Comics THORsday: Loki Agent of Asgard #10, Loki cannot forgive himself

Welcome to another Comics Thorsday! This time Loki Agent of Asgard will touch a delicate issue: if we cannot forgive ourselves, how can others forgive us? Issue #10 is a very emotional issue in which we see a guilty Loki. He is the crime that cannot be forgiven, but by who? By those in Asgard, or by himself? Because, although we’re in front of Loki’s fall from grace under Asgardian eyes, we already know that he was doomed by them from the beginning of his quest to better himself. Thus, the question is not being forgiven for those who won’t, but being forgiven by ourselves. Sometimes, we’re too hard on ourselves, and we punish ourselves harder than others would. Loki has been feeling guilty about that unspeakable sin that he, himself, cannot forgive. But the questions that this issue poses is deeper that it seems at first sight: if others can forgive us, why can’t we? If others are unwilling to let us be better, why should we need their approval?

All events that have been happening in previous issues seem to bring us to this point, a point where our guilt cannot let us live. We’ve been trying to hide from the truth, but even if we want to hide, it will come up sooner or later. And that’s what happens to Loki. Unable to stop himself anymore, he needs to speak the truth: he killed his better version. Or at least, that is the better version that the Asgardians liked. But is he really so bad? So bad that cannot even forgive himself?

Sometimes society make us believe that we’re unworthy. But, as we’ve seen in previous issues, a little change in perspective of society, and suddenly we’re worthy. The Red Skull changed the perspective of what heroes and villains are supposed to be, and suddenly good and evil was all upside down. And so, a Loki without guilt was able to hold the hammer again. However, when the magic undid that, Loki felt the guilt again, making himself unworthy of holding the hammer. It might seem as a subtlety, but here remains the key of what is worthy or not: we decide if we’re. If our heart is pure of guilt, regardless of our actions, we’ll pick the hammer. If our heart feels heavy as a rock, we won’t be able to held it!

This issue makes us questions what is the nature of good and evil. Is a hero someone incapable of feeling guilt? Are only villains the ones entitle of feeling it? If you cannot feel guilt, how are you going to feel resentment? And if you cannot repent, how can you better yourself? Loki wants to be better, but he must accept his own actions, good and evil. And in doing so, he’ll be a better version of himself. Only if he can forgive himself.

However society is heavy on our shoulders. He wants to fit in, he wants to belong. He needs family and friends support to make it happen. A group that supports us is key in order to leave the dark places we might put ourselves in. When we lack that support it’s really hard to do it by ourselves. Think about dark thoughts that diminish who we are and that prevent us to be our better selves. Loki, unfortunately, does not have the support that he needs. Asgardians already made their minds: they don’t really want him to change (at least, we know that from his parents). So, if he does, he’ll need to do it alone.

And yet, we might find that support in unexpected places. Yes, Asgardians might have made their minds on Loki, but he has found a friend. In fact, Verity might be the only true friend Loki has ever had. Her support isn’t sweet at all, however, what she does for him is giving him the chance to better himself. She is giving him the opportunity to forgive himself, to change himself. Something, the others are not willing to do.

What do you think? Is Loki too hard on himself? Why do you think Asgardians are so unwilling to let him change for real?

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Need more help? Read some more:

• Loki Agent of Asgard #1, we start reading!
• Introduction to Comics
• Maybe also, some History of Comics?
• Loki is a little bit of a Geek. Some info about Issue #2 before reading it. The cheating sheet is here!
• Loki goes speed dating in Issue #2. Read it here.
• Loki explains legends in a different light in Issue #3. Read it here.
• Loki Geeks out in Issue #4. Read it here.
• Loki shows off in Issue #5. Read it here.
• Is Loki of Asgard really loved by Odin? Discovering an important page in Original Sin, Thor & Loki The Tenth Realm. Read it here.
• Loki gets in trouble in issue #6 + The Tenth Realm. Read it here.
• Loki gets upside down in Loki AoA issue #7! Read it here.
• Loki is too good to be true in issue #8! Read it here.
• Loki and Thor Swap roles in issue #9! Read it here.