The Good
Ever since his run on THOR, I have felt that writer Kieron Gillen knows how to capture the essence of Asgardian characters; and he proves that to me once again with the latest issue of JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #640. Gillen does a phenomenal job capturing the language and the eloquence of Asgard in this issue; this title is really very well written.
The art in this issue is absolutely stunning; Richard Elson definitely knocks it out of the park. There is an incredible amount of attention to detail in each panel of this issue; something that really helps tell Gillen's story. There is a panel that focuses solely on Loki's piercing green eyes, and even in this simple image it's evident that he has something else he is plotting and he can't be trusted. Both Elson and color artist Ifs's Ifansyah Noor do a fantastic job with the art in this issue.
This issue features a lot of mystical Marvel characters; from Daimon Hellstrom to King Arthur, as well as some new characters which you will meet towards the end of the issue. The best part is that Gillen gives each of these characters a very unique and interesting voice -- each one of them is very unique. The opening scene between Daimon, Leah and Loki is fantastic; although why Daimon would agree to work with the trickster may not be the smartest move; but time will tell.
Gillen does a great job tying British mythos into his story and giving each character in the book their own voice. I really like the premise and I am definitely looking forward to the next issue.
The Bad
Gillen is working with a big concept here, and there were times when I had to go back and re-read some of the pages. Some of it is a little bit difficult to understand at first; but not impossible if you pay attention.
The Verdict
It's pretty evident that Gillen's British heritage played some role in the weaving of this very interesting and entertaining story. If there is a war between Gods to be had, then its no question that Loki would most definitely be there to meddle in other people's business. Instead of just meddling though, Loki is bringing all these characters together; weaving the plot the way he wants to. It's a great story paired with some really gorgeous art. It's also a fantastic jumping on point; Gillen practically holds your hand through the first few pages of the issue, so if you haven't been reading JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, this isn't a bad place to start.