First, we have the framing device, namely the fight between Loki and Thor that we see in "Avengers & X-Men: Axis" #6. Loki initially learns of Thor's drunken antics in a Vegas casino from the tweets of a journalist following Thor (as seen in "Axis: Revolutions" #2*). But, before he finds him, Loki stumbles upon the robbery of a different casino by the Death Throws, a group of circus-themed ("super-")villains. Honestly, this fight is the best part of the issue. Ewing lets us know that the Throws consider themselves legitimate villains (one of them is even auditioning for a spot on the team), but we're allow to laugh at them with Loki as he makes quick work of them. They're the perfect group for Loki-as-superhero to confront. They're not enough of a challenge for him to require his full attention, so it allows him to toy with them (and a circus-themed group certainly lends itself to Loki's sense of humor). Once he defeats them, the cops send him to the casino where Thor is, setting up the fight in "Avengers & X-Men: Axis" #6.
Second, Ewing is also trying to tie up loose ends left from "Loki: Agent of Asgard" #6 and #7. At some point, the Enchantress, Lorelei, Loki, Sigurd, and Verity have all assembled in Loki's apartment. (The intro page tells us that the Enchantress is Lorelei's sister. I'm not counting that as an example of pet peeve #2, because long-time readers of this series and its predecessors may already know that.) It's a surprise to see them all together, since they were all in different places when we last left them. Eventually, we learn that the Enchantress and Loki called everyone to the apartment to let them know that they're good guys now, but it's not until well into the issue that Ewing establishes that. It results in the reader (or, at least, me) spending most of the issue confused, since we're not privy to the events that set up the scene and it's clear that a lot happened since we last saw everyone. I keep feeling like I had missed an issue somewhere.
In other words, Ewing is clearly rushed, trying to combine the epilogue to the events of "Loki: Agent of Asgard" #6 and #7 with the introduction of the changes to the Enchantress and Loki to this series as a result of "Avengers & X-Men: Axis" #3 as well as setting up the fight in "Avengers & X-Men: Axis" #6. It's a lot. As I mentioned above, I'm not sure if the flashback technique was the best call here. I get that starting the issue with a fight (and a well scripted one at that) is a better opening than the expository scenes that happen in Loki's apartment in the middle of the issue, but its impact is lost when the reader is suddenly throw a few hours into the past and left trying to put together the pieces. As I said, Ewing manges to do a better job than most authors with what he has here, but I think it would've been even stronger of an issue with a more linear approach to the events unfolding.
* I've previously mentioned "Axis: Revolutions" in passing, because it's really just filler. I'm not even reviewing it, since it doesn't really merit the effort. But, I'll admit that it would help to pick up issue #2 if you're totally lost here, because you really get a better insight into Thor's mindset.
*** (three of five stars)
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