JL - Loki?
- Thread starter DhampyrX2
- Start date
Depends on the hero and the City.
Flash is widely popular in Central City due to his personability, where as Superman, though widely popular in Metropolis, isn't exactly all that approachable, despite his friendly demeanor. Loki's not the first to have a great relationship with those of his city, he's just the one with God Powers that regularly interacts with those under his charge.
Green Arrow was another such hero, though to a much lesser extent, which is part of the reason Batman pushed for him joining up with the League.
Flash is widely popular in Central City due to his personability, where as Superman, though widely popular in Metropolis, isn't exactly all that approachable, despite his friendly demeanor. Loki's not the first to have a great relationship with those of his city, he's just the one with God Powers that regularly interacts with those under his charge.
Green Arrow was another such hero, though to a much lesser extent, which is part of the reason Batman pushed for him joining up with the League.
M2J got the general attitude toward Loki pretty much nailed. Also keep in mind he is developing a friendship with Flash who would advocate staying close to the people and that Loki is still... well Loki. The Silvertongue doesn't do him much good without people there to hear it. And until he discovered what was left of the local Asgard he was pretty much doing damage control to help his reputation before Thor and Odin dragged him back. Now, thinking he is truly lost to his home realm it's become part PR and part trying to find a niche for himself in this new reality. In many ways what started as a lie is becoming his reality and he's slowly reforming himself without even really trying.
Also, to those that might be cursing that I posted without a snippet earlier...I think I'll have the time and inspiration to work on this and at least introduce Hades to the party sometime tonight or tomorrow, work depending.
Also, to those that might be cursing that I posted without a snippet earlier...I think I'll have the time and inspiration to work on this and at least introduce Hades to the party sometime tonight or tomorrow, work depending.
Personally, I don't see how Batman wouldn't be a point of curiosity for Loki- for specificaly the reasons stated. Not only is he the only founding member of the League without powers, but many Leaguers with powers are intimidated by him.
Just because Batman is more "mainstream" than other heroes now-a-days and many heroes tend to get overlooked when he gets involved (one thing I like about Batman: The Brave and the Bold is the exposure fans get to 'lesser' heroes), doesn't mean that the Bat should be hated on.
Like it or not, Batman is "supah speshul" to an extent even in the comics.
Just because Batman is more "mainstream" than other heroes now-a-days and many heroes tend to get overlooked when he gets involved (one thing I like about Batman: The Brave and the Bold is the exposure fans get to 'lesser' heroes), doesn't mean that the Bat should be hated on.
Like it or not, Batman is "supah speshul" to an extent even in the comics.
hm, a thought occurs: Captain Marvel exists in JL continuity... though at this point in time I don't know whether or not he's been granted his powers. I'd find the interaction between him and this Loki interesting, considering the shared mythological origin (though granted from different pantheons) and the fact that Cap is still in this continuity explicitly so pure a soul that an incredibly powerful wizard older than the pyramids chose him as his heir. Given Loki's mystic bent and the possibilities of the Rock of Eternity, both as a potential storage area for all that stuff Loki needs to safeguard if the Watchtower doesn't pan out AND a path to other worlds, I think it'd be fun to see them interact.
Shazam, or at least Billy Batson, isn't an active hero yet. He was the "new kid" on the block so to speak in the final season of JLU and was asked to be a part of the League despite being a fairly new hero. Something he jumped at due to his being a Superman fanboy.
Honestly, while I see Loki being fascinated by his powers, Shazam's child mentality- and the fact that Bill idolizes Superman, would likely be very grating on his nerves. Capt. Marvel is even more of a goodie goodie than Superman, so I don't see them being fast friends,
Honestly, while I see Loki being fascinated by his powers, Shazam's child mentality- and the fact that Bill idolizes Superman, would likely be very grating on his nerves. Capt. Marvel is even more of a goodie goodie than Superman, so I don't see them being fast friends,
I agree with you about the grating on Loki. I'd forgotten how much of a Superman fanboy he was in this continuity though. The main reason I thought of Shazam/Captain Marvel was because there was discussion on Hero's and their Cities and Fawcett is somewhere between Central and Metropolis in how it treats the good Captain. I also considered Billy because he really does have a mystically significant soul/spirit which I'd think would interest Loki in a "Oh god you're so annoying but still somehow worthy of respect I suppose" way
I'll admit I haven't seen much of Capt. Marvel in general, but I think Billy is a Superman fanboy in a lot of continuities. It was part of why he was so easily convinced to join Superman's One Earth Government in the Injustice-verse.
Despite his personality, he does have skills. In that episode of JLU, he fought Superman to a standstill. He still lost, but he more than held his own.
Despite his personality, he does have skills. In that episode of JLU, he fought Superman to a standstill. He still lost, but he more than held his own.
He wasn't between Crises as far as I can recall and the period from Infinite Crisis to the present largely doesn't bear mentioning. I think he's sometimes Superman fanboy as a reference to the history between the two characters, how he was a more popular take on the concept for a time who had his more popular aspects absorbed by Superman, like the flying and the invulnerability.
In any event, Loki's interactions with the supernatural would/could/should be cool to see as he's about to confront Hades and all.
In any event, Loki's interactions with the supernatural would/could/should be cool to see as he's about to confront Hades and all.
Loki bit back a comment about a nearly Asgardian lack of subtlety as the switch to open the "hidden door" to the ruins beneath Themyscira, and the portal to Tartarus, was a huge stone square, clearly different from everything in the wall around it, right next to the door to the hidden passageway.
"Ugh, what is that smell?" Flash complained as the odors from the caverns beneath the island wafted up the stairway to meet the Justice League, Loki, and Hippolyta.
"You don't want to know," Diana grimly informed him.
"It's not that bad," Loki commented with idly, which brought the attention of more than one member of the league.
"What? My daughter DOES hold a station similar to that of Hades in the Realm of Nifelheim. It's not like I have never smelled death, decay, and the faint hint of brimstone before. What kind of father would I have been if I never visited Hela from time to time?" Loki asked defensively.
"Right. So does that mean you can take down Hades on your own if you have to? You know what with being the dad to someone with his job a few dimensions over?" Flash asked with a hopeful expression.
Loki looked pensive before he admitted, "Hela is a force to be reckoned with on her own. Easily a match for the most noble of Asgardians. Were one to battle her within Nifelheim even the Allfather himself would be hard pressed against her. Neither Thor nor myself would be assured victory against her. On Midgard she would be weakened. Still a threat, certainly, but not quite as powerful as she would be in her own realm. Hades, if he is anything like the Hades from my realm, would be close to his brothers Zeus and Poseidon in power. Zeus especially is comparable in power to the Allfather, as blasphemous as it would be for another Asgardian to hear me admit it. If the gates are full opened and he has access to the whole of the power within his realm... I would most likely not be a match for him in direct combat."
"Well I guess we'll just have to keep the gates closed then," Superman said with determination.
"You do realize that if he could teleport to them directly that there's a good chance Faust will have them open long before we've arrived, don't you?" Batman interjected cynically.
"Indeed, my friend. I believe we will be in for quite the battle. Hopefully our combined might will be enough to win the day. It would be a shame to leave Gungnir without a wielder again so soon after its recovery. And I would prefer not to return home through the gates of Valhalla if I could at all avoid it," Loki responded with a wicked scowl.
"Would you even go to your Valhalla, or would you go to ours? How does that work for you?" Flash asked, making everyone pause to look between him and Loki.
"That... is a very good question. Let's do our best to never have to discover the answer, shall we?" Loki asked with a disarming smile.
"We will prevail. The gods will it," Diana stated with a fierce glower as they reached the caverns that contained the ruins upon which modern Themyscira had been built after the war with the Titans.
*****
Faust had indeed used the key and started the mystically imbued mechanical lock to the gates of Tartarus as the Justice League approached. The gates opened with an ominous gout of flame before the fires receded and a black and red armored figure emerged.
"My Lord Hades, it is good to see you at last," Faust greeted with a supplicating bow at the waist.
"Indeed," Hades noted as he scanned the area before removing his helmet to reveal a handsome face with flowing back hair similar to Diana's in shade, along with a goatee and pencil mustache to match. "You seem to be missing someone Faust. I recall instructing you to bring my darling Hippolyta with you to greet me. I did not wait three thousand years and grant you so much power only to be disappointed in so simple a task."
Faust paled the the note of icy reproach in the tone of the god before him as he stepped back and bowed again. "My apologies, My Lord. There were unforeseen complications in the acquisition of the key. The Amazon I chose to assemble the pieces after I took Themyscira brought allies of great power. I felt it was more prudent to open the gate immediately rather than risk taking the time to abduct the Amazon Queen and bring her with me as I freed you. She will no doubt join the others in a futile attempt to stop you, at any rate."
Hades scowled at his pawn for a moment before his expression returned to one of neutrality as he acknowledged the words with a curt nod. "Indeed. My dear Hippolyta would never leave her island undefended to my trespass so long as she drew breath. Although I feel I must ask what kinds of allies she has at her side?" Hades inquired.
"Before that happens, My Lord, might I inquire about... my reward? I did free you as I promised," Faust wheedled.
"Ah yes. You desired ultimate human knowledge, did you not?" Hades asked with a sly smile. "Let it never be said that Lord Hades does not fulfill his bargains," he added as he conjured what looked like a ball of flame to his fingertip and touched Faust's forehead.
The League arrived just in time to see Faust writhe in pain as he withered and aged to near death in a matter of seconds. "Ultimately, all mankind will ever know is the pain of age and death," Hades noted with a wicked smile.
"Good Lord," Superman muttered as the others began to try to take positions to attack. He flew in without another word, striking Hades full in the chest and saving what little was left of Faust's life in the process as he interrupted Hades' concentration.
Hades took a moment to strike out, knocking Superman away as a pair of high explosive laced batarangs flew through the darkness from where Batman had perched himself atop a pillar to provide distraction and ranged support. Sadly, they did little more that leave a scorch mark on the dark god's armor as he stepped casually through the flames, only to be met by the twin charges of Hippolyta and Diana.
The god of the Underworld smiled at the sight of the blond even as he caught each of the twin swords before knocking Diana back and pulling Hippolyta toward him. "Ah Hippolyta, it is so good to see you again," Hades said with a leer as Diana struggled to her feet. "And I must say I am intrigued by the changes in Amazonian fashion over the centuries."
Diana did not care for the fallen god's words, or how he pulled her still weakened and struggling mother to him, as she spat, "You will release my mother at once, Hades," as she flew at him in an attempt to free Hippolyta.
The shock of Diana's words was enough to allow her to knock Hades back a step, followed by a war cry from Hawkgirl as she struck from above with her Nth metal mace, and a blast of energy in the shape of a giant fist from Green Lantern that threw Hades back toward the gates.
Hades was far too intrigued to even be bothered by the relative pinpricks of the mortals attacking him as he noted "A daughter Hippolyta? Someone has been keeping secrets."
His musings were cut short as he was suddenly assaulted from all sides by the Flash, before driving the pest away with a gout of flame from his mouth, followed by Hades being driven into the stone floor by a hard strike from above by J'onn. For a moment it looked as though the Justice League had landed a decisive blow at last. At least it did until Hades erupted from the debris with a feral roar as he glared at the assembled mortals. "You mortal pests dare to attack a god?" he spat hatefully, only to be knocked back onto his rear by a blast of golden-white energy.
"Well, if you prefer to be attacked by another god, all you had to do was ask, Lord Hades," Loki declared with a devious grin, Gungnir still pointed at the stunned deity.
"What madness is this?" Hades asked as he stood up, wary of the power that had been behind that blow.
"Oh, it's not madness, Hades. Just a bit of mischeif," Loki replied as his grin widened just a bit.
And.... I think I'll stop there for now. I know I changed a few things here adding GL and HG to the adventure as well as keeping Hippolyta from being kidnapped. Frankly I had a hard time figuring out why the first two were not in the episode and a harder time seeing Diana's mother acting like a feeble damsel in distress when it was her task to guard the gates to begin with. Especially when, depending on who you ask, Hippolyta is supposed to be a minor goddess herself. The fact she was the one to let the Titans through the gates of Olympus in JL canon according to Diana only supports that. From here on out it's the rest of the fight and aftermath. I hope I can do it justice in the nest snippet.
"Ugh, what is that smell?" Flash complained as the odors from the caverns beneath the island wafted up the stairway to meet the Justice League, Loki, and Hippolyta.
"You don't want to know," Diana grimly informed him.
"It's not that bad," Loki commented with idly, which brought the attention of more than one member of the league.
"What? My daughter DOES hold a station similar to that of Hades in the Realm of Nifelheim. It's not like I have never smelled death, decay, and the faint hint of brimstone before. What kind of father would I have been if I never visited Hela from time to time?" Loki asked defensively.
"Right. So does that mean you can take down Hades on your own if you have to? You know what with being the dad to someone with his job a few dimensions over?" Flash asked with a hopeful expression.
Loki looked pensive before he admitted, "Hela is a force to be reckoned with on her own. Easily a match for the most noble of Asgardians. Were one to battle her within Nifelheim even the Allfather himself would be hard pressed against her. Neither Thor nor myself would be assured victory against her. On Midgard she would be weakened. Still a threat, certainly, but not quite as powerful as she would be in her own realm. Hades, if he is anything like the Hades from my realm, would be close to his brothers Zeus and Poseidon in power. Zeus especially is comparable in power to the Allfather, as blasphemous as it would be for another Asgardian to hear me admit it. If the gates are full opened and he has access to the whole of the power within his realm... I would most likely not be a match for him in direct combat."
"Well I guess we'll just have to keep the gates closed then," Superman said with determination.
"You do realize that if he could teleport to them directly that there's a good chance Faust will have them open long before we've arrived, don't you?" Batman interjected cynically.
"Indeed, my friend. I believe we will be in for quite the battle. Hopefully our combined might will be enough to win the day. It would be a shame to leave Gungnir without a wielder again so soon after its recovery. And I would prefer not to return home through the gates of Valhalla if I could at all avoid it," Loki responded with a wicked scowl.
"Would you even go to your Valhalla, or would you go to ours? How does that work for you?" Flash asked, making everyone pause to look between him and Loki.
"That... is a very good question. Let's do our best to never have to discover the answer, shall we?" Loki asked with a disarming smile.
"We will prevail. The gods will it," Diana stated with a fierce glower as they reached the caverns that contained the ruins upon which modern Themyscira had been built after the war with the Titans.
*****
Faust had indeed used the key and started the mystically imbued mechanical lock to the gates of Tartarus as the Justice League approached. The gates opened with an ominous gout of flame before the fires receded and a black and red armored figure emerged.
"My Lord Hades, it is good to see you at last," Faust greeted with a supplicating bow at the waist.
"Indeed," Hades noted as he scanned the area before removing his helmet to reveal a handsome face with flowing back hair similar to Diana's in shade, along with a goatee and pencil mustache to match. "You seem to be missing someone Faust. I recall instructing you to bring my darling Hippolyta with you to greet me. I did not wait three thousand years and grant you so much power only to be disappointed in so simple a task."
Faust paled the the note of icy reproach in the tone of the god before him as he stepped back and bowed again. "My apologies, My Lord. There were unforeseen complications in the acquisition of the key. The Amazon I chose to assemble the pieces after I took Themyscira brought allies of great power. I felt it was more prudent to open the gate immediately rather than risk taking the time to abduct the Amazon Queen and bring her with me as I freed you. She will no doubt join the others in a futile attempt to stop you, at any rate."
Hades scowled at his pawn for a moment before his expression returned to one of neutrality as he acknowledged the words with a curt nod. "Indeed. My dear Hippolyta would never leave her island undefended to my trespass so long as she drew breath. Although I feel I must ask what kinds of allies she has at her side?" Hades inquired.
"Before that happens, My Lord, might I inquire about... my reward? I did free you as I promised," Faust wheedled.
"Ah yes. You desired ultimate human knowledge, did you not?" Hades asked with a sly smile. "Let it never be said that Lord Hades does not fulfill his bargains," he added as he conjured what looked like a ball of flame to his fingertip and touched Faust's forehead.
The League arrived just in time to see Faust writhe in pain as he withered and aged to near death in a matter of seconds. "Ultimately, all mankind will ever know is the pain of age and death," Hades noted with a wicked smile.
"Good Lord," Superman muttered as the others began to try to take positions to attack. He flew in without another word, striking Hades full in the chest and saving what little was left of Faust's life in the process as he interrupted Hades' concentration.
Hades took a moment to strike out, knocking Superman away as a pair of high explosive laced batarangs flew through the darkness from where Batman had perched himself atop a pillar to provide distraction and ranged support. Sadly, they did little more that leave a scorch mark on the dark god's armor as he stepped casually through the flames, only to be met by the twin charges of Hippolyta and Diana.
The god of the Underworld smiled at the sight of the blond even as he caught each of the twin swords before knocking Diana back and pulling Hippolyta toward him. "Ah Hippolyta, it is so good to see you again," Hades said with a leer as Diana struggled to her feet. "And I must say I am intrigued by the changes in Amazonian fashion over the centuries."
Diana did not care for the fallen god's words, or how he pulled her still weakened and struggling mother to him, as she spat, "You will release my mother at once, Hades," as she flew at him in an attempt to free Hippolyta.
The shock of Diana's words was enough to allow her to knock Hades back a step, followed by a war cry from Hawkgirl as she struck from above with her Nth metal mace, and a blast of energy in the shape of a giant fist from Green Lantern that threw Hades back toward the gates.
Hades was far too intrigued to even be bothered by the relative pinpricks of the mortals attacking him as he noted "A daughter Hippolyta? Someone has been keeping secrets."
His musings were cut short as he was suddenly assaulted from all sides by the Flash, before driving the pest away with a gout of flame from his mouth, followed by Hades being driven into the stone floor by a hard strike from above by J'onn. For a moment it looked as though the Justice League had landed a decisive blow at last. At least it did until Hades erupted from the debris with a feral roar as he glared at the assembled mortals. "You mortal pests dare to attack a god?" he spat hatefully, only to be knocked back onto his rear by a blast of golden-white energy.
"Well, if you prefer to be attacked by another god, all you had to do was ask, Lord Hades," Loki declared with a devious grin, Gungnir still pointed at the stunned deity.
"What madness is this?" Hades asked as he stood up, wary of the power that had been behind that blow.
"Oh, it's not madness, Hades. Just a bit of mischeif," Loki replied as his grin widened just a bit.
And.... I think I'll stop there for now. I know I changed a few things here adding GL and HG to the adventure as well as keeping Hippolyta from being kidnapped. Frankly I had a hard time figuring out why the first two were not in the episode and a harder time seeing Diana's mother acting like a feeble damsel in distress when it was her task to guard the gates to begin with. Especially when, depending on who you ask, Hippolyta is supposed to be a minor goddess herself. The fact she was the one to let the Titans through the gates of Olympus in JL canon according to Diana only supports that. From here on out it's the rest of the fight and aftermath. I hope I can do it justice in the nest snippet.
I just watched this episode a few days ago, and you have no idea how much it bugged me that the entire league could have been taken out by an upstart sorcerer. I like your explanation that Faust was empowered by a being near the Allfather in power. Do not forget that Nth metal partially negates magic, so it should do more damage to Hades than even Superman's fists. Sadly many episodes of Justice League featuring magic and Hawkgirl forget that fact.
On the Batman issue, please keep the whole thing on the down low. Do not let it dominate the story.
On the Batman issue, please keep the whole thing on the down low. Do not let it dominate the story.
On that, we can agree.
I can't recall any but one episode of JLU that featured both Magic and Hawkgirl- the one where Felix Faust managed to take over Hades and disrupted the very fabric of magic, simultaneously taking out every magic user in the league including, but not limited to Jason Blood/Etrigan, Capt. Marvel and Zatanna Zatara.
Should that event happen in this timeline, I wonder how it would affect Loki....
I can't recall any but one episode of JLU that featured both Magic and Hawkgirl- the one where Felix Faust managed to take over Hades and disrupted the very fabric of magic, simultaneously taking out every magic user in the league including, but not limited to Jason Blood/Etrigan, Capt. Marvel and Zatanna Zatara.
Should that event happen in this timeline, I wonder how it would affect Loki....
So! In the hopes of perhaps sparking ideas on the part of the author I'm going to post a link to a story that has a similar, if opposed, premise. Rather than Loki joining the Justice League, you have Thor being banished to DCAU Earth instead of Marvel Earth, and having Asgard being historically linked to DCAU Earth including a rocky history with Themyscira and Olympus. Thor ends up a founding member of the Avengers and Loki doesn't immediately estrange himself.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8336135/1/Thunderstruck
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8336135/1/Thunderstruck