When the War of the Realms hit the Marvel Universe, it naturally would involve every major Marvel character active in the universe at the time. Thor needed all the help he could get to stop Malekith, after all. However, despite the chaos, even Thor still had to deal with family drama. To protect his newest sibling, the God of Thunder's close ally, friend, and half-brother Balder the Brave had to assemble a crack team of heroes and take them...on a Journey to Mystery.
Journey to Mystery is a title long associated with the Thor mythos. Journey into Mystery started in 1952 as a horror anthology. As the 1950s went on, it would start telling science fiction and monster stories. But with issue #83 (August 1962), Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby would introduce the Marvel Universe's take on Thor, the Norse god of thunder. The title would be Thor's regular home. When #166 (March 1966) hit, The book would be renamed for its superhero star.
The title would be used again a couple of times over the years. The 1970s would see a brief revival, going back to its roots as a horror anthology. In the 1990s and the 2010s, the Thor title would be given back on its old name when it focused on characters from Thor's mythos.
So, it's rather appropriate that the name be used again with a Thor-centered event. This Journey to Mystery is a five-issue miniseries. Did it start strong? Let's find out by looking at War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery #1!
The cover is a Valerio Schiti and David Curiel piece, and it's pretty cool. You got the heroes of this story doing poses on the Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge between Asgard and Midgard, aka Earth.
"Chapter One: With the Will to Protect"
Writers: Clint, Griffin, Justin, and Travis McElroy
Penciler: Andre Lima Araujo
Inker: Andre Lima Araujo
Colorist: Chris O'Halloran
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Editors: Will Moss, Sarah Brunstad, Tom Brevoort
Editor-in-Chief: C.B. Cebulski
The story begins with what looks like a not-Winnebago racing down a highway with explosions erupting around it.
So, how did this end up happening? Well, we first have to go back about a month earlier. Balder the Brave has learned that he has got himself a new sister who is in the care of Gaia, Thor's mother. Balder's missed a lot, since he became King of Hel in Angela: Queen of Hel #5 (February 2016). As such, he's not been able to keep up with things on Midgard. But enough about that, let's meet Laussa Odinsdottir!
Look at little Laussa. Ain't she cute? Balder swears to protect his new little sister with his new life if he has to. A month later, the War of the Realms hits. The Queen of Cinders (this is before she battled the New Agents of Atlas) is after little Laussa. And the Queen of Cinders knows where she is. After all, having a big ol' Asgardian castle in Oklahoma is...kind of an obvious hiding place.
Lady Freyja basically tells Balder and Thori to get their butts to Oklahoma and protect Laussa. Thori, who first appeared in Journey into Mystery #632 (December 2011), is a Hel-Hound. He originally belonged to Loki, but was hanging around with Thor at this time. Loki gave him the name Thori. It's here we join the Miles Morales Spider-Man, who is trying to fight off some monsters in Times Square. Balder saves the young hero's life and introduces himself.
Thing is, he thinks Miles is the Peter Parker Spider-Man, just with a new suit. Again, Balder as been trapped in Hel for a long time. He's missed a lot. A SHIELD agent named Roz Solomon takes them to Oklahoma. They arrive as Thor's castle is about to be attacked. Upon their arrival, Balder and Miles meet Skuld, the Silent Norn.
Skuld has to do the talking now as her sisters aren't around to interpret her visions. Gaia entrusts baby Laussa to Balder. Skuld then tells Balder that fate will provide him with a party of companions to aid him on his journey.
The Man of Spiders and the Dog of Gods is here, but that's not all: He'll be aided by a Brave Archer that Never Misses, He Who Would Be Sorcerer Supreme, The Half-Machine Warrior, and the One of Wonders.
We check in on a certain archer in action in Amarillo, Texas.
Not Clint Barton, but the Kate Bishop Hawkeye. The Young Avenger, private investigator, and future Marvel Cinematic Universe star (Hailee Steinfeld will be portraying her in the upcoming Disney+ series Hawkeye) is after a mercenary called Slaughter-Man. It's a play on "manslaughter". Get it?
Anyway, she easily subdues the merc and serves him some divorce papers from the future former Mrs. Slaughter-Man. Miles and Balder pick her up there. Next, we travel to Alberquerque, New Mexico. It's here that Death Locket is seemingly holding a party. Death Locket, aka Rebecca "Becca" Ryker, first appeared in Avengers Arena #1 (December 2012). She is the daughter of Harlan Ryker, the lead of the Deathlok program. Deathlok's history in the Marvel Universe is rather complicated, and worth a blog examination of its own. Basically, a Deathlok from the future exploded in an attempt to kill Harlan, and left her in need of cybernetic reconstruction. Her name comes from her being referred to as a "Deathlok-ette", and she misheard it as "Death Locket".
Anyway, the young cyborg is actually partying with a bunch of Life Model Decoys. Life Model Decoys, LMDs for short, are a type of advanced android often used by the spy agency SHIELD for purposes of infiltration and subterfuge. Balder tells her he seeks Deathlok, but she's just as good. Next, we head to Flagstaff, Arizona. It's here we join another member of this party.
Meet Sebastian Druid. First appearing in Mighty Avengers #13 (July 2008), he's the son of the late ex-Avenger and mystic Doctor Anthony Druid. He's found himself a job as a nanny since the disbanding of his Secret Warriors team in Secret Warriors #28 (July 2011). He tries to get his wallet out of his magic coat to pay for his crying charge's candy, but accidentally pulls out a wild magic wand that blasts the shop. He ends up in jail and fired. Balder and Thori get him out, and he eagerly is up for whatever they're doing. Next, we head to Los Angeles, California.
It's here we meet up with Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man. The veteran Avenger and Hollywood hero is being pitched a TV show to star in, but he's taken up pacifism since the events of Uncanny Avengers #7 (April 2013). As such, he does not feel comfortable doing a series in which he'd have to fight. Uh, Simon? You can still be a pacifist and play a character that fights.
Anyway, this is where Balder and his party come to pick him up. It's here we come to the present. Balder and Simon argue over Simon's refusal to fight the truck. Simon, it's a demon truck. I don't think anyone will think you're being a hypocrite for protecting your teammates from a demon truck. Kate Bishop convinces him he can stop the truck without fighting...by wrecking the bridge they're on so the truck can't pursue them. Simon does so, and the plan works.
Death Locket wants to take the fight to the truck's driver, but Simon reminds her their mission is to keep Laussa safe away from the war. And it would not be a good idea to pick a fight with the truck's driver anyway.
Especially if that driver is one Ares, the God of War. He invented it, and perfected it in the field of battle!
I really liked this comic. You could tell that the McElroys were having a blast writing this. I did also like that a couple of lesser-known characters (Sebastian Druid and Death Locket) get to majorly shine here. I also appreciated the 'thrown-together' nature of this group. These are a group of heroes that normally don't get to interact very much, so there's a lot of wonderful potential here. The comic has plenty of hilarious moments, you have to read this for yourself.
When it comes to the art, I have to say this. Andre Lima Araujo's art has this vibe to me. It has this vibe of European comic books. I think it does a fine job carrying the comedy of this issue.
If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the trade paperback War of the Realms: Journey into Mystery. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get vaccinated! Join me next time when the Avengers continue their battle against Immortus...
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