The Build-Up That Fell Flat
“Loki Season 2” made quite the buzz when it teased the introduction of Zaniac, a nefarious character from Marvel Comics. Fans were excited to see how the series would incorporate this dark villain, especially given the character’s history. Zaniac, known in his human form as Brad Wolfe, got a high-profile nod as Loki and Mobius M. Mobius were shown attending his film premiere. Yet, the show seems to have chosen a different path for this character, veering away from his darker origins in the comics. As revealed in the first couple of episodes, the MCU version of Brad Wolfe, AKA Zaniac, is more of a detour than a major roadblock for our heroes.
“Loki episode 1 introduces Brad as X-5, a TVA agent who is loyal to General Dox, already a significant departure from his origin in the comics,” the show reveals.
What the Comics Tell Us
In Marvel Comics, Zaniac is not just another bad guy. Created by Dormammu, he’s an entity that has possessed various misogynistic men throughout history, turning them into serial killers. He’s even linked to real-life horrors like Jack the Ripper. His most infamous possession was of Thug Thatcher, responsible for the murder of Jane Foster, Thor’s love interest.
“The entity eventually takes over Brad, as Zaniac is a film about a serial killer who violently targets women, a role Brad takes literally after his possession,” recounts the comics.
Reality vs. Reel in Loki Season 2
Loki’s version of Zaniac, played by Brad Wolfe, deviates significantly from this menacing past. Instead of being a feared killer, he’s a bit of a comic foil. MCU’s Brad lacks the malicious intent of his comic book counterpart, seeming only eager to escape the TVA and live a normal life.
“Despite being an annoying foil, MCU Brad displays no evil intentions or harmful views towards women. He only seems determined to return to his normal life on the Sacred Timeline, having become disillusioned with the TVA and its mission,” says the show.
Why the Rewrite Might Be for the Best
As intriguing as a true-to-form Zaniac could have been, the change probably serves a purpose. Loki has enough on his plate, from finding Sylvie to preventing the Sacred Timeline from branching off into chaos. The inclusion of a character as heavy as Zaniac might have muddled the storyline, especially with existing threats like the TVA and Kang already in the narrative.
“Considering the history of Zaniac’s character and his abhorrent behavior towards women, there was an opportunity to tell a timely story about toxic masculinity. However, Loki is generally lighter in tone and such a story would have been difficult to pull off,” explains the show.
The Nostalgia Factor
For the Marvel Comics faithful, Zaniac holds a special place. Not only did he introduce the TVA in the comics, but he also poses a perpetual threat, given his ability to possess multiple hosts.
“His murder of Jane proves just how powerful and dangerous he is. It also highlights his central role in a major Thor storyline,” notes the comic lore.
While the show didn’t fully capitalize on Zaniac‘s potential, his inclusion serves as a neat nod to Marvel’s rich history and the TVA‘s comic book origins. Fans eager to see how Loki’s TVA storyline evolves can catch new episodes every Thursday on Disney+.
