Now viewers are debating whether Lady Loki is a female variant of Loki, an entirely separate character from Loki – like She-Hulk is to the Hulk – or whether this character is actually another Asgardian comic book character called Enchantress.
Beyond the unmasking of Lady Loki, many questions about Loki’s gender identity remain unanswered as of the second episode.
It is to be hoped that Lady Loki is who she appears to be – a Loki variant who shapeshifted to female and has remained in this form indefinitely — instead of separate character.
Queer fans are the lifeblood of the MCU’s expansive and diverse fanbase, and have been waiting far too long to see themselves reflected in Marvel projects, or represented as superheroes.
One report from early last year showed Marvel Studios had released a casting call for a transgender actor to play a supporting character named Sera for this first season of “Loki,” and reportedly “with options for the second season as well,” although it’s to be confirmed whether “Loki” will even have a second season.
Furthermore, last year Kevin Feige confirmed a transgender character would be coming to the MCU “very soon” — specifically, he said, “in a movie we’re shooting right now,” which fans at the time speculated to be “Eternals.” It’s confirmed at the very least that “Eternals” will portray the MCU’s first openly gay superhero, which is exciting, but isn’t the same as trans representation.
“A growing movement of trans and queer people in the U.S.
Rich Larson’s book “Annex” is the coming-of-age story of a transgender girl named Violet, who’s able to escape social expectations and live as her true self following an apocalyptic alien invasion.
LeGuin published “The Left Hand of Darkness,” which explored a race of people who are by default androgynous until they are revealed to be also ambisexual, shifting genders from either male of female depending on environmental conditions.
Plus, on the long-running British science fiction series “Doctor Who,” it’s taken until the 13th incarnation of the Time Lord to regenerate as female with Jodie Whittaker playing the Gallifreyen.
The introduction of Lady Loki presents the MCU with a vital opportunity to represent genderqueer identity and experiences, and explore Loki’s gender fluidity on a deeper level.
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