Secret Empire #4

6.6

Critic Rating

16 Reviews
8.5

User Rating

42 Reviews
Event\Storyline Secret Empire
Writer Nick Spender
Artist Leinil Francis Yu, Rod Reis
Cover Price $3.99

There is a power that can either save the world or doom it! Both Steve Rogers and the heroes arrayed against him need this power! But unfortunately for all of them, the key to possessing this power lies in the hands of the unstoppable Ultron! LIVE IN X-CITING TIMES! SECRET EMPIRE!
Rated T+

Reviews (16) User Reviews (42) Rate / Write A Review

CRITIC REVIEWS

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  • 10

    GWW - Christopher Rodriguez

    Jun 14, 2017

    This was the most compelling issue of the mini-series so far. It touches on every storyline and keeps you interested with every page. The Ultron/Pym dinner party was intense and creepy. There's a lot of dialogue, but something about this issue is totally in my wheelhouse. Read Full Review

  • 10

    Superbromovies - Ernesto Valenzuela

    Jun 15, 2017

    SECRET EMPIRE #4 manages to hit all the right beats in terms of story and art, with pencils by Leinil Francis Yu providing some raw and intense artwork this issue. A lot of lower tier characters also manage to get their time to shine, as well as some sweet callbacks to previous events. Overall, Secret Empire #4 is fantastic issue, and Secret Empire as a whole has been a fantastic event that has me excited for the next issue that comes out. Read Full Review

  • 9.5

    AIPT - David Brooke

    Jun 14, 2017

    An excellent chapter that could be its strongest yet. This event is starting to pull out some memorable moments you won't want to miss. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    411Mania - Sankalp G.

    Jun 15, 2017

    One of the best issue so far in the series, Secret Empire continues to remain a solid event. Read Full Review

  • 8.0

    ComicBook.com - Matthew Mueller

    Jun 14, 2017

    Secret Empire continues to defy expectations, and this issue is no different, presenting one of the most memorable sequences and conversations in some time. You won't want to miss it. Read Full Review

  • 8.0

    Bleeding Cool - Joe Glass

    Jun 15, 2017

    All in all, taking this issue by itself and not as part of the whole, this is actually a very enjoyable issue. Read Full Review

  • 7.0

    Newsarama - Pierce Lydon

    Jun 14, 2017

    Secret Empire is winning me over. I’m not ashamed to say that. It’s been, by and large, a solid event when it doesn’t have to dabble in the fascistic imagery that got it in hot water in the first place. It makes me wonder if the editorial and creative team really needed to go that route at all. There’s a story here about the changing nature of characters and our perceptions and history with them that I think is getting buried a bit. Still, it works with the story Spencer is telling. Right after the Pym scene, we see Cap in his HYDRA gear, and it's such a bummer. If Hank couldn’t come back from his one mistake, can Steve come back from his? Read Full Review

  • 6.5

    IGN - Jesse Schedeen

    Jun 14, 2017

    Secret Empire #4 is an enjoyable read on its own merits, but as a chapter in a much larger storyline, it comes up a bit short. The Ultron-focused subplot seems better-suited to a one-shot tie-in, and it leaves Nick Spencer too little room to explore the series' many other concurrent plot threads. More than ever, it's a good thing this series ships as frequently as it does. Read Full Review

  • 6.5

    Comic Book Revolution - Rokk

    Jun 16, 2017

    I enjoyed Secret Empire #4 and found this to be easily the best issue of this big event to this point. However, it is tricky recommending Secret Empire #4 to readers. For me, the Pym and the two teams of Avengers plot line that dominated this issue made Secret Empire #4 worth the price of admission. However, for readers who are not a fan of Hank Pym or who do not care much about old 1970's and 1980's continuity then Secret Empire #4 will probably not be worth purchasing. Read Full Review

  • 6.0

    We Got This Covered - Tom Bacon

    Jun 14, 2017

    Although this is a fairly strong issue with some fun character beats, it's becoming increasingly hard to tell what kind of story Secret Empire actually is. Read Full Review

  • 6.0

    Multiversity Comics - Matt Lune

    Jun 16, 2017

    A strange artifact rather than a competent issue, one that lampshades the problems of the current Marvel Universe while simultaneously adding to them. Read Full Review

  • 5.0

    Weird Science - Branden Murray

    Jun 19, 2017

    Secret Empire continues to be the worst kind of event comic, a dull one, much like its predecessor Civil War 2. The art is a step up this issue from the last couple in the series but the overall story is in love with hearing itself speak and preach to the reader showing little in terms of progress after five issues. Read Full Review

  • 5.0

    Nerdly - Daniel Clark

    Jun 26, 2017

    By the end, we are still left with a story that has refused to go anywhere. Even the characters in this story appear frustrated with how static the progression of this chase has become. All this work has go into making this story happen and now its not much more than a vision quest to find missing pieces of whatever the random object is now. Spencer is missing the better story that is starring him right in his face. You have an evil Steve Rogers fully controlling the majority of the United States and we have barely seen that story. Hopefully something changes because so far this has been a long way to go no where. Read Full Review

  • 4.0

    The Fandom Post - Alex Henning

    Jul 01, 2017

    The art is passable and works with what we're given, and the tone is one of desperation as the ticking clock starts. The concept hasn't really gotten any better after 4 issues, and if you weren't interested initially, you most likely won't be now. The book is decent but not much happens, and one is still left with the feeling that this is just all so wrong. Wrong from both a character perspective and a story one. This story should not need to be told, and it's rather sad that it is being told. We'll have to see how it picks up from here and what questions the next issue can answer. Read Full Review

  • 3.0

    Major Spoilers - Matthew Peterson

    Jun 19, 2017

    To make a long story short, whether or not the basic premise of this book makes is difficult to engage with, this issue is actively unpleasant to read both in terms of story and art. Read Full Review

  • 2.0

    Chuck's Comic Of The Day - Chuck

    Jun 15, 2017

    Hopefully at some point Marvel can sort this out and make fans happy to read the adventures of their favorite heroes again - but I'm not encouraged. Read Full Review

USER REVIEWS

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  • 10

    Lightwalker19

    Jun 18, 2017

    A brilliant way of using the Avengers characters giving them some natural dialogue through the previous demons that they had. The story turns out rising up ad becoming more important from the dissapointing #3 issue. The artwork by Francis Yu is perfect for this part of the story. It's wonderful! I think this issue is a way of considering Nick Spencer a pretty strong option on taking the title of "my favorite comic book writer". And I'm not saying this for applying only by this moment.

  • 9.5

    supercoolyeah

    Jun 14, 2017

    If you could mash up Roseanne with like Melrose Place you have the fourth issue of Secret Empire. It touches on everything. The weird dream sequence, check. Black Widow and the crybabies, check. Nasmo and the Atlantians, check. But the main story was with Ultron's dinner party. Those monologues were epic!!! I'm glad someone brought up the issue!!!! And that mini fight scene beforehand. NICE!!! The artwork of Yu wasn't as precise as he usually is but that story of Spencer carried it away. I seriously can't wait to see what happens next. A complete departure from the third issue Secret Empire comes back strong with the drama!!

    + Like Comments (1)
  • 9.5

    Granfalloon

    Jun 17, 2017

    Strongest episode so far. Hank Pym's dinner party was fantastic. Some wonderful dialogue. And the art is an improvement over the last couple of issues.

    + Like Comment
  • 9.5

    freemanlouis7

    Jun 22, 2017

    Action, drama, answers, a big question at the end, Avenger lore, good gritty art.

  • 9.0

    Wolf Warner

    Jun 14, 2017

    Another Solid Issue!

  • 9.0

    Kalaoui

    Jun 15, 2017

    Nice Dinner sequence! Still enjoying this event and haven't read anything like this in years. I'm not in a hurry to get it over with. Let Spencer take his time and tell the threads he wants to focus on and we will get the others addressed and answered in the next 6 issues. Inconsistent art but Yu and Rod Reis did well. Where the heck are the Cap Trio? The vanishing point?

    + Like Comment
  • 9.0

    JBL Reviews

    Jun 21, 2017

    I'm a Hank Pym fan, so this was great.

  • 8.5

    whoishe90

    Jun 15, 2017

    When Ultron/Hank Pym talks he speaks for all of us. what happened to you heroes? I hope that by the end of Secret Empire we get what we deserve. Ehh 50\50 on the series as a whole but not bad.

  • 8.5

    DDJamesB

    Jun 20, 2017

    This was definitely better than last issue. I loved the creepy dinner scene and it was also cool to see them argue about the things they have done wrong in the past. The punisher is a great addition to the Hydra team. My only knock is the second Steve plot is very vague but, does anyone agree it looks like he meets an alternate Bucky and Sam Wilson? Or am I just imagining? The ending was a cliffhanger. I also enjoyed the art as well. Overall a good book.

  • 8.5

    Hislight

    May 16, 2020

    Much better issue for this event. Hank Pym was great and seeing Cap lose only to get Namors shard was a nice moment. This issue handled it's large cast much better and Tony made more sense. Strong issue that reinvigorated me on this event.

  • 8.0

    Spock's Brain

    Jun 21, 2017

    Well, it can't be denied that this series is a shit-show. I still don't really understand the motivations behind anyone being on the side they are, and A.I. Tony just acting like a normal dude, leading the defiance, really, still irritates me. But I love an old-school Avengers dinner scene where the sparks fly! This was weird, but I liked Ultron/Pym here. Lienil Yu's art wasn't quite up to his usual standards, but it was still plenty good. For a book with so much stuff going on, at least I was entertained.

  • 8.0

    CrazyforRAMU

    Jan 05, 2018

    Goodies vs. baddies at Ultron's secret hideout turns, brilliantly, into a crazy dinner party and an in-depth exploration of Hank Pym's character. This is definitely not what I was expecting or hoping for, but it's got a left-field genius to it. It raises some new questions, answers a few outstanding ones, and winds up being thoroughly entertaining. Besides looking at Hank in depth, this psychological party confrontation gives Scott Lang a well-deserved chance to shine, and Nick Spencer's dialogue for him is terrific. Natasha's plot (and the Punisher hunting her!) progresses a little too. Leinil Francis Yu's art is one factor holding this issue back. He's undeniably great, but this is also undeniably not his strongest effort. He clearly had more

  • 7.0

    kfc902

    Jun 15, 2017

    Well Nick is a great writer and there was something at the end of this issue made me want to return but art was inconsistent and didnt like the action scenes but the writing saved this issue.

  • 6.5

    thecomiccookebook

    Jun 14, 2017

    This was okay. The story was a lot more lighthearted than the previous 4 issues. Art was inconsistent; Yu was not on his typical A game. I'm ready for this event to be over and done with so everything is back to normal again and we can (hopefully) focus on individual stories.

  • 3.0

    Jung BBoab

    Jul 20, 2017

    울트론?? 실화냐;;; 진짜 전개가 무슨 중학교 수행평가급;;

  • 10

    BloodyNinja

    Jun 14, 2017

  • 10

    darkfire369

    Jun 14, 2017

  • 10

    Busterhasviews

    Jun 19, 2017

  • 10

    Bruno Mael

    Mar 11, 2018

  • 9.5

    Roseandberg

    Oct 26, 2017

  • 9.5

    Julhin

    Mar 09, 2021

  • 9.5

  • 9.0

    EDiakota

    Jun 14, 2017

  • 9.0

    Jason The Dude

    Jun 17, 2017

  • 9.0

    DiegoE

    Jun 18, 2017

  • 9.0

    Peaches

    Jun 25, 2017

  • 9.0

    Grifter

    Jun 28, 2017

  • 9.0

    50shadesOfCRAY

    Jun 30, 2017

  • 9.0

    StanielK

    Jul 02, 2017

  • 8.5

    Frank Black

    Jun 14, 2017

  • 8.5

    Dtkantek

    Jun 16, 2017

  • 8.5

    JCP

    Jan 20, 2018

  • 8.5

    Adrián Morgades

    May 17, 2020

  • 8.0

    sebastianorellana95

    Jun 14, 2017

  • 8.0

    Spidey Spawn

    Jun 15, 2017

  • 8.0

    Jabberwocky_Superfly

    Jun 28, 2017

  • 8.0

    jmprados

    Jul 02, 2017

  • 8.0

    flodid

    Sep 19, 2017

  • 8.0

    Adsun22

    Jul 17, 2020

  • 8.0

    iPodwithnomusic

    Jun 23, 2021

  • 6.5

    Super17

    Jun 14, 2017

  • 4.5

    J.J.E.

    Aug 13, 2018

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