Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Stephanie Hans
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Ok, I’m going to need a minute. Whilst I compose myself, have the recap from this issue instead of my usual ramble.

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery:

Writers: Kieron Gillen and Matt Fraction
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colourist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

(Note: This issue continues from Mighty Thor #20, and into Mighty Thor #21)

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: Released by Loki in order to defeat the Serpent during Fear Itself, Surtur has enacted his plan to completely destroy all of creation, working alongside Loki’s former BFF, Leah. The Nine Realms are at war with Surtur’s minions and the Manchester Gods, as well as the Vanir. The one hope in the war effort seemed to be Thor, but Loki tricked his brother into a trap, and left him to drown in a lake of Surtur’s fire, apparently revealing his true colours as a villain once again.

Continuing to sow seeds of doubt, Loki also caused the assembled Asgardian hordes to turn on Volstagg, temporary King of Asgardia. However, when he reported back to Surtur, Loki took the opportunity to steal Twilight’s Shadow, the silhouette of Surtur’s all-powerful Twilight Sword, and flee Muspelheim. Surtur released the Hel-Wolf, one of the first creatures wrapped up in Loki’s schemes, to track down and kill Loki.

Writers: Kieron Gillen and Matt Fraction
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colourist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

(Note: This issue continues on from Mighty Thor #19 and into Mighty Thor #20)

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: Loki freed the fire demon, Surtur, from his imprisonment in Limbo in order to stop the Serpent and his armies of fear. Loki also allowed the Manchester Gods to take over the British subconscious known as Otherworld. Oh, and let’s not forget that Loki has also made enemies of Hela, and Mephisto. All in all, Loki’s not doing very well, despite the very best of intentions. We think.

Now, Surtur has ignited the flames of war between the Aesir and the Vanir, and battles rage across all of the Nine Realms. Loki and Thor are fighting battles on all fronts, while the Warriors Three find themselves in reluctant positions of leadership. But the worst is yet to come, as Surtur’s villainous Steward has been revealed as Leah, Loki’s previous best friend who was supposedly removed from existence when Hela drank from the Holy Grail to restore her severed hand. And now, as Surtur’s flames ignite across all of existence, Everything Burns…

Writers: Kieron Gillen and Matt Fraction
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colourist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Note: This issue continues from The Mighty Thor #18 and into The Mighty Thor #19

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: The only way to save his brother, Thor, was for Loki to release the fire demon, Surtur, from his imprisonment in Limbo. Along the way, Loki made enemies of a Hel Wolf, adding to his growing list that already included Hela and Mephisto. Surtur escaped and hadn’t been heard from—until now.

Loki and Thor find Broxton under attack by flames that cannot be doused by normal means. Despite their valiant efforts, Thor is gravely wounded. As Loki tends to Thor’s wounds, they hear a summons from Asgardia—upon closer inspection, the World Tree has been set ablaze by these mysterious flames. And now…Everything Burns.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Rich Elson
Colourists: IFS’ Ifansyah Noor and Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: Loki and Leah have been sent across the pond to England in order to aid the forces of Otherworld against the invading Manchester Gods. These avatars of change have been marching across the British subconscious and decimating King Arthur’s realm, with no one to stop them. Loki enlists the aid of Daimon Hellstrom, who locates the sources of the Manchester Gods’ power—which Loki promptly destroys.

Entering the stronghold of the Manchester Gods, Loki meets the leader of the industrial revolution, who explains the reasoning behind their attacks. As he listens, Loki realises that he has been on the wrong side all along, and now wishes to help the Manchester Gods. Meanwhile, Hela has informed Loki that he still owes her a debt, and tasks him with getting her in to see the Holy Grail, the most precious of Otherworld’s artefacts.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Richard Elson
Colourist: IFS’s Ifansyah Noor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: Asgardia is no stranger to war. Having fought through numerous Ragnaroks and the onslaught of Fear Itself, the Asgardians have stood their ground alone and won. Now, Otherworld, the mystic dimension that holds all of the magic of the United Kingdom is calling for help. However, a pact of non-interference means that the Asgardians cannot help them… directly.

Loki and Leah travel to Otherworld, joining Captain Britain, King Arthur and the rest of its inhabitants against the Manchester Gods, hulking structures of change that are threatening to wipe out Otherworld with their modern beliefs and undefeatable armies. After suffering a crushing defeat, Loki realises that the head-on approach will not work, and a more underhanded scheme will be needed—just what he does best.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Richard Elson
Colourist: IFS’s Ifansyah Noor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

(Note: This issue continues from New Mutants #43)

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: With Loki’s part in Thor’s apparent death during Fear Itself as their bargaining chip, the All-Mothers of Asgardia have him in their back pocket. If he does not act as their covert operations agent, then they will spill the beans and inform Thor and the other Asgardians, which will make Loki even more of a pariah than he already is.

Loki has (forcibly) befriended Leah, handmaiden of Hela, as well as adopting a murderous hellhound he has named Thori, in honour of his then-dead brother. As well as these companions, Loki is followed by Ikol, the embodiment of his adult self trapped as a magpie. Ikol offers counsel, but his motives are as unfathomable as they are despicable.

Writers: Kieron Gillen, Dan Abnett, and Andy Lanning
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colourist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

(Note: This issue follows on from New Mutants #42, and continues into New Mutants #43)

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: Sigurd, a long-forgotten Asgardian warrior, has had his cover rumbled when the New Mutants appear on his doorstep. Worried that they would tell the other Asgardians where he was hiding, Sigurd unleashed a spell that transformed all of the Asgardians in the vicinity into humans, erasing their memories.

Loki, Thor, the Warriors Three, Hela and Leah were trapped in Sigurd’s spell, and the New Mutants tried valiantly to restore their memories. With the apparently restored Loki’s aid, they thought they had done it, casting a counterspell. Unfortunately, the spell did not work, since Loki was lying – he didn’t remember who he was at all! At that moment, the Disir, flesh-eating cannibals from Asgard’s distant past, learned that their curse of not being able to eat Asgardian flesh had been undone by Sigurd’s spell, and they launched an all-out attack on San Francisco.

Writers: Kieron Gillen, Dan Abnett, and Andy Lanning
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colourist: Andy Troy
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

(Note: This issue follows on from Exiled #1, and continues into New Mutants #42.)

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: The Disir, flesh eating women who used to serve Odin’s father, Bor, have been released from Mephisto’s Hell due to the reappearance of Sigurd, an ancient warrior that they thought had died. Mephisto tasks Loki with finding them again, or he will reveal Loki’s part in recent dark dealings. Loki enlisted his brother Thor, goddess of death Hela, her handmaiden Leah, and the Warriors Three to help him in this quest.

Sigurd turns out to be the alter ego of Zig, a man who just happens to be living across from the New Mutants in San Francisco. When the New Mutants, the hordes of Asgard and the Disir appear on his doorstep, Sigurd uses an ancient tablet to cause all of the Asgardians to disappear.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Penciller: Richard Elson
Colourist: IFS’s Ifansyah Noor
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Clayton Cowles

Previously, in Journey Into Mystery: In the wake of Fear Itself, Kid Loki has discovered that Nightmare, Lord of Dreams, is gathering fear energy from the minds of sleeping children around the globe in order to create a crown of pure fear. Teaming up with Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, and Hela’s handmaiden Leah, Loki has rushed around the planet to try and prevent Nightmare’s plot from coming to pass.

However, Loki soon decides to give Nightmare what he wants – the largest fear energy deposit, right from Loki’s head! Now, Nightmare is poised to become the strongest Fear Lord of them all. Surely Loki has a plan? Right?

Hey guys, I’ve got another first issue review for you, and this time it’s for Journey into Mystery!

Yes, it IS issue #622, but there are two things that make this a “First Issue” review:

1. Kieron Gillen is making his return to the book, so it’s the start of a new run.
2. The book formerly known as Thor has been renamed “Journey into Mystery”, and has an ENTIRELY new feel to it.

So, does this new narrative on this old series keep the quality I’ve been seeing in it for the past few years? Read on to find out!