#trickster

Warning: this post is pure speculation.

Since there are many gaps in modern knowledge of Norse mythology, some of the posts here will be more contemplative than informative.  If you have some ideas to contribute to the topic, please feel free to reply to the post.  :)

Why did Loki cut off Sif’s hair?

It is a bit of a strange thing to do.  Loki and Thor are close companions, and it is well known that Thor has a tendency to resort to violence far too quickly when angered.  This clearly would not end well for Loki, so why do it?

One explanation is that Sif’s hair was something in which she and Thor had great pride, and therefore Loki in his role as a trickster figure interfered with this contentedness (tricksters often work to bring humility to the prideful).

Another characteristic of tricksters is that they are unpredictable, and do not need a reason to do anything; so there is also the possibility that Loki simply cut Sif’s hair because the opportunity arose. However, contemplating a motive for Loki based on the assumption that he acts in the same way as other trickster archetypes may not yield accurate conclusions, as Loki’s behaviour is not identical to tricksters of other mythologies.

A further thought: it was custom to cut a woman’s hair when she had been unfaithful to her husband.  Was Loki punishing Sif for adultery?  With whom would Sif have committed adultery?

In Lokasenna, when Loki is drunkenly revealing all the dirty secrets of his fellow gods (which may or may not be true), Loki accuses Sif of cheating on Thor with none other than himself.  It seems a bit weird for Loki to lie with Sif, and then to cut her hair in punishment for it.

However, it does provide an explanation for how Loki accomplished the hair-cutting in the first place.  Sif would need to have been asleep, Thor would need to be gone, and Loki would need to be alone with Sif - the perfect opportunity would arise after a bout of secret mingling.

“I’ve been falling, for thirty minutes!” -Loki

My babby - illusion

“Of all the mythological characters, it is the Trickster who is most associated with chance and synchronicity.” Combs & Holland - Synchronicity - Science, Myth and the Trickster

the only reference i used to draw roxy was calliope’s drawing of trickster roxy, the design is probably so off abbwhsjwsnjdjw

One of the more annoying trends that has appeared in the Flash franchise since the Flashpoint reboot is something that I will call hybridization: the merging of two characters into one character that contains aspects of both. These hybrid characters are invariably characters who share a legacy identity, and the merges often anger the fans of both characters. 

Interestingly, the earliest notable example of hybridization that I can think of in the Flash books actually happened shortly before Flashpoint. In 2004, the original Captain Boomerang, George “Digger” Harkness, was killed in my least favorite event comic in DC history, Identity Crisis. In the same comic, it was revealed that he had a son, Owen Mercer, who became the new Captain Boomerang shortly after his father’s death. From 2004 to 2009, Owen bounced around the DC universe, being at various points a member of the Rogues, a member of the Suicide Squad, and a member of the Outsiders. He also spent a lot of time with Supergirl and the two struck up a weird friendship. However, Geoff Johns eventually decided that he wanted to bring back the original Captain Boomerang, and so, in 2009′s Blackest Night event comic, he turned Owen into an idiotic child murderer and had him killed off so that Digger could be resurrected as a much younger and more attractive man. In effect, when Digger returned to life, he seemed to absorb his son’s appearance, general age, and fashion sense, and Owen was effectively forgotten for a very long time. (In fact, Owen wouldn’t reappear until 2018, and when he did, he was effectively written as an entirely different character…and then apparently forgotten again.) That being said, as Digger basically maintained his own personality without absorbing any of Owen’s personality, this is not the worst example of hybridization in the Flash mythos. 

James Jesse, the original Trickster, and Axel Walker, the second Trickster, had a very odd dynamic pre-Flashpoint, mainly because Axel was the only legacy Rogue to take up the identity of a Rogue who was still alive. From 2002 to 2005, James was reformed, so Axel was effectively the main Trickster until James took up the Trickster identity again in Rogue War. In the course of that storyline, Geoff Johns retconned James’ character development so that his reformation was entirely due to the machinations of a brainwashed and crazy Roscoe, and then had Roscoe revert James back to his original, villainous state. Once he was no longer reformed, James promptly beat the crap out of Axel, too his gear back, and told the kid that if he ever caught Axel in the costume again, Axel would be in big trouble. James was thus the primary Trickster again from 2005 to 2008. Unfortunately, during this period, he only featured in really terrible comics, and, as a result, his characterization was derailed and driven straight off a cliff and into a bottomless pit. And then he died. Now that the original Trickster was dead, Axel took the identity once more. Despite being the only living Trickster from 2008 to 2011, Axel was still distinct from James until Flashpoint. However, once Flashpoint happened and the universe rebooted, James was seemingly erased from existence entirely. In the New 52, Axel was the only Trickster who had ever existed, and, as a result, his characterization started to be blended with James’. He got taller and older, he acted a bit more intelligently than he had before Flashpoint, and he started wearing James’ costumes. He stayed in this odd hybrid state until James returned in 2019. Axel got his original costume back and was firmly established as the younger, less experienced Trickster, while James was re-established as the original Trickster, who was older, more cunning, and more subtle than Axel. While James wasn’t quite the same character as he had been before Flashpoint, he and Axel had at least been differentiated from one another again.  Aaaand then Axel was reverted back to his hybrid Axel/James form as soon as Joshua Williamson left the book. Sigh.

Wally and Barry were also hybridized after Flashpoint. Since Wally had been erased from existence, and Barry had been de-aged, Barry started to take on a number of Wally’s traits. The fact that he was now a young, more inexperienced man made the comparisons to Wally pretty much inevitable, and the fact that some writers started giving him Wally’s cocky nature and sense of humor only made things worse. It was to the point that in team books, Barry effectively became Wally, but with Barry’s name, appearance, and job as a police scientist. Once Wally returned in 2016, Barry lost most of Wally’s traits, but his characterization still hasn’t fully returned to what it was before he was hybridized with his nephew. 

In outside media, hybidization of Barry and Wally had already been fairly common. The 1990s Flash show featured a Flash with Barry’s name, occupation, and general attitude, but Wally’s girlfriend and need to eat constantly, and the DCAU featured a Wally with Barry’s job as a police scientist. However, the New 52 caused the hybridization of Barry and Wally to be taken up to 11. The 2014 Flash TV show, the DC Animated Movie Universe, and the Flash of the DCEU all featured a Flash with the name, appearance, job, and love interests of Barry but with a demeanor that was more than a bit reminiscent of Wally…a problem that has yet to be fully solved. 

And then there’s Sam and Evan. Sam died during Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986, and, after a brief vacancy, the mantle was taken by Evan McCulloch, who first appeared in 1989. Over the next twenty years, Evan solidified himself as the new Mirror Master, becoming more well-known and popular than his predecessor, and in 2011, he was not only the sole living Mirror Master but had been so for 22 years. But after Flashpoint, Evan was erased and Sam, after having been dead for 25 years, became the Mirror Master once more. This decision has always puzzled me. Barry, Axel, and Digger were the primary Flash, Trickster, and Captain Boomerang at the time Flashpoint happened. The other characters who had held the mantle were erased. So shouldn’t Evan have remained the Mirror Master? True, he wasn’t the first Mirror Master, but Axel wasn’t the first Trickster. Why didn’t they just erase Sam from existence in the way they did with James? Why bring back a character who had been dead for 25 years? It’s just such a weird choice.

Making the whole thing even more puzzling is the fact that when Sam was brought back, he was promptly hybridized with Evan anyway. While he didn’t pick up the Scottish accent, he did pick up the tooth gap, Evan’s almost supernatural talent with the Mirror Realm, and eventually Evan’s tendencies towards addiction and generally being a human disaster. He also lost his own incredible inventive talents, his showmanship, his cheeky smugness, and every other trait that made Pre-Crisis Sam so much fun. He’s so similar to Evan at this point that if they gave him the accent and called him Evan, he would actually be almost perfectly in-character! What was the point of bringing back Sam if they were just going to make him a less interesting Evan? ARRGH! 

Hugo Strange: From the patient files of Dr. Hugo Strange, director of Arkham Asylum. Patient: Axel Walker, also known as the Trickster. (Pause) And yes, there are two Tricksters as well. This is the younger one, who spells his name with an “x”. Patient suffers from Conduct Disorder. Session One. Hello, Axel.

Trixster: Yo, Doc, what am I doing in the nuthouse? I’m not crazy. 

Hugo Strange: To be honest, I am afraid that I am not sure what you are doing here, either. Regardless of your mental health, this is an institution for adults, and you are a minor. (Pause) If it transpires that your presence here is entirely because you are a costumed criminal, 

Trixster: (Indignant) I’m not a little kid, Doc! I’m almost sixteen! That’s old enough to be tried as an adult. 

Hugo Strange: But were you tried as an adult? 

Trixster: (Reluctantly) No. (Pause) They considered it, ‘cause of the costume, but eventually they decided that I was too small for it to be safe for me to be sent to adult prison. (Pause) Being 5’2” sucks. If I don’t hit my growth spurt soon, I’m gonna lose my mind. It’s so hard to pick up babes when most of ‘em are taller than you are. 

Hugo Strange: You sound almost disappointed that you weren’t tried as an adult. 

Trixster: ‘Cause I was disappointed! You got any idea how hard it is to get street cred as a supervillain when the courts try you as a kid? 

Hugo Strange: Axel, an adult penal facility would be incredibly dangerous for a boy of your age and size. If the courts had tried you as an adult, I dread to think of what might have happened to you. 

Trixster: (Annoyed) I can take care of myself, Doc! I’d be fine! 

Hugo Strange: Against several grown men with a foot or more of height and a hundred pounds on you? I am highly skeptical of that claim, Axel — especially since your file makes it quite clear that you have no metahuman powers. 

Trixster: Who says anyone would be stupid enough to attack me anyhow? Nobody’s gonna mess with Captain Cold. 

Hugo Strange: I fail to see what Mr. Snart’s reputation has to do with your likelihood of being attacked in an adult penal facility, Axel. 

Trixster: ‘Cause I’m a Rogue! Duh! 

Hugo Strange: (Skeptical) You are a Rogue? 

Trixster: You bet I am! 

Hugo Strange: Are you implying that the Rogues, a group of incredibly powerful costumed criminals, all of whom are at least ten years your senior, allowed a powerless juvenile delinquent into their group? 

Trixster: I’m not powerless! I got loads of tricks up my sleeves! Itching powder, weaponized slinkies, exploding bubble gum, the joybuzzers, my t-bombs, the Airwalkers….

Hugo Strange: You have Airwalker shoes? I was under the impression that Mr. Jesse or Reynard or Giuseppi-or whatever his last name actually is-was the sole costumed criminal to use that particular technology. 

Trixster: Well, you thought wrong! (Pause) About a year ago, I broke into one of the Trickster’s warehouses and stole a bunch of his old gear…including a pair of sweet air walking sneakers. I combined parts from some of the stuff to make my T-bombs, souped up the rest of the stuff so it made bigger explosions, and rigged the shoes so that they shot out these awesome jets of fire when I used ‘em. Then I went out to become the new and improved Trixster! 

Hugo Strange: And what did the original Trickster think of that? 

Trixster: Oh, he was ticked. It wasn’t so much that I stole his stuff-apparently he was actually kind of impressed by that part. It was more that I’d taken over his name and his gimmicks without him giving the say-so. (Pause) Not that I care what he thinks or anything. 

Hugo Strange: I see. (Pause) If the original Trickster resents you so much, how did you ever manage to join the Rogues? 

Trixster: I just kept following them, showing up at their hideouts and heists, and bothering them until they agreed to let me join. 

Hugo Strange: Weren’t you at all worried that they might lose their tempers and become violent? After all, this is a group of career criminals we’re talking about. 

Trixster: (Laughs) Worried? Are you crazy? I don’t worry about anything. (Pause) And besides, the Rogues don’t hurt kids. It’s one of Captain Cold’s stupid rules. 

Hugo Strange: Yes, the other Rogues have spoken extensively on the code of behavior that he expects them to hold to. (Pause) So, because of that code of conduct, you managed to annoy your way into the group? 

Trixster: Well, that, and I think the Captain’s actually got a soft spot for me. He won’t admit it, but I can tell. 

Hugo Strange: I suppose that makes sense. Mr. Snart obviously has a habit of adopting strays. A juvenile delinquent foolish enough to try to break into the world of costumed crime would be just the sort of thing to invoke his bizarre protective instincts. 

Trixster: Yeah, the Captain likes to pretend he’s tough, but his bark’s worse than his bite. The Rogues would rule the Twin Cities’ underworld easy if he weren’t such a soft touch. The old geezer’s got a conscience, and everybody knows it. (Pause) Me? I was born without one. Pretty neat, huh? 

Hugo Strange: Yes, I can definitely see why Mr. Snart has an affinity for you. 

Trixster: Whaddaya mean? 

Hugo Strange: I mean that the two of you are more alike than you seem to realize. 

Trixster: Don’t be ridiculous, Doc! I’m nothin’ like that boring, stuffy old man. 

Hugo Strange: Think about it, Axel. Both of you are from broken homes. Both of you have extremely troubled relationships with your fathers. Both of you dropped out of high school, ran away from home, and became involved in crime. Both of you sought out criminal cohorts who behave more like a twisted family than a traditional gang. Both of you hide your insecurities behind larger-than-life personas. And, most importantly, both of you pretend to be colder and more ruthless than you really are in order to protect yourselves. Mr. Snart pretends to be practical, emotionless, and ruthlessly pragmatic; you pretend to be a remorseless, hardened troublemaker. By doing so, you hope to become so tough that nothing will ever hurt you again. (Pause) No wonder Mr. Snart allowed you to join the Rogues. To a great extent, you are what he was probably like at your age. (Brief pause) Although admittedly, Mr. Snart was probably never as much of a try-hard as you seem to be. While you clearly have severe behavioral problems, the way in which you boasted about having no conscience spoke more of an attempt to make yourself seem more impressive than of true psychopathy. 

Trixster: (Angry) You don’t know what you’re talking about, old man! 

Hugo Strange: On the contrary, Axel, I know exactly what I am talking about. You are simply too afraid to admit it to yourself. 

Trixster: I told you, I’m not afraid of anything! (Pause) And I am not like Captain Cold! 

Hugo Strange: Axel, denying your problems and insecurities will only cause them to become worse. In order to achieve healing, you must acknowledge that you need help. 

Trixster: I don’t need help! I’m famous, I’ve got all the street cred I could ever want….

Hugo Strange: And you are a child desperately in need of a father figure. 

Trixster: (Upset) I’ve got father figures, egghead! They’re called the Rogues! 

Hugo Strange: So you admit that you sought out the Rogues to replace your broken family.

(Long pause)

Trixster: (Petulant) You think you’re real smart, don’t you? 

Hugo Strange: My intelligence is not what is at stake here, Axel. I am perfectly comfortable with who I am, and have no need of proving it to a troubled fifteen-year-old. I am simply trying to get you to realize that you need help. (Pause) You are still a boy, Axel. You have more than enough time to turn your life around; time to find real respect and acceptance. You can have a future as something other than a Rogue. 

Trixster: (Muttering) Fat chance. 

Hugo Strange: Axel, you are obviously quite intelligent and resourceful. If you direct your talent and energy to the right pathways, I am certain that you will be able to create a bright future for yourself. 

Trixster: Oh, yeah? If I’m so great, why did my old man walk out on me and mom? Why’d he pay all that money to hire those fancy lawyers so he wouldn’t have to pay child support? Why did nobody care when I started skipping school? If I’m so awesome, why did the police and the Flash only start worrying about me when I put on a costume and started throwing bombs around, huh? Why does a criminal whose life I forced myself into care more about me than my dad? (Pause) All I ever wanted was a little respect from him! And if I can’t have that, I’ll take anything I can get! 

Hugo Strange: Axel, if you want respect-real respect, not the illusory power of “street cred”-you must learn to respect both others and yourself. Attacking others and making your self-worth reliant on your ability to appear tough will only make you miserable. That is what Mr. Snart does, and you know what he is like. He is a deeply unhappy man. If you really wish to not be like him, you must learn to give yourself and others the love and respect your father never gave you. 

Trixster: (Trying to sound tough) I don’t need your advice, old man. I’m finally one of the Rogues, and that gives me everything I need.  I got money, I got power, and I got fame. 

Hugo Strange: But will you have happiness? Most of the Rogues are miserable, Axel. Mr. Dillon has attempted suicide multiple times. Mr. Harkness and Mr. McCulloch spend all of their time chasing their next high. Mr. Scudder is addicted to nicotine and is living in a fantasy world of simplistic heroes and villains in order to escape the pain of real life. Mr. Mardon has tied his identity so utterly to his Weather Wand that he almost cannot exist without it. Miss Snart has tied her happiness to Mr. Dillon, and is miserable whenever he is. Mr. Rathaway gives and gives and gives in the futile hope that he can earn love. Not one of them is truly happy. What makes you think that you will be different?

Encore!

Bonus sketch!

IDK I guess I’m getting excited for End Game sooo…..

Have some Jotun Loki for your dashboard

Still avoiding all End Game promos like the plague though.