![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/object/920/920001/loki-2_pictureboxart_160w.jpg)
The God of Mischief has been around far longer than Marvel Comics, but we can't help but love the incarnation that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby conjured up several decades ago. Since that time, Thor's half-brother has become a pivotal character in comic books, and is actually the villain that caused the creation of the Avengers. If that isn't an important event, we're not sure what is.
Important moments aside, Loki is a character that writers must simply love to write as he's been involved in some fantastic stories, the current run of Thor just being the latest of those. His hatred and jealousy of Thor runs so deep that Loki will stop at nothing, including the corruption and destruction of Asgard itself. Loki has even recently inhabited the body of Sif in order to deny the God of Thunder his love.
Loki has never been more important than he is now. As a member of Norman Osborn's villainous cabal, the Asgardian god is now in a position of influence, one that he is exploiting in numerous ways. Osborn's own agreement with Loki is to return Asgard to the heavens. An alliance with fellow Cabal member Victor Von Doom is yielding new control over Asgard. Manipulation of a sect of Avengers is even proving useful as a way to keep Osborn's personal interests under watch and influence.
There are many master manipulators, but this god has proven he has no equal. Marvel's Dark Reign may prove in the end to be the reign of one wicked Norse god.