With this Exiled story coming to us next month, a semi-break from this series seems like a good idea. I mean no offense to Mr. Kieron Gillen but after all of the narration boxes I’ve read this year you can forgive this reader for wanting a break. This issue ends the highly enjoyable story of Nightmare and it definitely seems like Loki has screwed up big time. Nightmare has enough fear to somehow conquer the world and all seems lost. But leave it to Mr. Gillen (Yeah I’m being proper to him, wanna fight about it?) to make the resolution unique and enjoyable.

I don’t want to reveal HOW Loki got himself out of this mess, but I want to somehow discuss it. So for the sake of spoilers I’ll just say that the method to how this situation ends was very funny. I didn’t see it coming and it makes me happy to know Mr. Gillen is willing to be creative with his stories. This series, in a way, reminds me a lot like Incredible Hercules in that the creativity is higher than most Marvel books. That and the humor in this issue, and the series as a whole, are also just as creative as the story itself. The way Leah ‘apologizes’ to the bully from the first issue of this arc was very funny and also stupid. I like the fact she’s willing to injure herself just to make people happy (that and her nonchalant face makes it extra funny).

I’ve said it so many times now but it bears repeating: Richard Elson has done his best work for this arc. The finale of this arc is just as good looking as the previous issues were. I think he’s finally comfortable in drawing children, because this is the best Loki and Leah have looked since this series started. There are also some really good effects in this issue such as the fire or energy blasts. Credit should also go to colorist Ifansyah Noor for making this look really bright and colorful. Lot of good use for purple in this which I think is always a good sign of a colorist for using unique colors for an issue.

I’m happy to know that this story ended just as strong as it did begin. I wouldn’t say this is the best story to come out of Mr. Gillen’s run but, like this issue, it had a lot of good humor and action pieces to make it interesting. That and Richard Elson is finally in a groove and for once I’d be happy to see him come back to fill in an arc. I’ll miss a couple of issues of this series thanks to that annoying New Mutants crossover, but reading about what is to come of this series once that story is done makes me excited for the summer.