Journey Into Mystery, Vol. 3: The Terrorism Myth

Journey Into Mystery (2011) (Collected Editions)

by Kieron Gillen, Richard Elson (Artist), Mitch Breitweiser (Artist)

The stage is set for a deadly new year, as the most unpopular boy in Asgard receives a certain fourpawed fire-breathing present. What will Loki do with this most unwelcome gift? Then, fallout from Fear Itself leaves thousands trapped in deadly fever dreams around the world. Why is it Loki's fault - again? Guest-starring Volstagg and the Son of Satan! And Leah of Hel discovers the wonder and consequence of milkshakes... COLLECTING: JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY 632-636

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Mythology

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Kieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.

Reviews

[William Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kieron Gillen couldn't write an X-Men title to save his life, but hand him the keys to Asgardia and the man turns into Oscar Wilde. And in all honesty, little Loki is a much more interesting character these days than all the X-Men combined.

I can't praise this book enough. So far, every volume had been fantastic, a shining example of how to write great comics in the modern age. I'm hesitant to compare it to the early years of Willingham's Fables, because I wouldn't want to take anything away from this run on JIM. And it isn't as if its derivative of Fables, either, only that it is so well-written it deserves the same accolades. This volume begs to be read and re-read, it's just so much fun. Without a single Asgardian heavy-hitter in the whole book, Gillen still manages to mesmerize us without turning to a lazy, summer blockbuster trope to garner interest. Just solid writing and playful dialogue.

I cannot recommend it enough. Honestly. Get it right now.

Writing: A+
Art: B-

[Artemy · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES! This one's much better than the previous volume. The story is finally stand-alone, not tied into Fear Itself, and it immediately gets much easier to read. And it is a delightful read at that. Fun, witty and ironic, it's all the signature Gillen stuff. The artwork here is also much nicer than in the first two books, which is a welcome change. Oh, and the Yuletide issue! It may be one of my favourite single issues ever. So great.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some books that you read and know right away that the author must have been enjoying himself while he was writing. Gillen must have been having a blast when he was working on Journey Into Mystery. And I had a great time reading it. Essentially, he was writing the solo adventures of Kid Loki, a character who's both fun and compelling to read. The bulk of this book is taken up with an adventure versus the fear lords of the Marvel universe. Most of the fear lords were new to me, though I've seen Nightmare around a few times. The issue that kicked off the collection was a light, fun, fluffy piece about Loki being gifted with a litter of Hel-hounds.

There's a lot of humor thrown around, but this isn't, strictly speaking, a comedy book. It's certainly more serious than Deadpool generally is, for example. I do like the mostly-not-serious, out of universe recap pages that kick off the issues. I hope those stick around, because they're a lot of fun.

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kieron Gillen's Journey Into Mystery is another completed series that I've been resisting to read in its entirety. Once again, it took a serendipitous find at a bargain bookstore at a relatively affordable price to convince me that I need to put the entire run on my reading list. Reading this volume has reminded why I enjoyed this series when it first came out. To wit:
1. The "naivete" of a reborn trickster struggling on his hero path.
2. The delightful Leah, handmaid of Hela, and Kid Loki's BFF.
3. The uncouth and vulgar Thori the Hel-puppy.
4. The Stephanie Han covers.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Terrorism Myth is a fantastic tale of greed and fear, mixed with enough wit and humour to make it a fun and engaging read-through. Picking up from the events of Fear Itself, Cul has left little remnants of fear scattered around the world. The dream lord Nightmare seeks to harvest these fear-stuffs to make himself powerful beyond his peers and the only ones left to stop him are Loki, Leah, and... Daimon Hellstrom. Gillen takes the mythic world of Asgard and builds upon it, fleshing out not just Loki and his relationship to the other gods but their grand purpose in the greater Earth dominions of fear and death. Coupled with Elson's artwork at depicting the various Fear Lords who would contest with Nightmare, their powers and their realms, and the haunted dreams of the innocents (that sum up the morals of Fear Itself better than the big crossover event could ever hope to), The Terrorism Myth is a must-read fantasy adventure.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume continues the great blend of humor and epic fantasy that Gillen has used in the previous volumes, and also continues to highlight fun and whimsical characters. Loki’s trickery also continues to be great. However, it also drags a bit more than the previous volumes, either due to a fairly simple plot, the ever-long captions, or both.

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. Now that the story has moved on from Fear Itself, I felt it gave the characters a chance to shine. And it does a good job with that. There are some fun moments. Kid Loki and his frenemy Leah join forces with Daimon Hellstrom to stop Nightmare from taking all the "fear" energy left over in people's heads from Fear Itself. I thought the board game page in the last issue was creative and unique.

[Tiamatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, perhaps, one of the weaker arcs of Kieron Gillen's Journey Into Mystery. And I still rated it 5 stars, which should give an indication of how amazing that run was. It starts with one of the most adorable comics ever, as Loki has to figure out what to do with a bunch of Hel-puppies. After that is an arc featuring Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan. Nightmare is making a crown of fear that will give him supreme power, and he's making it through Loki's subconscious. So Loki has to stop him. And he does it, as always, through trickery and deception. One of the joys in this series was watching Loki's schemes unfold. They're intricate things, almost impossible to predict, especially since he does have a tendency to have to improvise on the fly.

Another joy, of course, is the masterful blend of humour and drama. The dialogue is sharp and clever, full of wonderful jokes. But Gillen also brings the feels. This arc probably has fewer heart-wrenching moments than usual, but they're still there.

The art by Breitweiser and Elson is also excellent, and does a great job matching the story. The colours by Jordie Bellaire also deserve a lot of praise, as she does an amazing job picking the right colours to set the tone of each panel. And, of course, Stephanie Hans did the gorgeous, gorgeous covers, which is always a treat.

The entirety of Gillen's JiM run is brilliant, from start to finish, and absolutely worth reading. This book is a great part of it. And, of course, it sets up a few hooks that show back up later on in the series.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, this is so much fun. Gillen has (I imagine intentionally) crafted a story that effectively reads as John Constantine vs. Dream of the Endless (Daimon Hellstrom vs. Nightmare, in this case), but sets it in the Marvel universe and centers it around Loki and crew. I think this is my favorite Journey into Mystery story so far.

At this point, Gillen's grasp of each character is so strong that barely a line of dialogue goes by without feeling important and on point. The plot spins outward from a simple idea into magic, chaotic craziness on par with any of the great cosmic Marvel writers. Add a dollop of Loki spinning lies and manipulating people in the pursuit of the greater good, and you've got a story that just flat-out entertains.

It doesn't feel like Gillen is here to try to impress anyone with his knowledge of the Marvel Universe or with a wild, unfollowable plot. He's just writing pitch perfect characters into deftly explored scenarios. I really feel like this is as good as (or better) than Abnett & Lanning's Guardians of the Galaxy, the only comic that comes to mind that takes "fun" as seriously. Here's hoping this series stays great.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back when this series came out I remember everyone absolutely freaking out over it but I just do not get it. Like it's not awful but it's not really that good either. There's some cool scenes with Loki but I don't care about any of the other random non-Norse characters they keep shoehorning into the series for some reason {I gather something to do with a crossover I didn't read?] and also I am entirely immune to ~oh look a child character how adorable~ so I'm guessing that factors in as well. I'm going to try to finish it just because of Loki but I'm starting to think that Agent of Asgard was really the only truly good Loki comic story they ever did.

[***Dave Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's tough to just pick up a volume that's an intersection of three storylines -- the tale of Li'l Loki, the aftermath of the (forgettable) Fear Itself, and a war of fear gods trying to take advantage of that event -- and have it read well. This one nearly makes up for it with just that first element, Li'l Loki (and Ikol and Leah), but even here things feel muddled and rushed. More for the completist of Gillen's tale of Loki's tragic fate than for anything it offers on its own.

[Fae Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creatures of fear are now fighting over a crown.

This volumes has a different story line focusing mostly on Loki and nightmares, and him obeying orders from a series of All-mothers. There are hell puppies, fear god's and Leah causing mayhem with is always fun. Especially with Loki trying to good and he has to deal with the messes and keep everyone mildly happy. The exorcist guy was cool and he has history with Loki, great!

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is back to fun capers with Kid Loki as he lies, cheats, and steals his way into being a hero. Yay! When it's away from the big marvel crossover events, this series is great. Kid Loki is such a joy to read. I laughed out loud a few times - it's just.... Fun. Nice Sandman reference in here and the part where Loki tries to save the day by acting how he thinks Thor would is written in a very Gaiman way.

[Mark Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series finally seems to be out from under the weight of the cross over events and gets to be funny and novel on it's own terms. Art is overall better and more consistent, and the theme of people suffering from subconscious fear is well explored. I see a lot of similarities with Moore's Swamp Thing run in this series.

[Ambra · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

I love kid Loki!! His shenanigans with the puppies are adorable and his banter with Leah is so cute! And the guilt he feels for his part in Thor’s death is so genuine, I love it all!! He’s a better person and he’s just trying to do the right thing and prove himself, even if no one believes he can.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is when this book truly begins to sing. All of the Fear Itself stuff is out of the way. It's just about Kid Loki trying to do the right thing in the most spectacularly wrong way possible. Along for the ride is Hela's handmaiden Leah and Thori, a puppy from Hel. It's so much damn fun. Gillen does a nice job with Hellstrom and the Fear Lords too. Great stuff!

[Jean-Pierre Vidrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a twisted game of a story that brings together characters for whom a meeting was long overdue. There's occult intrigue, weird humor, and more than a touch of meta. All with superb artwork to boot.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

more super awesome. some absolutely hilarious text, especially in the issue introductions.

[Adam Šilhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3 Thori. Skvěle odlehčená série.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun! Daimon Hellström and Loki team-up, and It's hilarious, the dialogue is fun, and the story manages to be good too. Good times. Finally worthy of those gorgeous covers.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderately entertaining, and with occasional humorous moments, this book didn't quite live up to the charm of the previous volumes.

[guanaeps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kieron Gillen is too smart!!

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun look into Loki and the consequences of his actions, and how he tries to deal with the fall out!

[Steven W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous comics aren't really my thing, but this was done really well, Gillen is a genius.

[ila · Rating 3 out of 5]

living for the leah and loki dynamic, they're simply a joy to read :')

[Korey Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Child!Loki

[So · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better without the tie-ins

The tie-ins and heavy associations with the mainline Thor title in previous volumes are gone, and the humor really lands in these issues.

[J'aime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose Vol 1 as a starting point for entering the Marvel universe (outside of movies) and so far have been delighted with this series. Volume 3 continues the engaging stories that first drew me in. Though Loki has been reincarnated as a young teen, with all the adventure and hi-jinks you would expect such an idea to entail, there is also a serious, sad tinge to them. Loki wanted a new beginning, but everyone else remembers the villain and he is constantly harassed for being someone he cannot remember. Perhaps the author is sneaking in a very subtle lesson on bullying? I'm not sure, but it gives these comics a depth I never anticipated.

Since losing Thor in Vol 2, Loki now finds himself unprotected and under the thumb of the new All-Mothers of Asgard (Freyja, Gaia and Idunn), who seek to use him for their own purposes. In addition, children across the globe are having nightmares, tied to his own. Dreams have power, nigthmares especially. His nightmare reveals the guilt he feels over Thor, and his actions to save the world. Did the ends justify the means? Though there is a dark undercurrent, the story has a lot of humor. Much of it coming from Loki and Leah, and his use of modern terms and technology ("how can you be bored when you have the internet?"). But, still more is added when the author breaks the fourth wall - and addresses the reader directly at the start of each section. This threw me off at first, but I quickly realized it's a fun tool for providing the reader with background or exposition.

Overall, this book had action and adventure aplenty, with intrigue and humor to balance it. Highly recommended - and I cannot wait for Journey into Mystery, Vol. 4: The Manchester Gods!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

How thankful am I that, after the success of the Thor and Avengers films, and especially after how wonderfully portrayed Loki is by Tom Hiddleston, that Marvel did not try and bring the Thor titles to fall in line with how the film universe looks, as if to appeal to the casual reader (recall what happened to the X-Men line around 2001)? If they had, we would've lost the wonderful concept of having Loki being reborn in the body of a teenager, and his misadventures trying to come to terms with his previous, villainous life (not to mention his linchpin role in the new Young Avengers series).

I know the concept, on the surface, sounds rather hack, but Kieron Gillen has made it work, and made it a lot of fun. This title has basically become a Loki solo book in all but name only and, while it was a little shaky to start thanks to its tie-in to the Fear Itself crossover, it finally now feels like it gets to stretch in its own stories (the first issue in this collection being the best example of that).

I also have to point out the fun aside Gillen has with an old character, The Lurking Unknown, and basically recasting him in what I can only suspect is an homage to the fear demon from the third season Halloween episode of Buffy (it can't be a coincidence, right?)

[Wayne McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains Journey into Mystery #632-636. It features Kid Loki, who spends a lot of time adapting to earthly life, all while being tormented by his past actions. People don't trust him.
It's a book all about the after effects of a major incident - the Serpents attack during the Fear Itself event.
The first issue, 632, is distinctly different from the rest. Mainly because of the different art, but also it's a different type of issue - setting up the current state of Asgard, with a cute story involving adorable demon pups.
The other issues follow Daimon, Son of Satan and Kid Loki and Loki's friend (sometimes), Leah.
It's their mission to stop the ancient demon Nightmare, who's regaining his full strength after the Serpent's attack and preying on the vulnerable. The conflicting attributes of the characters in this team make for some funny quips. Ultimately, it's Loki's cunning that gets the job done.
Kieron Gillen does an excellent job writing. It's pretty funny. Sometimes in a distracting, take you out of the story way, but it works for the most part. Jessica Kholinne's color work in this book is some of the best I've seen - especially in issue #633, which has a lot of bright effects and a variety of locations.

3.5/5