Victor Shade Is Revealed: Reviewing ‘Avengers Inc.’ #4

The penultimate issue of Marvel’s Avengers Inc hits like a ton of bricks. One of the Marvel Universe’s deadliest villains has been hiding in plain sight, and only Janet Van Dyne can stop him.

Al Ewing, Leonard Kirk, Jordie Bellaire, and Cory Petit show what this series has actually been all about.

The villain Oddball is the latest in the Scourge killings. Now Wasp and Victor have to step back into the investigation when Moon Knight is accused of the murder by Oddball’s former teammates. Though Moon Knight is cleared, the trio soon find themselves at the doorstep of the true culprit- Hank Pym, returned from the dead. What is Hank up to though, and is he hero or villain?

This series is yet another victim to early cancellation woes, and it’s disappointing to say the least considering the last page twist. This issue is a tense investigation, with Jan continuing to show how clever she is. The rotating third Avenger continues to be a smart format, making this even more of an Avengers book than it appears. That makes for a very fun first two-thirds of the issue, but then the behind the scenes kicks in, and Ewing needs to wrap things up and reveal the actual series villain.

If you’d been paying attention, there wasn’t much foreshadowing. But you could have guessed, and probably guessed right considering the characters involved. Knowing Ewing, he’ll make the next issue satisfying, but it’s disappointing that the reveal wouldn’t have more space to breathe.

Kirk and Bellaire keep up their great work. Kirk juggles multiple different villains, each with very distinct designs, but he keeps it all clear and easy to follow. Even with the relatively slow pace of the plot, he keeps it all engaging. Bellaire’s colors are brighter in this issue, but she still makes it still feel very noir. The colors have been one of the best parts of this book and Bellaire knocks it out of the park each issue.

Avengers Inc. #4 is available now from Marvel Comics.