It’s a question that’s puzzled filmmakers for generations: how do you show a cinematic divine being?
…movies have wrestled with how to show God and gods on the big screen.
And the hottest ticket in Hollywood the Marvel Cinematic Universe is no exception to this struggle. Marvel Studios has already made multiple feature films starring members belonging to the pantheon of Norse gods.
Charlie Wen, former head of visual development at Marvel Studios, led his team to design the cinematic versions of Thor and his Asgardian pals. We sat down with Wen for an exclusive interview and he explained that two very important members of Thor’s immediate family almost looked very, very different.
Odin and Loki Thor’s dad and adopted brother, respectively were first drawn in Marvel Comics by the legendary Jack Kirby, who probably didn’t draw many or any actual mythological details to bring them to the page. Both debuted shortly after Thor’s own first comic book appearance in Journey into Mystery #83 in 1962. But even though they both showed up right around the same time in the funnybooks, their looks couldn’t have been more different in terms of design and even simple consistency.
Loki’s costume from Journey into Mystery #85 may not be a pretty sight, but it is an excellent example of how to design a bad guy. Where Thor wears blue, red, and has graceful looking wings on his helmet, Loki is a perfect contrast to those details. His outfit consists of blue and red’s color-wheel contrasts green and yellow and instead of a headpiece with wings that angle backward, his own outfit features aggressive horns that jut outward.
While Loki’s look has evolved over the years, these have been constant features that appear in nearly every incarnation.
Odin, on the other hand, couldn’t be less consistent or defined.
Odin’s first appearance, sporting a style best described as “comic book viking stuff,” only reveals his head, appearing in the clouds over Thor, Mufasa style.
His next batch of appearances are no clearer, with various designs that include assortments of helmets, capes, more helmets, furs, and what sure seems to be a cummerbund with a lightning bolt hastily drawn on it. Keep watching the video to see how Loki and Odin almost looked totally different in the Marvel films!
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Thor’s equal opposite | 1:17
Allfather, no style | 1:51
“Loony Loki” | 3:02
Bending to the breaking point | 3:52
That chair does not look comfortable | 4:41