Even though it's the third in line, Loki was, for many fans, one of the most heavily anticipated Marvel TV shows. That has a lot to do with Tom Hiddleston's popularity as the god of mischief. After Loki's death and his escape from New York in 2012, many fans wondered what happened to Loki. His solo TV show now finally provides the answer.
The first episode reveals that Loki is alive. However, the TVA captured him and brought him to their secure complex. Even though the first episode focused on introducing the main story and the new characters, it also included a lot of fascinating details only people familiar with the comics will most likely notice.
10 The Origins Of TVA
Viewers not familiar with the comics might have been as confused as Loki when he ended up at TVA, the Time Variance Authority. The secret organization that protects the one correct timeline has appeared in the comics before. Walt Simonson created it all the way back in 1986 in the Thor comics. So it's only appropriate Thor's brother Loki is the one who helps introduce the TVA in the MCU.
9 Mobius M. Mobius
Just like TVA, Mobius M. Mobius, the friendly TVA agent who offers Loki a chance to work with him, comes from the comics. In the comics, Mobius has the appearance of a long-time Marvel writer and editor Mark Gruenwald. And all TVA middle-management employees look like him.
It's doubtful whether multiple versions of Mobius will appear in the MCU, but those who are familiar with his comic book persona will understand more easily that dealing with Loki isn't Mobius' first rodeo. In the comics, he had met the likes of the Fantastic Four or the She-Hulk, so he's far from inexperienced.
8 Ravonna Renslayer
When the TVA agents bring Loki to their headquarters, he ends up in front of a judge called Ravonna Renslayer... and goes on to annoy her quite strongly. The name won't be familiar to people who don't read comics but Marvel readers will know Ravonna has an interesting history in the comics.
She's a princess from the 40th century who eventually fell in love with the villain Kang the Conqueror even though they initially stood against each other. It's hard to say whether the show's Ravonna will have a lot in common with her comic book counterpart but some fans believe she could be the key to bringing Kang into the MCU.
7 The Almighty Nexus
Nexus might yet end up playing a bigger part in the MCU than the audience thinks. It's been mentioned both on WandaVision and in the first episode of Loki. However, it's not MCU's invention.
In the comics, something called Nexus of All Realities exists. It works like a gateway to every possible reality. That corresponds with the MCU's definition of Nexus as something that happens when one creates their own new reality.
6 Loki Is Genderfluid
It only appears on the screen for a moment so it's a 'blink and you'll miss it' occurrence. After the TVA arrests Loki, they show his file and the file states Loki's gender is fluid. Considering Loki can shapeshift and has done so many times before, this makes perfect sense. It's also a reference to the comics where Odin sometimes calls Loki his son as well as his daughter.
5 The Number 282
MCU likes to play with numbers and use them as references to comic book issues. When Mobius is walking Loki through the TVA, they stop at a window showing a large space full of buildings and flying ships. One of the buildings has the number 282 on it. That could very well be a nod to Thor, issue 282, which is the issue where Time Keepers appear for the first time.
4 The Time Twisters
One of the funniest moments in the first episode is whenever someone uses a time twister. Especially when Loki gets his hands on it and uses it against his captors. The device's name isn't random.
In the comics, the TVA created creatures called Time Twisters and ordered them to go forward in time but the Time Twisters moved backward instead. That's exactly the purpose these devices fulfill on Loki as they move someone to an earlier point in time.
3 The Right Earth
The TVA isn't excited about the possibility of the existence of the multiverse. However, that's normal in the comics since multiple versions of our planet Earth exist, each one with its own number. When Loki watches the recording of his life, after he gets to the end, there's a label "ETH-616". It's more than likely this is a reference to Earth-616 which is the main universe in the Marvel comics. Just for comparison, the MCU Earth is Earth-199999.
2 Oklahoma, Here Comes Loki!
It came as a big reveal that the murderous variant is Loki. In one scene, the TVA agents find him in Oklahoma. The location isn't random as Oklahoma is the place where New Asgard is after the original one has been destroyed during Ragnarok. In the MCU, New Asgard is in Norway instead but the presence of Oklahoma is still a nice nod to the comics.
1 Is It A Nightmare?
Finally, Mobius tells Loki the TVA has a nightmare department when they're walking through the complex. This could very well be a reference to none other than Nightmare, an important Doctor Strange villain. And it's even possible Nightmare will face Loki at one point or he'll be the main villain in the upcoming second Doctor Strange movie, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.