MARVEL: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD AND GUTS #4 (MARVEL COMICS)
Horror is back in a big way at Marvel Comics.
Their “Black, White, & Blood and Guts” series has been throwing classic Marvel heroes into unconfortable tales. The result has been nothing short of a fantastic trip into the wild side of the MCU.
For its’ final issue, the chapter is pulling out a;; the stops with the creative teams behind these three stories.
MARVEL: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD AND GUTS #4 by Mark Waid, Jorge Fornés, Joe Sabino, Anthony Oliveira, Javier Pulido, Victor LaValle, Bruno Büll de Oliveria & Rachelle Rosenberg features Dr. Strange, Blade and a classic Defenders line-up.
Time to brace for the thrills and chills about to commence!
MARVEL: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD AND GUTS #4 by Mark Waid, Jorge Fornés, Joe Sabino, Anthony Oliveira, Javier Pulido, Victor LaValle, Bruno Büll de Oliveria & Rachelle Rosenberg (Marvel Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The issue is a compilation of three stories. Due to the amount, the overview of each tale will be shorter than usual reviews.
“Careful What You Wish For” by Waid, Fornés, & Sabino features Dr. Strange. Once readers see Waid is steering the sorcerer Supreme, they know they’re in for something special. As predicted, this story doesn’t miss. It carries a retro feel to it thanks for Fornés’ incredible art.
When a healing spell goes awry, Wong has to step in and save the Doctor from killing others and himself. The writing nails the quirkiness that comes with the character. There’s also the arrogance that on Strange can deliver on. There is a clever twist thrown in to really make this story pop. The art nails the terrifying factor of what’s behind it while showcase a true horror within. Excellent final page to depart on. Vintage Strange at his finest.
“Nature Red In Tooth And Claw” by Oliveira, Pulido & Sabino dabbles into the world of Blade. Stumbling across a young boy in a sinister monastery, The daywalker watches as evil takes its toll. The writing sets the stage for a tragic fall. Every good deed goes punished. Even as Blade tries to help, his words fall on deaf ears. His actions? Not so much.
Pulido absolutely crushes this issue with his art. Sebastian’s transformation from novice child to werewolf hits all the key points. The pacing slows down events just enough to let the ending sink in. It is a surprising but fitting one. The story has a very traditional horror feel to it, perfect for who’s involved.
“The Whisperer In Darkness” by LaVelle, Büll, & Sabino is the surprise of this chapter. Anytime you get that classic Defenders line-up, there’s something special coming with it. LaValle sets up events with New Years Eve 1979. A voice controlling others to unleash their inner maniac is taking hold. Seeing the team of Dr. Strange, Silver Surfer, Namor, Valkyrie and The Hulk hitting the streets is a bold move. What happens next is even crazier.
Büll de Oliveria’s art locks in on the chaotic scene. Once the culprit is revealed, the story explodes with inner turmoil. There is plenty of Hulk smashing to appease the masses. The writing leans away from the horror theme long enough to deliver on superhero conflict. Once that wraps up, there’s no denying how deep they return to that plot point. It finishes in a very Defenders way. Love the parting line of Hulk to ring in the new decade.
FINAL GRADE: 8.5
Marvel’s scariest series concludes with a crowd-pleasing does of thrills, chills, and smashes. This issue had more super heroics involved than previous chapters. The teams delivered on the goods when time was right. It was a steady conclusion to a surprising haunting series for all the right reasons.
Let me know your thoughts on MARVEL: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD AND GUTS #4 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
