WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Loki Episode 5, "Journey Into Mystery," now streaming on Disney+.
Loki Episode 5, "Journey Into Mystery," is out, and Loki'strip into the Void is full of winks and nodsto the comics, as well as the established historyof the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here is a breakdown of every Marvel reference, easter egg and callback in LokiEpisode 5.
Journey Into Mystery
The episode's title "Journey Into Mystery" refers to the Marvel Comics series where Thor and Loki firstdebuted in 1952. Journey Into Mystery #83 introduces Thor as Dr. Donald Blake, who hits his wooden staff on the ground, becoming Thor the God of Thunder for the first time to defend Earth against an invasion of the Stone-Men. In 2011, Journey Into Mystery was revived and featured Kid Loki, as well as several other characters.
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Qeng Tower
In the opening of the episode, there is a tower that looks like Stark Tower with "QENG" on it, referencing Qeng Enterprises, first mentioned in 2015'sAvengers: Ultron Forever Issue #1. In the comics,Qeng bought Stark Tower from Tony Stark, and the CEO, Mr. Gryphon, was revealed to be one of Kang the Conqueror's many identities, making this another Kang Easter egg.
Kid Loki's Nexus Event
Kid Loki reveals that the Nexus event that put him on the TVA's radar was him killing Thor. Loki has been trying and failing to defeat Thor in the MCU and comics for years, yet Kid Loki actually killed Thor, and as a child at that. The reveal is dramatic and raises questions about how and why he killed Thor, or if he even meant to.
Thanos-Copter
While traversing the Void,there'sa yellow helicopter with"Thanos" writtenin bold lettering on the side. The helicopter references the Thanos-Copter, which the Mad Titan uses in Super Spidey Stories #39, and it's just sitting in ruin in Loki. This suggests that the Thanos-Copter violated the Sacred Timeline, resulting in the TVA eliminating the Nexus event caused by it.
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Mjolnir
As Loki and his variant companions climb down into the safe house, Mjolnir is buried underground like common rubble, despite it beingThor's signature weapon. The number of artifacts and weapons from the Marvel canon that could end up in the Void is probably limitless.
Frog Thor
Right under Mjolnir, there is the first seen Variant of Thor. Frog Thor is encased in a Jar labeled T365. T365 references Thor Vol 1, Issue #365, which introduces Frog Thor to the Marvel Universe. Thor was turned into a frog and later lifted Mjolnir, becoming Frog Thor. Later, Simon Waterson, who was turned into the frog Puddlegulp, gains the power of Thor after lifting a piece of Mjolnir left behind by the real Thor,becoming Throg.
Alioth
Alioth is the cloud-like force thatdevours everything in the Void and guards the location of whoever is behind the TVA. In the comics, Alioth is a supreme time being that Kang the Conqueror fears.It exists as a trans-temporal being that causes disturbances across timelines and destroys everything it comes into contact with. Alioth's first appearance was in The Avenger: Terminatrix Objective # 1 as The "Supreme Time Being," who was the first being to break free from the constraints of time and has an empire that is larger than Kang the Conqueror's.
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Giant Yellow Jacket Helmet
There is a giant Yellow Jacket Helmet in the middle of the Void. Yellow Jacket is Ant-Man's arch-nemesis Darren Cross, who created a rival suit and particle,which was unstable. Cross was defeated inAnt-Man, putting an end to his Yellow Jacket program. Since there is a giant Yellow Jacket Helmet, then a Nexus event likely involved Cross, which could've featuredYellow Jacket as the winner of his confrontation with Ant-Man.
Classic Loki's Glorious Purpose
Classic Loki brings up Loki's iconic words "glorious purpose" -- which were first used by Loki in The Avengers --throughout the episode. Loki tells Nick Fury in The Avengers, "I am Loki, of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose." Classic Loki uses the phrase to chastisethe other Loki Variants' behavior, which he believes is all in the name of misguided "glorious purpose." Classic Loki then usesthe phrase at the climax of the episode, where he creates an entire illusion of Asgard to draw Alioth to him, screaming it like a battle cry.
Roxxiwine
In the underground safe house, the Loki Variants enjoy Roxxiwine, which is another reference to Roxxon. Roxxon is an energy corporation that is one of the most powerful companies in Marvel Comics, and it has done all the nefarious thingsone would expect of a giant evil corporation. In the comics, Roxxon forges a pact with Malekith, the Dark Elf leader from Thor: The Dark World,whichgives Roxxon the rights to strip mine any worlds that Malekith conquers.
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Classic Loki Survived Thanos
Classic Loki tells the tale of how he survived Thanos in Avengers: Infinity Warand how it led to his Nexus event. Instead of assassinating Thanos,Classic Loki created aprojection of himself that fooled the Mad Titan.He then disguised himself as a piece of rubble and floated away into the depths of space, and he decided it was best if he lived in solitude. After years alone on a remote planet,Classic Lokimissed Thor, and as soon as hetried to leavethe planet, the TVA arrived.
President Loki
The Loki that leads the other Variants to the safe house is President Loki, anod to the comic series Vote Loki, which saw Loki campaigning to become president. Loki becoming president is a scary thought, and it is surely why this Variant drew the attention of the TVA. President Loki gets his hand bitten off by alligator Loki, resulting in a no holds barred fight between several Loki Variants.
Dark Aster
Ronan the Accuser's ship, Dark Aster, also appears as Loki and Sylvie prepare to confront Alioth.TheDark Aster was in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, where it was destroyed in the battleon Xandar, yet some Nexus event led to it ending up in the Void.
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Living Tribunal
As Sylvie and Loki confront Alioth, there's a giant statue head with three faces, a monument of The Living Tribunal. The Living Tribunal is a powerful multiversal being who safeguards the multiverse. As the MCU explores the multiverse, there aremore hints about the cosmic entities that loom large in the background, and The Living Tribunal is the best example of that.
Shield Helicarrier
Also present is aShield helicarrier. The helicarrier could be from any number of moments in the MCU if a Nexus event occured. For instance Steve Rogers failing in Captain America: The Winter Soldieror Ultron succeedingin Avengers: Age of Ultroncould cause the TVA to interfere.
Loki's Ancestral Blade
In Norse mythology, Loki forges a sword called Laevateinn. In Episode 5, Kid Loki draws said sword on Loki,and it looks like Loki's ancestral sword. Later on, Kid Loki gives Loki the sword, saying he will need it. Loki wields the sword to distract Alioth and a flame ignites, indicating it's a powerful weapon.
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Illusion of Asgard
Classic Loki creates a massive projection of Asgard to distract AliothsoSylvie and Lokican enchant it. Earlier, Classic Loki remarks how Lokis' infatuation with blades holds back their magical potential. Classic Loki then demonstrates this with the biggest, most intricate projection yet. It's so impressive, Loki tells Sylvie thatthey really are stronger than they realize, echoing the elder Loki's sentiment.
Loki stars Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku, Sophia Di Martino, Richard E. Grant, Sasha Lane, and Eugene Cordero. New episodes air Wednesdays on Disney+.
KEEP READING: A Loki Guide: News, Easter Eggs, Reviews, Recaps, Theories and Rumors
