Secret Wars is an event comic that perfectly mixes the small and the large and that’s why I think it succeeds so much. Many events tend to get lost in how epic they’re trying to be and lose the emotional core that great stories need to have. The core of Secret Wars is the struggles of Doctor Doom. And even though Doctor Doom is a god in this series, he’s never been more human because all he’s struggling with is fear and insecurity. This shows in the incredible final page of this issue that set the stage for the main plot that will drive Secret Wars forward. This is the peak of Marvel events, we couldn’t have asked for anything better than Secret Wars. Read Full Review

Don't discount Secret Wars — the story and the art are great, and anyone considering the notion of giving up on the Marvel Universe should check this series out before abandoning it. The fact that this version of Secret Wars has already topped the previous volumes doesn't say all that much, but to say it's one of the best mini-series in recent history might change a naysayer's mind. Read Full Review

Issue four left me thrilled, shaking and wanting more, like great sex, I was laid vulnerable but never more alive. Yes, Secret Wars might end with nothing really new with four issues down and four more to go I think that this Marvel event will lead us to an amazing conclusion. I cant wait to see what happens next. Read Full Review

In Secret Wars, Hickman has created a narrative that truly deserves the title of crossover event. Tie-ins actually do justice to the main series a story so big and comprehensive that it already deserves the title of modern day classic. After three issues of world-building to focus on fleshing out Battleworld and its purpose, Secret Wars #4 turns the tides on God Doom's reality, literally and psychologically. Read Full Review

After an issue like this, its hard to predict just how Hickman and Ribic will top themselves. Rest assured, though, that they will. Hickman is not the kind of guy to let his faithful readers down, especially after playing the long, long game like he has with his time at Marvel. Plus, Ribic and Svorcina are absolutely perfect for a mega event like this, so stay tuned, true believer, because guaran-damn-teed there is going to be so much more to come with only four issues remaining. Marvel is at a high that is hasnt seen in a while and there is no better time than now to jump in with both feet. Read Full Review

As action packed as it is thought provoking, from beginning to end Secret Wars #4 has it all. Both visually stunning and with an epic story to end all epic Marvel stories, this is event is another home run. Read Full Review

We're halfway through this series and it's packed full of amazing concepts and plot twists galore. Oh, and quite a few shocking surprises. So far, it's the best comics "event" in years! Highly recommended! Read Full Review

People die and big players are reintroduced to the anecdote to inflict some crazy conflict. Read Full Review

Esad Ribic‘s art continues to dazzle me. The panel where Doom goes to his watch room to observe the battle of our interloping heroes/villians were just breathtaking. I have been a critic of Ribic's art in the past but this issue made me feel as though I am seeing his art in its full splendour for the first time. I wish he always drew this way. After a cautious and curious exploration of this event, I can say I am really hookedimpatiently awaiting the next issue. Read Full Review

Secret Wars is a blast so far. Hickman brings the same ‘end of the world' stakes to this series that he had in his Avengers/New Avengers runs. He has taken these beloved characters and surrounded them with impossible circumstances, but never loses what's true to them. This is Doctor Doom, this is Reed Richards, backed up against the ultimate wall and forced to decide what to do next. There is a power to Hickman's Secret Wars that is normally lacking in these big crossovers, and that makes it more than worth a read. Read Full Review

Secret Wars continues to give me the main event book that I want in that it's not a lot of weird craziness going on, big splash pages or outlandish situations. It's a book that has the titans that have walked the Earth as heroes and villains engaging each other in some big concepts while very personal emotions run hard underneath. Stephen is one that really makes out well here with his level of importance and the way he's serving as a kind of balance to things, at least for the moment. The interactions he has with both those from the life raft and with Doom show different sides of him and his desire to make things work so that existence can continue and find a way. Where he thinks its best shot may be is now being revealed though. There's a lot to take in here and a lot of great little moments of expressions and dialogue between the characters that really drives it all home. A very good installment once again. Read Full Review

Naturally, what is a Hickman without being high-scientific? In reading the conversations between Doom and Valerie, Hickman treats us a Stephen-Hawking level discussion of research and scientific writing that may turn off average types (well, Hickman is an intellectual-level dude to begin with, so we must get over that fact already). And, the perennial complaints of Ribic's Achilles heels"LIPS. Doom's helmet, especially the mouth part, is so irritatingly funny and cartoonish to begin with. If that's the case, what more on other characters' close-up faces?Regardless, Secret Wars #4 is the start of the action we patiently wait and being rewarded. This is a highly accessible but more focused and straightforward yet. Secret Wars has yet to disappoint us, and hopefully, this kind of consistency carries on until the very bitter end as speculated. Read Full Review

The biggest critique that people have with superhero event books is that despite all that portentiousness, nothing really happens. All the heroes are united, but there's no coherent action to justify all that set-up. But with Secret Wars #4, Hickman and company really go for broke, showing the kind of firepower that the creator of Battleworld possesses. While there's still the whole second half of this series left, Hickman has made Secret Wars one of the most satisfying Marvel events since the days of Civil War. Doctor Doom may be a bad guy, but I'll say this for him - Battleworld sure seems to be yielding some fun stories. Praise Doom, indeed. Read Full Review

Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic are firing on all cylinders and Secret Wars #4 is another great installment of the flagship event title. Events have escalated and there's going to be some wild times coming, and I'll be following this series until the final page. Hickman's masterpiece rolls on in grand fashion. Read Full Review

So many events have one good issue of set-up, followed by a few issues of wheel-spinning, then resolutions crammed and rushed into their final issue. It's refreshing to read an event that's had as good a shape as this one, and if Hickman and company can deliver an issue this good as the end of the first half, I can't wait to see what they'll do for the climax. Read Full Review

The "Fellowship of the Raft" may be scattered to who know's where but the road to Act Three is certainly primed. It will be a maddening six week wait for the next installment. Read Full Review

As a story focused on Doom and Strange, it's hard to be beat. That means the usual plusses and minuses that we have seen already: Great figures, painterly art, and dramatic special effects" in largely static and perfunctory panels. Huge stakes and dramatic pronouncements from a few major players" with others just offering exposition or simply occupying the landscape. It makes for some good narrative momentum, although a very human-sized scale is still lacking, making it a nice spectacle but hard to resonate with on a gut-level. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #4 reminds readers, and Doom's subjects, that Doom is the be-all and the end-all, especially when he ends a few in this story written by Jonathan Hickman and drawn by Esad Ribic. Read Full Review

Secret Wars only seems to be getting better as it goes along. The book's visual quirks have been toned down, resulting in one of the most dynamic and epic comics you'll find on the stands. And for all the spectacle, the series really boils down to the complex psychology of Doom and the one man that can overturn his perfect new world. This issue sets the stage for a very promising second half. Read Full Review

This series as a whole is incredible, but this issue in particular does a fine job, namely with its characterization. There were always characters, yes, but this issue delves deep into personality traits and individual opinions. These are the kinds of stories I love the best: the ones with enough detail for you to invest yourself in each character, for different purposes. This is a series to keep up with, but this issue isn't one you should read a summary of"you need to pick it up and soak it in for yourself. Read Full Review

The ending is a great one, and it opens up many new questions of the second half. I'm curious where Doctor Strange sent all the heroes too, and it's something we will find out soon. Read Full Review

Alex Ross delivers a typically stunning, family portrait-style cover for the issue that visually sums up Doom's relationship to not only Strange, but also Susan Richards and her daughter Valeria. "Secret Wars" #4 impresses, both as part of an evolving storyline and as a standalone character study enhanced with expressive visuals. Read Full Review

Now with that said, is there much to still look forward to in Secret Wars? Sure. You get past those few things that would bother you as fans of certain characters and as a whole this is still a cleverly written event book that you'd want to see to the end. At this point it's either someone takes Dooms power, they get someone magically strong enough, or Cyclops comes back for a second round to win and restart things. That is how things might end and just having those theories makes the experience worthwhile. Read Full Review

Jonathan Hickman delivers another powerful, action packed issue of this eight part series. While his dialogue can at times be wordy, it feels necessary and adds weight to the decisions being made. Esad Ribic draws an epic intimate battle that sparkles with power and energy. There are slight moments where the characters faces look ever do slightly odd in the emotion they're conveying, but minor quibbles aside, the art and flow of the book is strong. Ive Svorcina's colours give the art a somewhat ethereal look, and the characters feels like they are brimming with power Read Full Review

Half is recap, half is new, with pretty art. Worth reading, but not outstanding on its own. Read Full Review

Even though some of it meanders, Secret Wars #4 has some great dialogue, art and a ending that makes it worth picking up. Read Full Review

Secret Wars before now hasn't exactly blown readers away, but this fourth issue blasts away the exposition and finally puts the "battle" in Battleworld. Read Full Review

All in all, SECRET WARS #4 is probably the best issue so far. It advances the plot, with some key character developments and some dramatic action. However, Ribic struggles a little bit more with the art, while the very end of the book is relegated to yet more set-up. Still, this remains one of my favourite issues in this event to date. Read Full Review

This issue found me missing the feeling of the first couple, and the few big "spoiler events" in this book felt lacking of true power. This is halfway point, so hopefully the story returns to its former glory in the next four issues. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #4 is a beautiful issue in terms of the quality of writing and artwork. However, therampant decompression of the story makes it hard to justify spending $4 on an issue that only delivers 5 pages of new content. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #4 is the best issue of the event so far, at least to me. The story feels like it is really getting underway now, finally moving away from the setup. There's also some improvements in the writing, some stronger character bits, and the cliffhanger is very pretty enticing. Where the comic trips is in some of the story development, the missed opportunities, some weak dialogue, and also in some areas of the artwork. There are only four issues left to go and hopefully, things keep improving from here on out. Read Full Review

Its just that were halfway through the event now, and things are just starting to pick up and collide. We spent the first three issues on what was basically setup for the event, and while it was admittedly really cool setup, it kind of dimmed some of the interest in the event going forward, especially when important pieces of story like Doom killing the Beyonders is mentioned off-handedly in a single panel. For an event book, it oddly feels very non-event in nature, like its just part of a regular story. Its an interesting approach to the structural nature of events, but it also leaves things feeling very uneven. Secret Wars #4 leaves thing feeling slightly inconsequential, but it definitely picks up the pace of the event. Read Full Review

"Secret Wars" is becoming a story about Reed Richards and Doom. This particular issue brings the pair together in a confrontation that gets cut short by the conflicted, but power-balancer, Stephen Strange. The book makes poor usage of so much of the cast that I found myself questioning why they were even included. Twenty pages of Richards, Doom and Strange would have been enough for this issue I believe. The artwork is good but not as detailed as prior issues and not as polished as a top level event of this nature probably is required to be. This issue is mostly an average read that teases the theme of characters having too much power. It will be interesting to see where this is headed, but the layoffs between issues are about to get bigger, so it will require some patience. I mildly recommend this comic. Read Full Review

Doom is shown to be the all-powerful being he is and even as a god, he's still Doom

Great

Probably the most intense comic I have ever read. To be fair, I'm fairly new to comics. But still gotta give this one a 10!

Amazing!

This issue was intense. Like, really intense. The three sides to this story, the rulers of Battleworld, the survivors from Earth-616 and those from Earth-1610 all came together for one of the most epic showdowns in years. There wasn't much action after all, considering how Doom is apparently utterly omnipotent, but those deaths and those dialogues hit harder than any punch in the face. Against my expectations, "Secret Wars" is revealing itself as a mighty and worthy event very well led to its doom (see what I did there?).

OMG they all meet in this issue. The good, the bad and the ugly all cross paths and it gets pretty ridiculous. In this issue you see the gall of Doom and the righteousness of Strange. The art is on point as always and the story is written to perfection. I really can't wait to the next issue.

Oh Cyclops, you can't seem to catch a break.

Great artwork, but deaths in super-hero events are kind of a hack thing to do, especially with the reset button coming in October.

The "story" here could have been told in half the pages. Secret Wars proper continues to be dryly written and slowly paced. Thank god (not Doom, or Hickman) for tie-ins.

Mediocre event comic. You're better off wiki-ing the plot, and spending the money on a comic that tells a story instead.