then, no stupid crossover is being pushed down my throat as I read this series and I want that to stay that way. So, this second volume was a drag but good things do come to those who wait and I know I will have a more positive review for the next volume of Agent of Asgard soon enough.

RECOMMENDED: 7/10


DO READ MY REVIEWS AT

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It's been a few months since I read the first volume but the memory of it stuck well enough. I've never been super deep into Asgardian mythology and folklore and I've never been that invested in Thor's backstory. And I've also never been a Loki fan. He was basically just there in my opinion. I didn't care either way. I still can't say I care that much. The artwork and story are very original in this series and it's interesting to see how this new version of Loki deals with his past.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This remains a ton of fun.

Loki is still trying to do the right thing. Less James Bond this volume and more dealing with who you are. The first arc revolves around Doom kidnapping Loki and making him pay for his crimes, well future crimes, and then Loki and Doom have to team up because...Red Skull is worse than them both. Then we have a Axis crossover where Loki become pure of heart and has to deal with a very very angry Thor. In doing so leads to the final arc of Thor finally snapping and nearly killing Loki after finding out what he did to his younger self.

Good: I really loved the Thor issue and him flipping out once finding out what happened. It's brutal and it's a hell of a beatdown. I also enjoyed the Axis issues of Loki becoming pure of heart and doing good for the sake of it. SIlly? Yes. But fun. The doom issues had issues (see what I did there?) but when have a smart ass Reed kid around it makes it entertaining.

Bad: The art was all over the place. SOme issues good but some pretty bad. Also, Doom kind of came off as a cry baby bitch here. Very odd when in another series, out of time, he's far different and scarier.

Overall this was really fun. It's a little all over the place due to a event messing up the flow but I think it worked well enough. I had fun and read it all in one sitting. A 4 out of 5.

[Des Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

*cough*

So the art was really good.

Anyway, this was incomprehensible garbage. It's firstly an Axis tie-in, and that could really be made more apparent on the cover. Basically, if you're not reading that event (and I hear bad things), you won't understand half of this book. I get it, the good guys switched with the bad guys I guess, and some stuff happened in Thor, and basically Thor and Loki fight half a dozen times, and Loki is good but he's bad, but he's good, but he's sad that's he's bad, but also he's good.

There you go, I just saved you the time you would have spent reading this nonsense. I'm plenty familiar with the character, I loved Journey and Young Avengers, but there wasn't even a satisfying pay-off when Loki finally comes clean about his "crime which will not be forgiven." Hell, he doesn't even take a shower in this volume. I can't think of one good reason to recommend this book to anyone at this point, as it totally dies from cross-over plague.

SORRY EVERYONE. SORRY IT'S BAD.

[Miss Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

ughhhhhhhhhhhh

god i hate marvel universe events

has there ever been a good one? ever? literally every one i've seen so far has just ended up hijacking stories i actually liked to waste whole volumes on a plotlines that don't fit or advance the characterization in any way. and in this case in particular it really screwed up the comprehensibility balance, there were so many references to other series at one point i actually started laughing because wow! literally no shame about the cash grab huh? y'all are just 100% committed to trying drag me into fifty different series just to understand what you're doing with a single character!

well screw you too marvel, if this axis stupidity is still around in volume three i'm out, i started reading this series for loki, not to jump into silly drama about mystical evil and hero-villain swaps and whatever other nonsense you dream up this week

we can keep the verity drama though, i'm actually really pleased that the starcrossed important relationship to this series is a friendship. good. every time lorelei tried to imply otherwise i was right there with verity like 'terrible wicked lies, it is a friendship and you are NOT taking it away from me'

2 stars

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read this volume, the AXIS crossover felt to me like an anoying derailment. On rereading, it became obvious that not only did Ewing put AXIS to the best use possible, but he absolutely advanced the main plot of the comic, which was Loki's change, and in doing so dovetailed the ending of Gillen's story in a way that I wouldn't have thought possible. Magnificent!

The last two issues are also golden. I wish there was a bit more of the narrative-bending and side-storying of the first volume, but the plotting and characterization are still brilliant, as Ewing pulls out all the stops, and brings the story that began in the final pages of Journey into Mystery to its conclusion. If the rest of this volume had been more like the last two issues (and less like the first four), this would have been every bit as good as volume one.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book. I find the interactions between the different Lokis (not to mention the other cast members) to be fascinating. Unfortunately, this volume gets a bit bogged down by the Axis cross-over. Not quite as badly as some other books, to be fair, but it still took a small hit, quality-wise.
Overall, though, this is a charming book and I'd still recommend it to fans of all things Asgardian.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Love how Loki's been elevated into a full blooded character instead of a dull villain. Never know quite what to expect from this series. I got to buckle down and read up the prior JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY series that I mostly missed a couple years back. Have to say I do like Loki as a Hero. Would love to see more of that.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 2 out of 5]

After volume 1, I was mildly interested to see if the story would become more focused and interesting in the next book. The answer is, it doesn't. What I didn't like about the first volume—constant interruptions telling me which other comic books I should read if I want to understand what so-and-so just said—ramps up even more in this one. Reading volume 2 is mostly me trying desperately to figure out what is going on, which is impossible because a lot of necessary narrative is apparently happening in other books. None of this book is interesting enough to make me want to look online for information about those other books, let alone check them out and read them.

Still . . . there are these rare moments when a character will begin talking about things like the power of storytelling to create reality, and in those moments, I wish the story would lose all the other nonsense and focus on those ideas. But no. I find it all a really strange and frustrating series.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loki, Agent of Asgard, Vol. 2: I Cannot Tell A Lie by Al Ewing was fun, but I felt a little out of the loop not having previously read another specific series that is quite important for this as well. It's not as fun reading a cross over when you not very familiar with the other side of the story.

[Lady Entropy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, fuck AXIS.

Crossover events hijacked this book like whoa, and I wanted less about other people and more about Loki.

Still, damn if I still didn't loved the hell out of this book. Also Valeria. I love Valeria.

If the quality keeps going like this and they just manage to drop the crossover events, this is going to get 5 stars from me.

[Rebecca L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic Loki comic that leaves me wanting more, more, more!!!!!

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Some heartbreaking moments in this volume but still going strong! ^^

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning text confused me as it felt like a recap of things that hadn't happened. The comic continued on from the apartment with Verity popping up. The story felt choppy with the little tags constantly pointing to other comics. There wasn't a full story which got a bit annoying. I'm not going down the rabbit hole of trying to piece them together.

[Azuma-chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure about this. At first it was exciting, then it got a little confused along with some annoying stuff and the end was both thrilling and odd. Guess I better read on to say my final thoughts about it.

[Lucas Savio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestamente fiquei bem perdido por não ter lido o famoso eixo que todos falam muito mal e me deixou mega perdido

[Victoria Hawco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too many Lokis. This was a lot.

[Sienna Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

- includes issues 6-11 -

😱😱😱

[Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Complete garbage. How did this go from so good to something I wish I didn't know existed in just five issues?

The crossover event (as it played out here) was dumb. The non-crossover bits were dumb. I hate Thor more and more every time I read anything where he is even mentioned. Freya's (who knows all about what's in the basement) reaction at the end was dumb. The girl who can't be lied to's reactions were dumb. She wants to talk until that conversation would actually clear anything up. The entire volume is just "how stupid can we make every single person without having them just walk off a building and kill themselves?"

[Violeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG me encanta.Lo único que no me ha gustado es el cambio de dibujante en os primeros 2 episodios, pues me ha parecido un dibujo que encaja más con novelas gráficas que con cómics de superheroes but... luego se ha vuelto a Lee Garbett, cuyo dibujo me encanta para contar esta historia de Loki *__*

Los comics de Thor y, básicamente los que tienen lugar en Asgard y los nueve reinos (+ Guardianes de la galaxia), siempre han sido los que más me han gustado y con los que más he disfrutado. Y esta saga de Loki me está pareciendo una de las mejores de los últimos años. De hecho, todo el arco argumental de Kid Loki/Teen Loki es una pasada. Creepy, pero brillante. Deseando estoy de leer el 3 tomo!

[Abigail H. Leskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to like Doctor Doom. He has a niece, and she asked for ice cream, and he said Doom would consider her request, and she said that meant yes. That was cute.

Loki is sorry, but he just keeps getting hit or ignored or expelled or set on fire or deserted. My poor Loki.

Also, apparently if Thor isn't worthy to hold Mjolnir, he considers himself unworthy to wear a shirt....

Content: Some language, two side characters are "paramour"s, violence.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so confused. Loki went from mischievous to good to doomed-to-be-the-personification-of-evil to exile to his future evil self’s prisoner in six issues?

This is like the Cliffs Notes version of some story that got told in a much bigger book, no?

Shearing forces, assemble!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.

The future is the future, and Loki is Loki...

I read Loki: AOA Vol 1 sometime last year and I really enjoyed it. In this series, we see a Loki who is a young adult, and seemingly he has learned from his ways. However, not many people believe him. When Doctor Doom looks into the future, he sees a world destroyed by King Loki, the traditional version of Loki, and he decides he can't let it stand, especially when he has just taken over Latveria. With the help of 3-year-old Valeria Richards, he helps trap Loki in a timeless cube but when Verity Williams shows up, she convinces Valeria to free Loki. They soon find that there is a psychic attack happening by Red Skull leading to increased levels of anger. I really loved seeing Valeria and her "Uncle Doom" interacting, and how he was a complete softy for Valeria. I will say the tagline for this book on the back says that Doctor Doom is Loki's greatest challenge, but I don't know if I really think Doom is a challenge, he always seems like a villain who isn't really a villain. The reason this book doesn't get a higher rating from me is that I found myself a little confused in this volume. It referenced a lot of stuff happening in the other Marvel series' happening at that time so I feel like I missed parts of the story and was a little confused in places. I will read the next volume though, it's still a great story.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, guilty confession time. I remember scoffing (like, I can only hope my scoff was minimally assholery-ish) when Amy responded to my inquery as to why she never finished the Jane Thor comics with a response along the lines of she didn't want to have to read across a million comics (all exaggeration is mine... maybe). OMFG, because when trying to read these Loki: Agent of Asgard comics all I want to read is Loki's story. Do I get that? Welllll, no! I get some threads of his(her) story with an f*ton of footnotes of key events that happened in other comics not included. Can't I just get a succint telling of Loki's story at this point? NO! Denied!

Yep! Amy was right. These stories are waaay too widely dispearsed across a variety of comic book releases which I have zero interest in reading all of. I mean, I understand from a business standpoint why Marvel releases stories in this dispearsed manner (must. drive. sales). And there were absolutey bits of Loki's story that were wonderfully told in this book. But I'm really not here for anything more than the pure Loki delights so I felt kinda robbed at not seeing all the off-screen events (which seemed to be key to the story).

So, yeah, I will continue and read the final Loki: Agent of Asgard book if only because my fabulous public library brings me that shit for free via the Hoopla app. Thank you, Sac Public <3

[marisdreaming · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked volume 1. I liked the premise: Loki being "Agent of Asgard", as the title says, trying to redeem himself and change through funny missions.
Volume 2 ignores that premise. There are a lot of plot-holes between one chapter and the next, plots developed in other comics that you should read meanwhile if you want to get the whole picture. That aside, what should be the message of Loki being played by his future evil self? What should be the message of the reversal act? The only thing I'm getting from this mess is "Loki can't change because we decided he can't", and well, I'm not a fan of this.
(The problem isn't Loki not changing, it's how his not-changing is justified through undeniable fate— not interesting at all.)

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars and rounding up. The truth comes out. After going up against Doctor Doom - and losing - Loki continues to try and be his best self. No more lies and performing good deeds to be the hero he desperately wants to be. Eventually the truth about the new Loki comes out from old King Loki. I loved how the events of other Marvel stories tied into the background this one: Axis, War of Realms, and Thor the Unworthy, and Jane Foster as Thor.