Avengers: Armageddon #4 Review – Did Someone Order A Miracle(man)?

Avengers: Armageddon #4 (Marvel, 9/16/26): Writer Chip Zdarsky & artists Delio Diaz and Frank Alpizar avert a nuclear strike on America, but the nuclear devastation is far from over. Zdarsky’s script ramps up the action and wow moments, even if he takes multiple shortcuts to get there. Verdict. Strongest issue in the miniseries, but it’s a low bar.

• Writer: Chip Zdarsky
• Artist: Delio Diaz, Frank Alpizar
• Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
• Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
• Cover Artist: Dike Ruan, Moreno Dinisio (cover A)
• Publisher: Marvel Comics
• Release Date: September 16, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 24
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Avengers: Armageddon #4:

First Impressions:

The word is out, so I have no concerns about spoiling the fact that Avengers: Armageddon #4 is a key issue because Dave Colton is Marvel’s new Miracleman. On that point alone, the issue is worth a look, but it actually delivers on multiple fronts, even if it falls short on others.

Recap:

In Avengers: Armageddon #3, David Colton used his Sentry powers to steal the world’s nuclear missiles and hurl them into the Sun, splitting the Avengers over whether his actions were heroic or godlike interference. When Bucky Barnes helped Colton locate more missiles, Wolverine tried to stop him and was brutally dropped from orbit, while Colton later confiscated the Source Box after Reed Richards and Tony Stark uncovered disturbing truths about its origins and the future-seeing cube. Meanwhile, T’Challa confronted Nick Fury over a serum designed to prevent Gamma-irradiated Hulks from healing, adding another layer of tension to the Avengers’ increasingly divided response to Colton’s actions.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

Avengers: Armageddon #4 picks up right from the end of the previous issue with a nuclear strike from Russia headed to America’s East Coast. The Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four scatter to intercept the wave of missiles, succeeding with quite a bit of effort.

Dave Colton and Bucky conclude that more missiles may be waiting to launch, so they hop over to a Russian silo to intercept. When they arrive, they’re ambushed by the Winter Guard. Colton deals with the Soviet team easily, but the fight gets rough when Red Hulk leaps into the fray. Captain Marvel arrives to help, but she doesn’t fare much better.

During the fight, Soviet command urges everyone to get Red Hulk away from populated areas. Why? Because he’s about to blow (????). Colton is unable to stop the inevitable. Red Hulk goes nuclear, potentially blowing away Captain Marvel and Bucky. Close to death, Colton hears a voice telling him to say the magic word – Kimota – turning him into Miracleman.

How is the story in Avengers: Armageddon #4?

Chip Zdarsky’s script earns points for urgent pacing, high stakes, seemingly insurmountable challenges, and a few wow moments. So, what you get is a tense, exciting comic.

The problem? The jump from point A to point B is completely missing, which forces the reader to accept what’s happening with a lot of hand-waving. When did Red Hulk become a living bomb? Why and how did Soviet command expect Red Hulk to detonate on Russian soil without mass casualties? When and how did Russia concoct a batch of nuclear missiles that could resist the powers of the Avengers, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four?

The list goes on and on. If Avengers: Armageddon was meant to be a game-changer for Marvel, why did Zdarsky waste so much of the first three issues not laying the foundation for this outcome? And how is this supposed to be wrapped up with one issue to go?

How is the art in Avengers: Armageddon #4?

The art is great. Delio Diaz, Frank Alpizar, Jesus Aburtov, and Cory Petit deliver a darn fine issue with explosive fights (literally), dynamic movement in every panel, tons of visual drama, and outstanding figure work. If the goal was to deliver the hardest hitting issue in the series, the art team rose to the occasion.

Characters

Dave Colton takes center stage as a man being forced to evolve into something bigger than himself through (admittedly convenient) circumstances. His dreams about his mother give him a tragic layer, and the final transformation into Miracleman is a scene-stealer. Again, it would have served the story better if Colton’s path to evolution was given a stronger foundation, but the issue in isolation is strong.

Originality & Concept Execution

Although it’s already been spoiled, importing Miracleman to the Marvel Universe, albeit as a mantle swap, is not something anyone would have predicted months ago. Colton’s evolution somewhat qualifies as a game-changer for Marvel, so on that front, the mission is a success. Whether or not there are enough Miracleman fans out there to create sustained interest remains to be seen.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Excellent action art
• Great pacing, urgency, and drama
• Colton’s mantle change is a potential gamechanger

Room for Improvement

• Colton’s path to evolution is poorly set up.
• Red Hulk’s weaponization is poorly set up.
• Wow moments can’t cover for the story’s lack of direction

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 2.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 4/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1/2

Final Thoughts:

(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)

Avengers: Armageddon #4 is the most explosive issue in the miniseries when Dave Colton undergoes a surprising transformation. Chip Zdarsky’s script is packed with energy and urgency, but it needed a few shortcuts to get there. Thankfully, the art team’s stellar visuals cover some of the script’s shortcomings.

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