In the penultimate episode of Loki Season 2, an exciting Marvel Comics hero made their MCU debut, marking a significant step in the evolution of the titular character Loki. Hunter B-15's past life has revealed her real name in Episode 5, and it looks like she's more closely connected to the God of Mischief (and soon-to-be God of Stories) in the comic books.
In Episode 5, Loki regains his time-slipping ability, allowing him to traverse branched timelines and encounter Variants of his TVA companions. Among these Variants, Wunmi Mosaku's Hunter B-15 appears as a pediatrician named Verity Willis from 2012 New York. The revelation subtly connects the character to Marvel Comics.
Who is Verity Willis in the Marvel comic books?
Verity Willis first appeared in Marvel Comics' Loki: Agent of Asgard #2 in 2014. She hailed from a family entrusted with safeguarding the Casket of Ancient Winters, a responsibility that played a vital role in Loki's comic book journey. The Loki: Agent of Asgard storyline saw Loki transforming into the God of Stories, a transition that appears to have occurred in Loki Season 2 as well so the narrative may have also introduced his partnership with Verity Willis.
In the comics, Verity's family had the duty of protecting the Casket of Ancient Winters, and her grandfather possessed Andvaranaut, a magical ring that granted its user the ability to see through any lie. As a baby, Verity swallowed Andvaranaut, which fused with her, bestowing upon her the power to perceive deception, making her a unique superhuman. The ability formed a significant bond between Loki and Verity since she was the only entity capable of piercing through his illusions.
But does that mean B-15 has the same power in Loki Season 2? Series writer Eric Martin addressed Verity's live-action debut in Episode 5, and although he didn't confirm her powers, he did point out that he hopes there will be more of Mosaku in the MCU future.
"It's fun to lace those little crumbs throughout, those little Easter eggs from the comic books," Martin told GamesRadar. "Whenever we get an opportunity to do that, and obviously, with the timeline and some of our characters, that's exactly where you can do that. You know, I don't know where that'll go. But I love Wunmi and I love B-15. I think she's like the heart of the TVA, so hopefully she does continue to exist in the MCU as a character. That would be cool."
Although Hunter B-15's variant in Loki season 2 has been confirmed as Verity Willis, it seems more like an Easter egg nod to the Marvel Comics character rather than a direct adaptation. However, with one episode of Loki Season 2 remaining, there is still room for the show to explore whether Hunter B-15 possesses Verity Willis' lie-detecting powers in the MCU, as some hints have suggested.
The intriguing connection to the Marvel Comics source material adds depth to the MCU's portrayal of Loki and the possibilities for the series' future. With that in mind, we are looking forward to the final episode of Loki Season 2, which premieres on Disney+ on November 9, 2023.
