What do you think?
Rate this book
Loki Modern Era Epic Collection
Loki Modern Era Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Journey Into Mystery
Loki changes his story! In the wake of the siege of Asgard, Loki is reborn - as a child! With this new life comes a fresh purpose, but can the other Asgardian gods possibly trust him? Let's hope so - because when the Serpent threatens Earth, Thor's battle plan is doomed to fail without Loki's help! The former Lord of Lies must use all the skills of deceit that made him so hated in his past life, but will the rejuvenated godling find redemption or damn himself further? Nightmare is gathering enough energy to rule the world, and the motherlode is inside Loki's mind. Aided by an undead handmaiden and a demon puppy, Loki risks everything on a scheme so crazy it could only have been hatched by a God of Mischief!
Collects Siege: Loki (2010) #1; Journey into Mystery (2011) #622-636, 626.1.
Collects Siege: Loki (2010) #1; Journey into Mystery (2011) #622-636, 626.1.
432 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2023
6 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Kieron Gillen
1,472 books1,909 followersKieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 27, 2024
I thought this would be a interesting read and it was at the start but soon it felt to a meh. I just felt the story went on and on and it almost didn't feel like there was a end.
Loki is one of my favourite Gods, but this made me question if i like him anymore.
Loki is one of my favourite Gods, but this made me question if i like him anymore.
June 4, 2024
I bought this book because I’m absolutely in love with Marvel’s epic collections. They’re the best way to read these stories, and since I have free points with Hilton, I can buy one of these monstrosities once a month. Loki was next in line, as I wanted to read something I haven’t really been into before. Thor and Asgard were not really around when I was into heavy collecting, so this would be fun.
And it is fun. Kieron Gillen writes the Star Wars comics, and they are the best of what Disney is doing with Marvel. He’s very talented, and while I’m more than certain he’s “woke” or “liberal” or whatever, the messaging doesn’t get in the way of the story. That’s a plus with the way some writers do.
Loki’s a kid again, through various circumstances, and he’s also trying to be good, even if his superpower is basically being fantastic at lies and manipulations. Brilliant concept, really, as we root for this “reborn” version of Loki in a way we really can’t for the adult villain (reminds me of early seasons of Smallville, as we hoped Lex would remain a decent enough guy). We would always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. With this version, we see him truly trying to earn a redemption that’s always out of reach in the eyes of others (and himself, as we see towards the end of the volume).
The only complaints I have is that there are a couple of tie-ins that would leave someone confused if they know nothing about the comic book industry. But that’s minor, as the recaps are excellent in bringing the reader up to speed.
I highly recommend this to any comic book reader. Seriously. Especially if you like your heroes a little less Superman/ Cyclops/ Captain America-oriented. The moral gray and the growth makes this an interesting read.
And it is fun. Kieron Gillen writes the Star Wars comics, and they are the best of what Disney is doing with Marvel. He’s very talented, and while I’m more than certain he’s “woke” or “liberal” or whatever, the messaging doesn’t get in the way of the story. That’s a plus with the way some writers do.
Loki’s a kid again, through various circumstances, and he’s also trying to be good, even if his superpower is basically being fantastic at lies and manipulations. Brilliant concept, really, as we root for this “reborn” version of Loki in a way we really can’t for the adult villain (reminds me of early seasons of Smallville, as we hoped Lex would remain a decent enough guy). We would always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. With this version, we see him truly trying to earn a redemption that’s always out of reach in the eyes of others (and himself, as we see towards the end of the volume).
The only complaints I have is that there are a couple of tie-ins that would leave someone confused if they know nothing about the comic book industry. But that’s minor, as the recaps are excellent in bringing the reader up to speed.
I highly recommend this to any comic book reader. Seriously. Especially if you like your heroes a little less Superman/ Cyclops/ Captain America-oriented. The moral gray and the growth makes this an interesting read.
January 29, 2024
I mean this is what I get when I randomly pick and choose collections to read without rhyme or reason. The main story is Fear Itself (which I haven't read) which succeeds Siege (which I haven't read) which succeeds the whole Doom and Latveria thing (which I haven't read) which succeeds Ragnarok and its aftermath (which I haven't read). I have no one to blame but myself.
This is Loki's contribution to Fear Itself and some extra stuff that's fallout from the event. It's certainly not bad. Loki works very well as a teenager, and I loved his foil - Leah, Hela's assistant of sorts. I also really enjoyed getting to see Damian Hellstorm, because who doesn't like shirtless men. But I got distracted by some of it because I had no idea of the larger story and whatever was collected in the edition was maybe not consistent? (At one point, Mephisto owns up to waking up the serpent, at another it's a Nazi lady? Tiny things like that, but they definitely irritated me). The art too was only okay.
This is Loki's contribution to Fear Itself and some extra stuff that's fallout from the event. It's certainly not bad. Loki works very well as a teenager, and I loved his foil - Leah, Hela's assistant of sorts. I also really enjoyed getting to see Damian Hellstorm, because who doesn't like shirtless men. But I got distracted by some of it because I had no idea of the larger story and whatever was collected in the edition was maybe not consistent? (At one point, Mephisto owns up to waking up the serpent, at another it's a Nazi lady? Tiny things like that, but they definitely irritated me). The art too was only okay.
November 10, 2024
A mixed bag. Writer Kieron Gillen is clever, and Loki is just his kind of character: snarky, slippery, and too clever by half, always fibbing, feinting, and maneuvering. Gillen’s ingenuity shows up on both the macro level (overarching high concepts) and the micro (throwaway banter). Apart from a few strained figures of speech — odd moments of prolixity — the writing is smart, and arch, and sometimes sings. Fans remember this as a pivotal run for Loki, and for good reason, as Gillen’s version of the character opens up a lot of potential. This is the reborn Loki, or Kid Loki, introduced around 2011, and Gillen makes the most of that, creating a sympathetic but still secretive and scheming young antihero who is actually fun to watch in action.
But: This Loki is tangled up in Marvel’s event series of the time, Siege (2010) and Fear Itself (2011), and so it’s full of loose ends and odd transitions. I suspect that this was the most interesting thing to come out of Fear Itself, but it’s still annoying to have important action happening out of sight. Characters who seem vital to the action barely register here (Thor dies off-panel). At times, Gillen’s ingenuity results in tortuous plots and a great deal of Marvel Universe busyness, to the detriment of the storytelling. I prefer him in self-contained stories that don’t depend on following a bunch of comics written by others.
And the art? Inconsistent, often ugly. The inconsistencies that mark this run become more glaring when gathered between two covers and read in just a few sittings. Some talented artists are at work here — take longtime Gillen collaborator Jamie McKelvie, whose aseptic style is not my cuppa tea but delivers the clearest pages in the book; or Pasqual Ferry, who draws a nice interlude in fact written by Rob Rodi. Several issues are drawn by Doug Braithwwaite, with art based on his penciling, sans inks, but digitally finished with cloying, painterly colors that tend to quell the drawing’s energy and obscure fine details. Sample penciled pages in the back matter show how much clearer the pencils were on their own (Braithwaite favors a heightened, heroic naturalism that reminds me of John Buscema, but I find the colored versions heavy and murky.) A few issues penciled by Whilce Portacio are downright bad — messy and incoherent. Overall, I found the art more a chore to read than a delight, which is usually a dealbreaker for me when it comes to superhero comics.
So, this Loki is a smart, self-aware superhero comic, and a fitfully interesting example of a writer using a big event series to make his own mark and transform a familiar character. Loki seems to me a much more fully realized character thanks to Gillen, and there are delightful details (one chapter is narrated by the Asgardian rascal Volstagg; another depicts Loki adopting a hell-hound, or puppy, rather). But the frustrations of the genre are also here, in spades.
But: This Loki is tangled up in Marvel’s event series of the time, Siege (2010) and Fear Itself (2011), and so it’s full of loose ends and odd transitions. I suspect that this was the most interesting thing to come out of Fear Itself, but it’s still annoying to have important action happening out of sight. Characters who seem vital to the action barely register here (Thor dies off-panel). At times, Gillen’s ingenuity results in tortuous plots and a great deal of Marvel Universe busyness, to the detriment of the storytelling. I prefer him in self-contained stories that don’t depend on following a bunch of comics written by others.
And the art? Inconsistent, often ugly. The inconsistencies that mark this run become more glaring when gathered between two covers and read in just a few sittings. Some talented artists are at work here — take longtime Gillen collaborator Jamie McKelvie, whose aseptic style is not my cuppa tea but delivers the clearest pages in the book; or Pasqual Ferry, who draws a nice interlude in fact written by Rob Rodi. Several issues are drawn by Doug Braithwwaite, with art based on his penciling, sans inks, but digitally finished with cloying, painterly colors that tend to quell the drawing’s energy and obscure fine details. Sample penciled pages in the back matter show how much clearer the pencils were on their own (Braithwaite favors a heightened, heroic naturalism that reminds me of John Buscema, but I find the colored versions heavy and murky.) A few issues penciled by Whilce Portacio are downright bad — messy and incoherent. Overall, I found the art more a chore to read than a delight, which is usually a dealbreaker for me when it comes to superhero comics.
So, this Loki is a smart, self-aware superhero comic, and a fitfully interesting example of a writer using a big event series to make his own mark and transform a familiar character. Loki seems to me a much more fully realized character thanks to Gillen, and there are delightful details (one chapter is narrated by the Asgardian rascal Volstagg; another depicts Loki adopting a hell-hound, or puppy, rather). But the frustrations of the genre are also here, in spades.
April 17, 2025
Kieron Gillen weaves a tale of myth and mystery starring Loki, God of Lies. The Mythology of Marvel is dense but Gillen takes the reader through it with ease.
Loki has been reborn. Now just a child with no memory of his past actions, he seeks a chance at redemption, but few in Asgard trust him.
Great mysteries but also fantastic character work, the brotherly bond between Thor and Loki is heart-warming, and Volstagg is funny and well-rounded (literally and figuratively).
This story also introduces Thori, the best/worst boy in all the Realms.
Loki has been reborn. Now just a child with no memory of his past actions, he seeks a chance at redemption, but few in Asgard trust him.
Great mysteries but also fantastic character work, the brotherly bond between Thor and Loki is heart-warming, and Volstagg is funny and well-rounded (literally and figuratively).
This story also introduces Thori, the best/worst boy in all the Realms.
October 5, 2023
This is one of those weird cases where I know it's actually a very well written series, but it is just definitely not for me. Even focusing on Loki doesn't make up for it, as it unfortunately is being written alongside a bunch of events that means a portion of the story is missing from the collection. I'm also not super crazy about the art. That being said, if you like mystical Marvel stuff or just fantasy in general, you'll probably get a lot more from this than me.
October 16, 2023
The adventures of Kid Loki! I’m a big fan of Kieron Gillen’s other work (Phonogram, Wicked + Divine, Die) and it’s fun to read his take on the god of mischief. I really enjoyed his relationship with Thor (as a big brother), Freya (as adopted his adopted mother, but also as 1/3 of the All-Mother ruling Asgardia), and Leah, Hela’s handmaiden. I read “Journey Into Mystery” and “Everything Burns” in one stretch, and I recommend both.
January 6, 2025
Everything I would want out of a Loki story while also being fresh and inventive. It is super interesting to read about someone go up against gods with nothing but their wit. The Fear Itself tie in is the height of this series although the art gets a little wonky at the end. The writing is super consistent throughout!
January 7, 2024
Just know that the main storyline that this book leads towards is contained in the Fear Itself series and this skips over it completely and just gives you a summery page of what happened.
May 22, 2024
Did some research about what specifically I was looking for and took the leap into the daunting world of Marvel comics. I was skeptical about reading so much "kid Loki" but it was recommended for context. And once I got into it I really did enjoy it and am looking forward to continuing!
August 15, 2024
I've read some of this before, but I absolutely adore kid!Loki in all his deviousness.
March 25, 2025
I love Kid Loki. He has this way of doing the right thing in the worst way possible. He's so much better than mustache twirling Loki. The beginning of this run gets a bit derailed with the Fear Itself event. To get the most out of it, you'd want to read both in conjunction with one another. Nothing bad but not nearly as good as the book gets once it's unfettered by events.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews