One Final Stand — Reviewing ‘Aliens Vs. Avengers’ #4

After months of waiting, the saga smashing the mightiest heroes and the universe’s deadliest killers together has reached its end. All chips are on the table as Aliens Vs. Avengers #4 has finally arrived.

This epic tale is courtesy of Jonathan Hickman, Esad Ribić, Ive Svorcina, and Cory Petit.

<<<SPOILERS FOLLOW>>>

This is a tough one to really nail down.

Overall, I’m digging what Hickman has been doing. There is a lot to like through the first three issues, such as the deep world-building, and in this final issue, too. There were dire stakes and lots of heroes (including tons that we never saw) met their grisly end at the mouth, tail, and claws of the Xenomorphs.

We got freaking Mister Sinister going full Xeno, with mutant powers baked right into the design, throwing down with heroes and only meeting an end thanks to a Venom symbiote Xenomorph smackdown! Truly delicious stuff right there.

It’s bolstered by the epic scale that Ribić continues to work at. If that was the reason the series was delayed, it was worth it in the end. Rich with dark tonal moodiness, mixing with the very present rougher textures and figures within the artwork. Each space we see has inherent depth which allows the spaces to feel authentic. Really live- in and comprehensible to the mind at first glance.

Pulling back details where appropriate, while going all-in at other times. It allows both the science fiction and the horror of the piece to ring loud and true. Basically, these pages look just like what the movies have always felt like in the best way.

That aforementioned roughness comes with the color palette too. Svorcina keeps strong with the more washed out, somewhat pulled back, choices. This is a darker story, after all, and the inherent hopelessness and horror needs to be clear. It must be palpable at all times, which is what he accomplishes here.

At the same time, the flashes of brighter or vibrant colors work against this backdrop. Creating something unique and foreign compared to the more toned-down surrounding colors.

Now comes the tough part.

This is an extremely wordy issue. Just buckets of exposition and a lot of telling without showing going on here. It almost feels like four issues wasn’t close to enough and this one was speed-running through the plot. A lot is thrown on the page at once, including a whole slowed-down history of the former Empire of Wakanda.

Petit makes the words at least flow smoothly, keeping them in line and doing what he can to give it the right tone, impact, and power along the way. He also taps into whatever emotions and overall tone that feels appropriate.

That being said, it’s a lot. Not so much exposition that it kills the issue, but it does present a slight bummer for this final issue. Perhaps reading all four together, without the gap of months between issues, will help.

It’s still a very fun and engaging tale that revels in things Hickman excels at and suffers from those he notoriously struggles with. What is promised on the package is pretty much what you get upon reading.

Aliens Vs. Avengers #4 is now available from Marvel Comics.