Fun And Tension In Equal Measure: War Of The Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1 Reviewed
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
Thor and Baldur have a baby sister, and she is among Malekith’s primary targets on Midgard in his War of the Realms. Fridja hid her out in Oklahoma, but Malekith found her with ease. Baldur swore to protect his new sister, and he gathers a cadre of heroes to join him in his quest. Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Young Druid, Deathlocket, Thori, and Wonder Man are recruited for this mission, and they are the only ones who stand between the child god and Malekith’s allies.
War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1 is a more light-hearted tie-in to follow up the gloom and bloodshed of the opening issue. Baldur is trying to save his baby sister and has the help of a dysfunctional group of heroes he could not have predicted despite the foresight of a Norn to guide him.
It’s also written by the McElroy’s, podcasters famous for their shows, Adventure Zone and My Brother My Brother and Me.
Their talent for comedy is quite apparent in this comic, as it is a rather funny book. Baldur is a fish out of water given his time being, well, dead. He doesn’t recognize the likes of Kate Bishop and Miles Morales. The most powerful member of the team, Wonder Man, is a pacifist now and won’t fight back against the enemies that surround this motley crew.
The enemy revealed at the end of this issue is a genuine surprise for me, though, looking back, I do believe they were spoiled in a Previews issue some time back. Either way, I’m glad to see this character back and running about.
Andre Lima Araujo’s artwork gives an animated yet somewhat gritty aesthetic to it all. It’s certainly a unique look, and it can emphasize both the more serious and comical moments in equal measure. It looks damn good too, and it’s aided well by the color art of the talented Chris O’Halloran.
War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1 is a fun and wild romp through the war Malekith has brought to Midgard. Journey Into Mystery balances humor and tension with the help of a talented art team. This one gets a recommendation. Check it out.
War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1 comes to us from writers the McElroy’s, artist Andre Lima Araujo, color artist Chris O’Halloran, letterer VC’s Clayton cowles, cover artist Valerio Schiti with David Curiel, and variant cover artists Giuseppe Camuncoli with Elia Bonetti; Gerald Parel; and Joe Quinones with Matthew Wilson.