This week we take a look at the earth-shattering Avengers Armageddon #4. In Rapid Rundown, we check in on the merry mutants of Marvel with their latest event with DNX #1 and we check in on yet another Marvel event with the Queen in Black: Defenders of Light and Dark #3.
Note: the reviews below may contain spoilers. If you want quick, spoiler-free buy/pass recommendations on the comics in question, check out the bottom of the article for our final verdict.
Cover Art by Dike Ruan and Moreno Dinisio
AVENGERS ARMAGEDDON #4
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artists: Delio Diaz & Frank Alpizar
Color Artist: Jesus Arbutov
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Picking up from last issue, AVENGERS ARMAGEDDON #4 follows the Avengers attempt at stopping the Russian launch of nuclear missiles. Meanwhile, David Colton, the War on Terror Captain America, aims to take out the source of the missiles. Colton’s internal struggle coming to terms with burgeoning powers comes to forefront as he fights a decaying Red Hulk on the outskirts of Moscow. The result of which promises to change the Marvel Universe for the foreseeable future.
As far as the penultimate issue of this mini-series goes, Armageddon #4 is successful in propelling the plot towards its promised conclusion of changing the Marvel Universe in turning the world against superhumans. The events of the issue feel befitting of a major event comic. Chip Zdarsky knows how to present the scale and gravity of the situation. Delio Diaz & Frank Alpizar deliver a strong visual issue that compliment the scope of the story. Thirteen nukes flying against East Coast cities and the various Marvel teams coming together to stop are some great hero-moments along with the revelation that the governments of the world have been developing weapons and contingency plans to counter the powers of various superhumans. Throughout Zdarsky’s recent Marvel work there has been an ongoing narrative conflict about power vs non-power and the role of superpowered individuals in protecting people from governments. The parallels between this story and that of say Kingdom Come or Squadron Supreme are not lost on me.
These themes are explored in the dangers of projecting democracy in the form of the Red Hulk’s world view, to Tony Stark’s reliance on generative AI and surveillance states to predict crime, and to David Colter’s one-man war on nuclear arsenals. Each have hints of the illusion of democracy and peace through force all in the name of the greater good. For that I think Zdarsky has been successful so far in the issue.
However, there is an atomic elephant in the room in the form of David Colton being revealed as Mircaleman. Now, to Zdarsky’s credit he attempts to hit the landing on this reveal. It is big and it is ambitious after all. Zdarsky focuses the lion’s share of the issue on David Colton via internal narration and focuses on David’s history. Which, sidebar in a mini-series full of editor notes cross-referencing various comic issues NOT A SINGLE editor note telling the reader to check out Captain America (2025) #1-5 for David’s history. I skipped those issues at first and was taken back by the sequences between David and his mom. That aside, I have to consider is this issue successful in its big splashy move? To that all I can say, I don’t know.
What intrigues me, and I am sure the comics community at large, why is Marvel now just debuting Miracleman into the larger Marvel Universe? Miracleman’s debut has been teased for some time now and there were even rumors that Avengers: Armageddon would be the debut well before it was published, but most were dismissive. Afterall, Joe Quesada teased Miracleman’s entry way back in 2009. I was there when there was talk about the hero showing up at the end of Siege! So, I was a bit surprised when the news leaked about this big reveal. It does make the decision to make these five issues an event mini-series instead of just the first five issues of Zdarsky’s Avengers run.
The rendition of Miracleman we get in the comic is interesting. Zdarksky, Delio Diaz, and Frank Alpizar allude to Alan Moore and Gary Leach’s first Miracleman story “A Dream of Flying” with the David remembering the magic word “Kimota” in a similar fashion. However, the fact that David already had powers before the magical word seems almost moot. Kimota and the costume are redundant at this point when David is already flying around and punching out Hulks. The story’s theme definitely fit in the themes of Miracleman, though. I am curious to see where this book
Zdarsky being the one to bring in Miracleman is an interesting choice as well. I am sure Marvel intended it to be Neil Gaiman but given the allegations against the writer, I don’t blame Marvel for moving on. As for timing? This is a big move for a company whose back is against the wall in terms of sales. DC comics is beating them in almost every major category. I just don’t know if readers will care. Either way, this is the most interested I have been in Marvel proper in a long time.
Final Verdict: Buy
The Rapid Rundown
- DNX #1
DNX #1 - This current Marvel initiative to publish micro-event miniseries alongside ongoing comics is interesting. DNX is culmination of Jed MacKay’s first 2+ years on X-Men as 3K’s gene bomb goes into motion. Despite having the Fantastic Four and the scale of the moment, it does feel a bit underwhelming. I think the pacing is off and the issue ends on a cliffhanger that feels like an end of an issue and more like a page-turn. It is still well done. MacKay does a wonderful Beast, and we see both sides on display here with the Chairman and reset Beast. The dynamic between Beast and Reed Richards is also captivating as Reed deals with ethical dilemma of saving Magneto’s life. There is a set up for a psychic battle between Cassandra Nova and Quentin Quire but that is relegated to X-Men #37. Artist Fedrico Vicentini delivers a dynamic issue and one that keeps the action moving. I do wish the issue was better paced, but I am continuing to enjoy MacKay’s run.
-
Queen in Black: Defenders of Light and Dark #3 Queen in Black: Defenders of Light and Dark #3
- I know there are two other Marvel events in stores this week, but I just had to come back to my favorite Cloak and Dagger mini-series, aka Defenders of Light and Dark, writers Al Ewing and Tom Waltz‘s sidebook to the main Queen in Black Marvel event that’s happening. Spoiler, spoiler, spoiler alert, do not read this until you’ve read the main Queen in Black book. Events from that book jump directly to here, you’ve been warned. This series is the perfect example of a comic book blockbuster, popcorn summer event, high drama and all action, action, action. Straight good versus evil, versus more evil. For the past two issues, Cable and Iron Man have been talking about Plan B if plan A went to pot. And we finally get to see them pull the trigger on Plan B. Their first plan was to assemble two teams, one of light to fight the Queen in Black, while a team of Darkforce users went after Knull in his role as a god of light. An amazing strategy, but realizing that they’ve hit a wall with Plan A, it’s time to go to their super overcomplicated, straight bonkers, over the top plan B. I kind of don’t want to talk about it because it is an interesting gimmick that they’ve come up with in order to fight Hela and Knull, again, this is a summer blockbuster type of comic. And again, I’m trying not to spoil artist Zé Carlos’s execution of Plan B, as it’s a fun madcapped montage of things that help the heroes accomplish their goals. His super kinetic style and frenetic energy, added with the blazing color palette of color artist Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, and they are getting their groove on. I don’t know where this book is going or how it can end well for the folks in the Marvel universe, especially with the endings of Queen and Black, which Defenders of Light and Dark goes back to, if you’re a purist, you definitely have to read both books. Kudos to Ewing, Waltz for, again, giving my favorite obscure characters, Cloak and Dagger, some time to shine with level ups and fun new costumes in a high-octane read. – GC3
Read past installments of the Marvel Rundown here!
And check out the Beat’s other recent comics reviews!
