Journey Into Mystery (2011 series) #639

In the Otherworld, the subconscious of the British Isles and home of all magic, new gods arise, the Manchester Gods. Massive walking industrialized cities rise up and go to war against the old gods. The Lords of Otherworld (Arthur, Merlyn, Captain Britain, and others) attempt a parley but the Manchester Gods’ leader, Master Wilson, declares that their time has gone. The Otherworlders dispatch a messenger, Caber, to ask aid of Asgard; the All-Mother refuses, citing the pact that prevents pantheons from mixing in each others’ internal affairs. (Thor mightily disapproves of this policy.) Later, however, the All-Mother enlists Loki as her secret agent to work for peace in Britain. Loki takes Leah with him and they travel to London where they are met at Heathrow by the legendary Herne the Hunter. Herne takes them to Stonehenge, a place of power where they can pass through into the Otherworld. There they meet Captain Britain who is not happy that he has to deal with Loki. He takes them to Camelot ("none of the obvious jokes, please") where they are put up in a room. Leah channels a message from her mistress Hela, Goddess of Death: she needs a sip from the Holy Grail to be restored to full health and wants Loki to get it for her. Loki is then present at the Battle of the Valleys between the old gods and the upstarts; he begins to wonder if there may be a smarter way to win this war without all the hitting….