It’s not often a massive reveal occurs so late in a series, but that’s the case in Superior Avengers #4. The team of misfit villains from another time is throwing down with the Avengers, but the truth behind their plans and their personas comes into full light this week. That makes for a revealing and satisfying turn in the story.
Superior Avengers #4 opens in a flashback to Ghost’s origins. Drawn by Kyle Hotz, we quickly see Annihilus has come to destroy everything, while a mother protects her child. In the distraction, a swap is made, which leads to the revelations of this issue.
The story then picks up from there, where we left off in the last issue, as Vision is stunned to realize he killed Ghost. There’s a lot more to Ghost than it seems, however, as she’s just a robot, which sets in motion a few different things. First off is the surprise from the Avengers members, and also immediate action from the Superior Avengers. It’s interesting to see the Superior Avengers make quick work of the Avengers in this moment, further revealing they are far more powerful than we might give them credit for.
Freaky!
Credit: Marvel
The meat of the issue focuses on Ghost, who we now know is an imposter. Writer Steve Foxe does heavy lifting in this three-page sequence, which splits the page for a different Superior Avenger dossier of sorts. Through a few captions spoken by Ghost, we learn about their deal, goals, and basic origins. It’s a fun three-page scene offering lots of details and some clever hooks. Onslaught, in particular, will get X-Men and Krakoa fans talking. These vignettes are well worth a read.
In a lot of ways, these reveals, the flashback, and the cliffhanger bring this story forward far more than the last three issues. Now that we know what the team members are up to, with a cliffhanger that’s event-level in stakes, the story can really start to cook. Sure, the book is very exposition-heavy, but it’s satisfying reveals that add a lot of context.
Artist Luca Maresca and color artist Mattia Iacono continue to produce high-quality work, featuring well-drawn facial expressions and superhero suits. Layouts and story structure are a little stiff, but manageable. Hotz’s art is dynamic and leans far more into the horror of the flashback, adding to the stakes once the cliffhanger drawn by Maresca hits.
Superior Avengers #4 delivers its most compelling issue yet, with impactful reveals, an emotionally charged flashback, and a clear turning point for the series. Despite a heavy exposition load, the character insights and rising stakes make this a must-read chapter.
You must be logged in to post a comment.