Loki Confirms Weirdest Thor Variant Before Love & Thunder

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Loki episode 5.

Despite all of the Loki variants in the God of Mischief's Marvel Cinematic Universe series, Loki revealed its weirdest variant is an alternate version of Thor that could even appear in Thor: Love and Thunder. Loki episode 5 shows the Time Variance Authority doesn't completely destroy branch realities. Instead, the TVA prunes the realities by sending them to a void at the end of time. Since it serves as the TVA's dumping ground for everything going against the Sacred Timeline, the void is full of Marvel Easter eggs. It's also where Tom Hiddleston's Loki ends up after being pruned by Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Ravonna Renslayer.

Loki episode 5 explores the void. Alioth, a cloud-like monster that consumes energy and matter, roams the place. The monster is basically the TVA's garbage disposal, destroying whatever the TVA sends its way and presumably protecting whatever villain is secretly behind the whole operation. With the void being the TVA's trash bin, variants constantly end up as Alioth's meals. However, Loki variants are survivors, and the episode shows Boastful Loki (DeObia Oparei), Kid Loki (Jack Veal), Classic Loki (Richard E. Grant), Alligator Loki, and many others have somehow continually avoided the monster's clutches. As Owen Wilson's Mobius quips in the episode, "You throw a rock out here, you hit a Loki."

In addition to all of the Loki variants, the episode includes another interesting survivor. A frog appearing in Thor garb is briefly shown in Loki, revealing a strange variant of the God of Thunder. While it seems like an odd addition, Frog Thor is actually a character that appears in the Marvel comics. There are different versions of frogs with the powers of the God of Thunder in the Marvel source material, but various details hint at the creature's true identity. With the cameo, Loki may be setting up the character for a future appearance in the upcoming fourth Thor film.

Where To Spot Throg In Loki Episode 5

In Loki episode 5, Loki winds up meeting Boastful Loki, Kid Loki, Classic Loki, and Alligator Loki. Though various Loki variants run amok around the void, these alternate versions of Loki show Hiddleston's character kindness, leading him to their secret lair. The hideout is apparently full of the TVA's discarded junk, which includes holiday decorations, bowling equipment, and even a small pool for Alligator Loki. Around 9 minutes into the episode, the group descends to the lair. Showing how deep down the hideout resides, the camera pans past layers of dirt, revealing a jar containing a Frog Thor or Throg buried in the ground.

Throg bears a striking resemblance to the character from the Marvel comics and dons a winged helmet just like in the source material. Though Throg is more capable than an average frog, that doesn't seem to help it escape captivity. The creature cries out as it struggles in the container. The scene also shows a variant of Mjölnir as the camera pans down. Throg apparently can't call the hammer to its side and labors to reach it in vain.

Why Throg Is In Jar No. T365

Besides a Thor-like helmet, Throg's identity is also tipped off from a label reading "T365." The number corresponds to the Thunder Frog's first appearance in the Marvel comics, Thor #365. In the comic, Thor, who's been turned into a frog by Loki, helps a group of frogs in their fight against rats. Thor still has more strength than a regular frog, but his true transformation doesn't happen until the end of the comic. Eventually, the frog version of Thor lifts Mjölnir, once again gaining the powers of the God of Thunder and turning into a Thor-sized Frog of Thunder.

Throg is an alternate version of the Frog of Thunder. In the storyline where Thor fights for the frogs, he meets a friendly fellow amphibian named Puddlegulp. Secretly, Puddlegulp used to be a person named Simon Walterson, but he was cursed to be a frog. Later in the comics, Puddlegulp becomes his own version of Thor. After a sliver of Mjölnir breaks off, Puddlegulp is able to lift it, transforming into Throg, a frog with the powers of Thor who wields a tiny Frogjolnir.

Thor The Thunder Frog's Comics Powers Explained

Thor with glowing eyes in Thor: Ragnarok

When Thor is an amphibian, he isn't your average frog. He's a warrior and can easily fight off an attack from a rat, but his true powers come when he lifts Mjölnir in his frog form. Though Thor looks like a giant frog, he now has the powers of the God of Thunder. This includes super strength, flight, and the ability to wield the hammer. Showing his powers are back, Thor even fights Loki, beating the God of Mischief until magic restores Thor's true form.

Unlike Thor's Frog of Thunder, Puddlegulp remains small when he gains the powers of Thor. Because of this, the frog's size in Loki may indicate that the character is Throg, not an alternate version of Thor that became a frog. Throg's powers are similar to Thor's, but they are a lesser frog version. These include strength, stamina, longevity, and healing. The abilities may explain why Throg can survive so long being buried in a jar in Loki.

Will There Be More Thor Variants In Love & Thunder?

Thor Love and Thunder every theory how Jane becomes worthy mjolnir

Thor: Ragnarok seemingly already teased the appearance of Frog Thor. Early on in the film, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard and discovers Loki is pretending to be Anthony Hopkins' Odin. While on Asgard, Thor witnesses a Loki-themed play. In the production, an Asgardian actor playing Loki (Matt Damon) tells an actor playing Thor (Luke Hemsworth), "Sorry about that time I turned you into a frog." With this tease in Ragnarok and director Taika Waititi returning to take on Love and Thunder, it's conceivable that Frog Thor could make another appearance in the MCU.

Though there are no confirmed Thor variants appearing in the upcoming film, Natalie Portman's Jane Foster presents an interesting possibility. At San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, Waititi announced that a female version of Thor would appear in the movie and Portman would be returning to take on the role. Since Sylvie is a female variant of the God of Mischief in Loki, it's possible Jane Foster could come back as a female variant of Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder. Portman's character is from the main Marvel timeline, so variants don't necessarily have to play a part in the film. However, if Frog Thor can happen, anything is possible.

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Loki releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.