The Alpha Review
By Andrew Uys
I’ve heard that trade paperbacks — a run of comic issues collected into a graphic novel — are all the rage today. But which ones are worth your time? This column aims to put the spotlight on the spectacular trades — at least according to this writer. And just for fun, we will start with the letter “A,” and each subsequent review will follow with the next letter of the alphabet. While you might object to my taste or my opinion, I hope that this column will help save you time and money when you are next buying a trade paperback, as well as effort in alphabetizing.
L is for Loki
Written by Robert Rodi
Art by Esad Ribic
Marvel, 2007
Loki is a fabulous trade paperback that collects a largely unknown four-issue miniseries of the same name. Set outside Thor continuity, or possibly in a near future, this TPB features a wickedly good story and lushly painted art, which combine for a fantastic read. The premise is simple: Asgard has fallen, Thor is defeated, and Loki is the victor. The story is told from Loki’s perspective, as he goes about settling old scores and tormenting his captives. What makes this story unique, apart from its grand artistic style, is that we finally understand Loki’s side of the age old conflict between him and Thor. The TPB doesn’t paint Loki as a hero, or even as a particularly sympathetic character, but instead the reader comes to understand that there are two sides to every tale — and this is Loki’s.
While I am sure someone will roll their eyes at my ignorance, Robert Rodi and Esad Ribic are largely unknown to me. After a little digging, I realized that I have seen and enjoyed Ribic’s art before — he has worked on Wolverine, and Silver Surfer: Requiem. His painted style is immediately recognizable. It is his artistic touch that makes you forget that you are reading a comic, and instead feel as though you are witnessing an ancient epic playing out before your eyes. Pages seem like stretched canvases, and every panel can be enjoyed as a piece of art wholly separate from the story. This is not to say that the writing is slack. Robert Rodi has done work for DC, Vertigo, and Marvel, and while I have only a passing familiarity with some of his past material, this TPB reads — the dialogue, the plot twists, the characters — every bit as epically as the art on the page. Rodi doesn’t make Loki the misunderstood hero, or even a villain trying to do good for once, but rather tells Loki’s tale, and lets you the reader judge how he has been treated by Thor and his fellows. You come to realize that while Loki is wholeheartedly a villain, Thor, Sif, and Balder are not the heroes and paragons of virtue that they are often depicted as — everyone has their flaws, including those we normally think of as the good guys. It is not a long TPB, and the pacing is excellent, making for a relatively quick but very enjoyable read.
Lack of exposure and in-continuity impact has hurt this book, and it is a hidden gem in the comic store. For those who get tired of trying to fit all of the continuity pieces together, this TPB makes for an excellent break from Marvel’s normal line-up. Still, the characters are instantly identifiable as Marvel’s Loki and Thor, making it easy to get into. Combining the pacing and fun of a comic book, with the epic nature of Norse mythology, you can’t go wrong if you read Loki.
that looks really cool, i’m going see if i can pick this up.