Loki features a hidden reference to a Marvel superhero you’ve absolutely never heard of
Oct. 13, 2023Who you gonna call?
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Loki season 2, episode 2sees the God of Mischief andMobiusheading to a movie premiere in 1970s London. While there, they bump into Brad Wolfe (AKA Hunter X-5), better known to fans of Marvel’s comics as Zaniac.Thatcharacter is pretty obscure on his own – and we’ve even got aZaniacexplainer to break down his weird and wonderful comic book history – but that extended sequence featured a reference to an even less-known Marvel character. Enter: The Phone Ranger. (H/TComicBook.com).
Skip to 2:10 and you’ll see Mobius and Loki breeze past a poster for The Phone Ranger.
Bonus points if you’ve heard of him: A.G. Bell, a cute play on Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, appeared in only threeMarvel comics. Previously a telephone repairman, he shot to (relative) superhero stardom after discovering technology from a race called Seltas inside a broken phone. His most notable act arrived during Civil War, where he was arrested by Iron Man.
So, if Loki has an issue inside theTVA, he knows who to call. We look forward to seeing The Phone Ranger dial up a few heroics in the next Avengers movie…
Loki season 2is currently streaming onDisney Plus. For more, here’s what you need to know aboutwhat Sylvie is holding at the end of Loki season 2, episode 2, and whythis version of Zaniac is different to the comics.
If you’re loving the return to the TVA, check out our guides to:
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I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
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