Rick Riordan Slams Marvel's Loki: 'They Play Fast and Loose'

The mastermind behind the beloved Percy Jackson universe has some strong opinions about how Marvel handles Norse mythology. Rick Riordan, known for bringing Greek gods into modern times, once opened up about his take on one of the MCU's most complex characters.

In a 2015 interview with The Guardian, Riordan didn't hold back when discussing Marvel's version of the Norse trickster god. The author made it clear that while he enjoys the superhero films, he believes they take too many liberties with ancient stories.

Author Prefers Authentic Mythology Over Hollywood Spectacle

"I grew up on Thor comics and I like the Marvel movies, but they play fast and loose with the Norse myths. I wanted my version to be closer to the original. Loki is a great character in the old Viking stories," Riordan explained during the interview.

The writer went on to describe his approach to the character in his Magnus Chase series, aiming to portray the trickster "the same way he acts in the myths: clever, funny, capricious, silver-tongued and quick to anger."

This conversation took place when Riordan launched Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer, his venture into Norse mythology after years of success with Greek and Roman tales. His extensive catalog includes the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, Heroes of Olympus, and Trials of Apollo collections.

Disney Plus Brings Fresh Percy Jackson Adventures

While Riordan's books previously became feature films starring Logan Lerman and Alexandra Daddario, Disney Plus recently transformed his stories into a full television series. The streaming platform just dropped the second season, giving fans more mythological adventures.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 premiered its first two episodes on December 10, with new installments arriving every Wednesday through January 21, 2026. The season includes eight episodes total, each with distinctive titles like "I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals" and "Demon Pigeons Attack."

Marvel's Loki Gets Second Chance at Redemption

Meanwhile, Marvel's interpretation of the Norse god continues evolving across multiple timelines. The character who died protecting Asgardians in Infinity War differs from the variant featured in the Disney Plus Loki series, who escaped during the events of Endgame.

This timeline split means Thor hasn't witnessed his brother's growth and heroic transformation. However, upcoming projects like Avengers: Doomsday may finally reunite these characters, potentially bringing closure to their complicated relationship.