Robb Ghag reviews Age of Ultron #4 (spoilers ahead)…
“The impossible has happened! The Earth has been taken by Ultron. What few super hero survivors there are try desperately to stay alive. And it is Luke Cage who discovers the secret behind Ultron’s victory over all of mankind. A secret that will have fans of Marvel comics arguing for years to come!“
From the last issue’s cliff-hanger it was obvious the book had picked up, however slightly. As I mentioned issue #2 was full of dialogue and mysterious plot points that I still don’t fully understand. Diving into issue #3 the infamous plan was set into motion, which eventually revealed Vision was somehow connected to the Age of Ultron. What was the real shock was that he was on the side of Ultron and not the Avengers.
Picking up right where issue #3 leaves off, Luke Cage learns that Ultron is controlling the pas from the future, and using the Vision as a conduit. A great plot twist, as if there is one thing Marvel does well, its alternate timelines and alternate dimensions. Great artwork again by Hitch, and Bendis finally gets some of the story strings to tie together. His writing really expresses the desperation of the surviving super heroes, and Hitch’s work conveys the bleak reality.
She-Hulk dies, and it takes an army of Ultrons setting off a nuclear strike to inevitably kill Luke Cage. Not before all the other super heroes decide to head off to the Savage Land. We also see the fate of the Taskmaster as well as what happened to Moon Knight and the Black Widow in Nick Fury’s old bunker.
As all of the superheroes converge in the Savage Land where they’re met by a new hero in support of the cause, Ka-Zar. It always surprised me while Ka-Zar never got more recognition, as in almost all alternate realities the heroes eventually make their way to the Savage Land. And the best way to convey you’re in the Savage Land is the introduction of Ka-Zar.
It’s nice to see the book finally taking shape, as the heroes finally have an idea as to where Ultron really is. They look like they have devised a plan to finally confront him. Minus the first issue, this one ranks as my favourite, as it really brought the characters together, while killing off others in the process.
Now I really wanna see what happens in the Age of Ultron.
Robb Ghag works for an Arts & Entertainment Brokerage in Toronto Canada. An Animation and Film school graduate, he specializes in Risk Management of Animation and VFX studios throughout North America.
Originally published April 6, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
