Loki’s Episode 5 Title Is A Thor First Homage

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Loki episode 5.

The title of Loki episode 5 is a nice nod to the character’s comic book debut – and to that of his brother, Thor. The fifth episode of Loki saw the trickster god cast into a void at the end of time, a dumping ground used by the TVA because they knew everything they abandoned there would be consumed by a monstrous creature known as Alioth.

Loki episode 5 was full of Easter eggs, with Marvel taking the opportunity to reveal all manner of creatures and craft had been dumped there. People familiar with the comics were delighted to spot things like the Thanos-Copter, Throg (a human transformed into a frog and granted the powers of Thor), and a nod to a company that purchased Avengers Tower in the comics. Other Easter eggs were tied to the real world, with old boats and UFOs peppered across the horizon, an allegedly hypnotic arcade game called Polybius, and even the USS Eldridge — a ship associated with the legendary “Philadelphia Experiment.” There were even Pixar Easter eggs, too, with a riff on the Pizza Planet truck.

Amusingly, the title of Loki episode 5 was itself an Easter egg. The comic book series Journey Into Mystery was first published in 1952, by Marvel’s predecessor Atlas Comics. It was originally a horror anthology but changed to giant monster and sci-fi stories as the decade progressed. 1962’s Journey Into Mystery #83 included a story by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby that introduced readers to a brand new mythological superhero: the Mighty Thor. Two issues later, the book featured the debut of his half-brother — and nemesis — Loki.

There’s still another layer of meaning to the title of episode 5, though, because in 2011 the “Fear Itself” event ended with Thor’s apparent death. His ongoing comic switched titles back to Journey Into Mystery, with Loki himself taking on a starring role. This is, therefore, an episode title with a rich history and heritage, one shared between Thor and Loki. It’s very much amusing to see Loki episode 5 embrace it.

Of course, what makes this even better is the fact the episode title works perfectly even if you aren’t aware of all this history. The episode is a true “Journey Into Mystery,” with the God of Mischief plunged into a temporal void he had no idea existed, and he spent the entire episode reeling from one surprise to the next. The Loki variants of the void ranged from children to presidents, and there was even an Alligator Loki; had he explored the environment in which he found himself, Loki would even have discovered the Mighty Throg. Even better, when Loki and Sylvie eventually managed to get past Alioth, they embarked on yet another “Journey Into Mystery” as they prepared to finally learn who is really behind the TVA.

Loki releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
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Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

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A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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