Thor Recruits His Long-Lost Brother for New Avengers-Level God Team

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Immortal Thor #11! In Thor’s latest Marvel Comics adventure, Thor has assembled a new team that makes the Avengers look like amateurs – and that team is called the Children of Odin, as it consists entirely of Thor’s siblings. Together, they are about to embark on a quest to save yet another sibling who has gone missing, and every one of them is integral to accomplishing this mission – including Thor’s long-lost brother, Bragi.

In The Immortal Thor #11 by Al Ewing and Valentina Pinti, Thor and his Children of Obin god-squad are having a meeting in Ullr’s Hall on Asgard when they are suddenly joined by Bragi, the God of Poems. Bragi actually filled the role Loki currently fills as the newly appointed God of Stories. In fact, when Bragi returns, he briefly retakes his old position – and in the most meta way imaginable.

Throughout The Immortal Thor, Loki has been telling Thor’s tale as the God of Stories, with the comic book’s narration boxes acting as Loki’s voice. This remains true at the start of The Immortal Thor #11, but the second Bragi enters, the normally tan narration boxes become purple, signifying that someone new is telling this tale, and that someone is Bragi.

Marvel Comics Proves Thor Isn’t Loki’s True Opposite, Bragi Is

While it’s always been assumed that Thor is the cosmic opposite of Loki, as Thor is bright, brash, and valiant, while Loki has always been shadowy, conniving, and generally villainous. However, the superficial aspects of their respective personalities don’t define either of them, as Marvel fans have recently learned, which is why Thor and Loki are such good partners in the current continuity. Loki’s true opposite is someone who must be intrinsically different all the way down to the core, and that someone is Bragi.

As Bragi himself explains, “Each story told is woven as a lie… all poetry is spun to speak a truth”. While Loki might be more or less a ‘good guy’ at the moment, they’re still a liar through-and-through. That’s how they got the position as the God of Stories, and was allowed to leave their God of Mischief title behind, because they are an expert liar. Bragi, on the other hand, has only ever told the truth through metaphor and rhyme.

Bragi’s Return Could Be Permanent – What Would That Mean for Loki?

Bragi seemed all-too excited to join his siblings on their mission to save Tyr, especially after he hadn’t been seen since the beginning of the Eighth Cosmos. Could this mean that his return is permanent? If so, then Loki may be looking at a demotion. If Bragi’s ability to make himself the narrator of this comic instead of Loki is any indication of his in-world power (and not just a cheeky stylistic choice), then Bragi may very well reclaim his old position as the God of Poems and Stories, whether Loki likes it or not. If that happens, then Loki may revert to villainy yet again, and all of their siblings – including Thor – will suffer.

Regardless of Bragi’s relationship with Loki, or whether he’ll try to usurp Loki’s godly position (or if he even could), the real takeaway in this issue is that Bragi has officially rejoined Marvel Comics canon after being away for quite some time. And now, it’s time for him to earn his keep by helping Thor and the rest of the Children of Odin prove why they’re a god-tier team that puts the Avengers to shame.

The Immortal Thor #11 by Marvel Comics is available now.