Parting Shot: Loki Actor Tom Hiddleston Is A ‘Journey Into Mystery’ Letterhack

"Crikey" was all comics writer Kieron Gillen could say when confronted with what's surely one of the most enthusiastic fan letters he's ever received in this week's final issue of his run on Journey Into Mystery. Effusive praise and camaraderie was transmitted by none other than Tom Hiddleston, the English actor who portrays JiM star Loki in the Marvel Studios films Thor and Avengers. Hiddleston has endeared himself to Marvel fans with his infectious enthusiasm for the character and his comic book history, and now joins an even more rarified group of nerds who've had letters published in actual comic books. Click on for Hiddleston's missive to Gillen.

Dear Kieron:

You and I see Loki the same way. He's one dark, anarchic, bottomless black hole of rage, hatred, pity and pain. An exiled outcast, a lost and lonely agent of chaos who wouldn't know what to do with familial forgiveness if it walked up to him in the street and slapped him in the face. I've had as much fun playing him as you've clearly had writing him. I know your run on Journey Into Mystery has been so hugely popular. What an enormous honour to share Loki's legacy with you. Here's to bringing Norse back!

– Tom Hiddleston

Congrats to Hiddleston for joining the ranks of honored letterhacks Olav Beemer, Jerry Bails and the Mad Maple, and to Gillen for what's been a quietly masterful run on Journey Into Mystery. We'll definitely have more to say about that work in the near future.

Journey Into Mystery #45 is on sale now in finer comics shops and digitally from comiXology. Collected editions of previous issues are also available.