The rivalry between Thor and Loki is literally the stuff of legends – but in the Marvel Comics universe, it began in the strangest way.
The rivalry between Thor and Loki is literally the stuff of legends – but in Marvel Comics, it began in the strangest way imaginable. The Mighty Thor is undeniably Asgard’s greatest champion in the Marvel universe, and Loki is its greatest villain. But the enmity between Thor and Loki is also intensely personal, because the two grew up as brothers.
This dynamic has lent itself to some of the most powerful Thor stories, not just in the comics, but also in the MCU. In Marvel’s blockbuster movies, Loki was driven more by “daddy issues” than anything else, desperate to prove himself worthy of the love of the All-Father Odin. He died finally calling himself “Loki Odinson,” confident at last in his familial identity – and his death was mourned by his brother Thor. Avengers: Infinity War didn’t quite redeem Loki in his death, but it came remarkably close, giving him a powerful character arc. There will certainly never be a quasi-redemption arc quite like it in the comics, because sooner or later another writer will take over and turn Loki into a force of evil once again.
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But how did the rivalry between Thor and Loki begin? Amusingly, the tale is actually told in the 2011 tale Journey into Mystery #623 by Kieron Gillen and Doug Braithwaite, when Thor’s friend Volstagg tells a reincarnated Kid Loki how his original self had clashed with his brother in a bizarre adventure. According to Volstagg, many ages ago – when they were on the cusp of manhood – Thor and Loki witnessed the Elves’ cavalry, and the then-prideful Thor’s heart burned with envy. Already mischievous, Loki told Thor the measure of the steed is in the effort of breaking him. “To break a pony proves nothing,” Loki observed. “To break a stallion makes a great horsemaster. But for Thor… well, what is the most stubborn of beasts?” Loki’s question prompted Thor to begin an insane quest… an attempt to break the wills of two goats, and turn them into his steeds. Of course, Thor being Thor, he didn’t just choose any two goats; he picked Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, the Lords of Goats.
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In the end, Thor was forced to go to incredible lengths to break the goats. He had the Dwarves forge Bregd-thrall, a magical bridle capable of breaking the will of any beast. Thor used Bregd-thrall on the goats, and succeeded into turning them into his mounts. And so the God of Thunder returned to Asgard in triumph, expecting his boldness and bravery to be celebrated, and was taken aback when he became the subject of mockery. This, then, was how Loki and Thor began to part ways: a prank from Loki that wounded Thor’s pride.
Thor doesn’t exactly shine in Volstagg’s tale, which makes it all believable simply because Volstagg wouldn’t like telling a disparaging story about the Thunder God. What’s more, Kid Loki went on to put Bregd-thrall to the test, and it really did prove able to break the will of any creature – even a Hell-hound. So this hilarious quest really does seem to be the beginning of the rift between Loki and Thor.
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More: The MCU Revealed How Kid Loki Killed Thor – Theory Explained
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About The Author 
Thomas Bacon (4040 Articles Published)
Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. He has a strong relationship with various fan communities, and is a Moderator on some of Facebook’s largest MCU and X-Men groups; you can find him on Twitter @TomABacon. A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.
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