Journey Into Mystery enters Marvel NOW! with a new character, but is this new lead worthy?

Here is the summary from Marvel:

AN ALL-NEW JOURNEY BEGINS WHEN KATHRYN IMMONEN AND VALERIO SCHITI BRING YOU…SIF: THE BERZERKER?!

• She may be a “Lady,” but girly ain’t her style! Known by many names: lover of Thor, sister of Heimdall, defender of Asgard…Sif is the ultimate faithful…sidekick?! Immortal, please.
• When the latest crop of beasties beset Asgard, it’s business as usual for our sword-slingin’ heroine as she …

Thor’s former love Lady Sif takes center stage in the Marvel NOW! relaunch. After saving people from a burning library, Sif has realized that she has grown out of touch with the current state of Asgard. The children no longer care for the glory of battle and stories of olde, being spoiled by the fruits of Midgard and have become disillusioned with the realms history due to Asgard being constantly destroyed and rebuilt. Sif agrees with this fact and goes on a quest to gain more power in order to help restore Asgard to it’s former glory. However, as her journey moves forward, she gets more than she bargained for.

Kathryn Immonen takes the reigns of this book of lore and magic right where Kieron Gillen left off. Giving a new direction and a new main character to follow. Sif is well written, a strong, and proud warrior who has lost touch with the current state of her home and wants to see it returned to it’s former status. Also the olden english dialogue is always refreshing to read in an Asgardian tale. Some lore is introduced here and it is a nice way to further the story and give background on Sif’s journey.

Valerio Schiti’s art is very well done, giving the book the dynamic and magical feel a book like this needs. The panels flow nicely and the different creatures our heroine encounters are diverse and well detailed. Sif is also drawn well, looking bold and powerful, but also beautiful and graceful. Each looking different from the last, which is expected from a book that traverses the 9 realms. Jordie Bellaire’s colors also pop from the page giving that extra blast of appeal. The calligraphic-esque lettering also adds to the appeal.

Journey Into Mystery has taken another new direction and once again it works, Lady Sif  is a character who hasn’t really had a chance to shine as much as her ex-love and his brother. So it is nice to see her get the spotlight as she proves in issue one that she carry her own title. Good introduction and good art for another strong NOW! title, recommended.

4/5