With the election season in full swing, Marvel is throwing a political candidate into the mix: Loki. But what does the God of Mischief have to offer a country that needs a President? He’s a known liar, he’s got a history of manipulating people, and he has a tendency to cause national catastrophes for the sake of getting good press. Does that sound like a good idea for the highest office in the land?
Assuming that it does, Christopher Hastings brings the cheeky prankster to life with Vote Loki #1. The first issue frames the charade through a journalist Nisa Contreras, who learns of Loki’s Presidential ambition from him directly. He then manipulates events to ensure her first article in favor of his candidacy.
Despite this shady background, Loki begins to win over the public and gains a sizable following. While the candidates of both major parties continue to spout generic and uninspiring policy proposals, Loki takes a different approach. He acknowledges the double-talk, division, and spin that has come to define our world of 24-hour news networks, rhetoric, and sound bites, but he promises to be different.
One of the most interesting aspects of Vote Loki is how it skewers our culture/politics without coming off as cynical or condescending. It’s easy to see how this story could have been a heavy-handed parody or satire of the 2016 campaign, but instead it’s a cleverly written and illustrated romp that’s fun and thought-provoking.