Loki has an instantly recognizable toolkit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Armed with his sharp wit, green-hued magic and plenty of knives, he’s not as up front when he fights as Asgardian warriors. But he’s more than capable on the battlefield, and the new trailer for the Loki Disney+ series gives him a brand new weapon to carry into the fight. The short sword he’s got strapped to his back is heftier than his knives, and it might also carry some weighty portent. There’s a chance it could be a version of Gram, the Sword of Truth.
Present in the Volsunga Saga of Norse myth as the weapon Sigurd wields in his final battle with Fafnir the dragon, Gram made its comics introduction in 2014’s All-New Marvel NOW! The story “Before the Truth Has Its Pants On” by Al Ewing and Lee Garbett served as a prequel to the duo’s Loki: Agent of Asgard miniseries. In the mini comic, Loki streaked through a mini-heist, collecting five keys in order to unlock the chest containing Sigurd’s former blade, last used just as it was in myth to slay Fafnir.
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Gram had a dramatic role during the first half of Agent of Asgard, including the premiere. Loki used his new weapon to stab Thor, an action that was not meant to be fatal or even an actual attack. As it turns out, Gram was infused with truth magic by virtue of Fafnir’s death, and using it on Thor freed him from what was later revealed to be the influence of an evil future Loki. Later, Sigurd stole it back in a gambit to change his own fate, but he ran afoul of Mephisto, and the blade eventually returned to Loki.
The truth behind the Sword of Truth is complicated. As the comics explain, Future Loki created a fictional loop around the artifact, weaving the story that it was destined to be Loki’s and creating a trap that meant the younger Loki wasn’t able to use it against him. It foreshadowed the God of Mischief’s transition into the God of Stories, and by the time Odinson destroyed the blade in the tenth issue, Gram had done its job. It was a metaphor for the sharper truths that Loki was trying to avoid, and by its end, he had started to come around to some truths on his own, partially through his genuine friendship with Verity Willis.
The blade seen in Loki’s new trailer is a short sword, which is the first problem with suggesting that it might be Gram. But it’s not a critical flaw; if it’s a Gram specifically meant for Loki, variant or otherwise, his combat strengths favor quick, close fighting. He’d be better off with a lighter blade like this one. And he seems fond of it enough to put a sheath for it across his back, creating a striking visual contrast between his mundane TVA gear and this flash of old Asgard. That could be a clue to its importance.
It’s also possible that it’s just a sword he liked enough to grab on his time-hopping adventures. The details of the blade are hard to make out. A good look could clear up the question of if Loki stole it during what looks like a visit to Pompeii just before the eruption of Vesuvius. It’s short and shapely enough to pass for an ancient Roman gladius, but the hilt seems more angular than the cupped style audiences may recall from the blockbuster film Gladiator (2000).
Another possibility is that it could be a gift from Queen Frigga, Loki’s mother. Frigga was Loki’s mentor in magic, but he also adopted much of her quick fighting style. It’s clear she was no slouch with a short sword, either. She took one from an Einherjar in Thor: The Dark World, and deftly used it to fight the Dark Elves that came for the Infinity Stone possessing Jane Foster. The emotional tie between Loki and his adoptive mother is a strong one, and going to her in any reality he could manage — as Avengers: Endgame proved, Frigga’s unflappable when it comes to alternate timelines — might see him come away with a gift to protect himself.
Whatever the source of Loki’s new weapon, the trailer’s few glimpses of dynamic fight scenes are exciting for fans that want to see the trickster at the top of his game. Up until now, Loki’s been relying mainly on his wits to avoid fighting an equal. It’s just not his style, but it’s a smart tactic to keep his real capabilities hidden until necessary. With some unavoidable fights in his future, Loki has shown he’s ready to roll up his sleeves and jump into the fray.
Loki stars Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Sophia Di Martino, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E. Grant. The series premieres June 11 on Disney+.
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