God of Mischief Loki Laufeyson has been reborn again. Fortune has found him the king of the Frost Giants. So naturally, he’s going to be hanging out in a casino under Manhattan. Thus begins the adventure of Thor’s half-brother in the first issue of his own title. Loki is written by Late Show writer Daniel Kibblesmith. The story is brought to the page by veteran comic book artist Oscar Bazaldua. A charismatic character made all the more accessible by a very charismatic actor in big-budget Hollywood films, Loki is a perfect match for his own title. Kibblesmith and Bazaldua give Loki a suitably charming entrance in a profoundly entertaining first issue.

The Frost Giants are having a great deal of difficulty respecting their new king. He’s just so...small. Nevertheless, they ARE seeking his wisdom. The only problem is that he’s not on his throne. He’s nowhere to be found in the Frost Giant’s home of Jotunheim. He is, in fact, gambling. In Manhattan. (Shooting craps in fact.) Makes perfect sense. He’s just been through a hell of a journey to get where he’s going and now that he’s there...he wants to be something (and maybe someone) else. Things are going to get complicated when his half-brother Thor shows-up and demands to know why he is not residing over Jotunheim.

Kibblesmith is a very, very witty guy. (That much is evident from The Late Show.) The first issue of the series shows off a bit of that humor while showing that he’s also goy a very keen understanding of how to tell the opening chapter of a story. He’s written fiction before. He’s written comic books before. Here he’s writing Loki..., and Loki would be fun for anyone. However, a writer with a sophisticated sense of humor and a sharp eye for deft characterization make this opening issue a lot of fun.

Bazaldua has an excellent talent for casting a great depth of personality into a casual glance. His work has ranged from horror to erotica to straightforward superhero work. He’s perfectly paired here with an anti-hero who is the very definition of duplicity. The way Bazaldua draws Loki...one gets the impression that he knows anyone looking at him is going to totally misread him. There’s a confidence in Loki the masks so much mystery underneath. Bazaldua makes this so clear that Loki’s dishonesty actually feels quite honest. He’s not trying to hide anything at all. It’s a very classy swagger that Bazaldua has managed to deliver to the page. It’ll be interesting to see what he does with it in future issues. 

So Loki’s cool, The creative team is cool., The team is VERY COOL. No creative team lasts forever, though. It’s hard to imagine Loki working quite this well with anyone else. But in the opening installment, Kibblesmith and Bazaldua give this series the kind of appeal that makes it FEEL like anyone could pick up the title and instantly make it their own. Loki’s just that adaptable. But with any luck, Kibblesmith and Bazaldua will be around for a long, long time. This is a fun opener.

Grade: A