I think you're missing an element that goes a little farther back in American storytelling. We do have our myth, often closer to the original than we can see for the ancient myths: Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Joe Magarac, John Henry... Some closer to real people than others. All the tall tales were foundational AMERICAN mythology, some are older than others. Honestly, I think that's the fascination with our old west in a lot of places... it's our age of myth.
> We know Loki better than Coyote because the Norse myths were recorded hundreds of years ago, while Coyote’s tales differ by tribe and were only set down in writing when European settlers arrived.
We have more primary sources on Coyote than Loki. Both are from functionally pre-literate cultures. The difference is the 19th century anthropologists were more interested in the native's traditional beliefs than medieval missionaries. The reason Loki is more well-know is due to the influence of 19th century German romanticism.
I think you're missing an element that goes a little farther back in American storytelling. We do have our myth, often closer to the original than we can see for the ancient myths: Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Joe Magarac, John Henry... Some closer to real people than others. All the tall tales were foundational AMERICAN mythology, some are older than others. Honestly, I think that's the fascination with our old west in a lot of places... it's our age of myth.
Superheroes at their best are Human. Superman isn't a god come down to Earth. He's a human with the Powers of a god.
When superheroes forget that they are humans, they are starting down a Bad Path no matter what "good" they may still do.
> We know Loki better than Coyote because the Norse myths were recorded hundreds of years ago, while Coyote’s tales differ by tribe and were only set down in writing when European settlers arrived.
We have more primary sources on Coyote than Loki. Both are from functionally pre-literate cultures. The difference is the 19th century anthropologists were more interested in the native's traditional beliefs than medieval missionaries. The reason Loki is more well-know is due to the influence of 19th century German romanticism.