Secret Warriors #4 (Dark Reign) – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (Story), Jonathan Hickman (Story & Script), Stefano Caselli (Art), Daniele Rudoni (Color Art)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I can’t get enough of Secret Warriors. It’s an outstanding fusion of story, script, and artwork that proves to be one of the best examples of how awesome the comic medium can be.

The Story: There’s a lot going on in Secret Warriors #4. Daisy and Sebastian head to Australia to recruit an Aborigine named Eden that can bend reality. Nick Fury does a little recruiting of his own by meeting with Dum Dum Dugan and other (former) Howling Commandos. J.T. and Alex (Phobos) go snooping in one of Fury’s offices and find something rather startling. The injured Yo-Yo remains under the watchful eye of Stonewall. Meanwhile, the heads of HYDRA take a vote that will have an impact on the entire cast….

What’s Good: The creative team behind Secret Warriors continues to impress. Jonathan Hickman writes one hell of a Nick Fury, and does a great job introducing a new character’s personality. He also makes the HYDRA members feel as threatening as they have to be in order to be taken seriously against a badass like Fury. As for the visuals, Stefano Caselli and Daniele Rudoni make Warriors one of the best looking books on the stands. The character work is loaded with personality and style (Eden rocks), the colors are extremely eye-catching (love the J.T. and Phobos scene), and the storytelling flows well.

What’s Not So Good: Rarely do I find anything negative about artwork from Stefano Caselli. This time, I have. A few panels look a bit rushed (odd considering that the book missed it’s original street date) and Nick Fury looks like he found the fountain of youth in a panel or two. Fairly small things, I know, but worth noting regardless.

While not necessarily a negative, I must warn that Secret Warriors #4 is a fairly slow read. There’s lots of talking, no action, and a whole bunch of set up. Do I mind? Not at all. But I’m sure that some might.

Conclusion: While a little bit slow, Secret Warriors #4 lights the fuse that promises to give the series an explosive future.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny