VILLAINOUS #4, available from Mad Cave Studios on January 27th, 2021, splits the Order into teams to search for proof the Coalition was behind the ambassador’s assassination. Meanwhile, Pillar feels the heat from the government to find the assassins and decides to force the issue, with lethal results.
The Details
- Written By: Stonie Williams
- Art By: Jef Sadzinski
- Colors By: Joana Lafuente
- Letters By: Justin Birch
- Cover Price: $3.99
Was It Good?
Yes, if you’re into serialized storytelling. If you haven’t read issues #1-3, I recommend you do that first because many elements will be confusing if you haven’t started from the beginning of the story.
Williams’ story feels very much like an alternate version of The Boys, but instead of a covert government group keeping corrupt supers (the Coalition of Heroes) in check, it’s a reformed/never-was group of supervillains (the Shadow Order). I enjoy the intrigue of a political thriller and mixing that intrigue into the world of superheroes increases the stakes and tension exponentially.
The art is good. The action scenes and important character moments are rendered well, and it’s a visually appealing book. That said, some of the panels that would be described as long shots (a full scene where the characters are further away) lost a lot of detail and the art tended to look unfinished or rushed.
Short Story Long
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
We begin with a pair of detectives examining the security footage from the UK ambassador’s killing. It’s clear that police activity is ramping up and time is running out.
Meanwhile, Bianca directs Sedition and Two-Spirit to Russia to find Nemesis and Lawless to retrieve the ambassador’s files before they do any more damage. Bianca and Tilly stay behind to keep a watch on the Coalition, especially their version of Superman aka Showdown.
Despite not having much exposure to this title previously, Williams does a great job of laying out which characters are where and establishing a clear team dynamic in only a few panels.
Pillar, head of the Coalition’s corporate structure aka the Boss, receives a visit from the CIA. The conversation is tense, and the CIA agents impress on Pillar that the government sanctions the Coalition only as long as they cooperate and get results.
When the CIA agents leave, Pillar calls in Showdown and throws a tantrum (and nearby objects) demanding he finds the Shadow Order. The dynamic of their relationship feels very much like an overbearing mother yelling at her bratty child. Again, the tone and feel of The Boys is unmistakable.
Sedition and Two-Spirit track down Nemesis and Lawless hiding out in a Russian hotel. The runaways show no willingness to cooperate and a brutal fight follows in the hotel hallway. No spoilers on this one, but somebody gets killed and another is seriously wounded.
Back in NY, the detectives from the beginning of the issue receive a tip on the location of the Shadow Orders hideout and send it to Showdown. All parties converge on the Order’s hideout where a fierce superpowered battle follows.
What caught me by surprise during the fight was Tilly’s effectiveness against Showdown, her former mentor. We tend to think of Superman analog’s as all-powerful, but Tilly held her own and may even have the capacity to kill Showdown. Couple her potential to stop Showdown with her emotional angst over being “betrayed” by him and their next fight promises to be physically and emotionally powerful.
Before the fight is over, another character is killed in a rough fashion (no spoilers on this one, either), and we end with chaos.
Final Thoughts
VILLAINOUS #4, available from Mad Cave Studios on January 27th, 2021, takes the intrigue of a political thriller to the next level with players on the run, fallen comrades, and desperate moves. The story is well-paced and well-structured, and the art is largely appealing throughout. This is a recommended book (but make sure you start with issue #1 first).