In this review of Avengers: Armageddon #4, the Red Hulk launches a nuke and brings David Colton to the brink of death. An earth-shattering transformation occurs in the process, as Colton turns into the acclaimed Miracleman.
AVENGERS: ARMAGEDDON #4
Written by: Chip Zdarsky
Art by: Delio Diaz Cespedes, Frank Alpizar
Main Cover: Dike Ruan
Variant Covers: Michael Cho, Alex Ross, Germán Peralta
Page Count: 23 pages
Release Date: September 16, 2026
This review contains spoilers
Avengers: Armageddon #4 has arrived with the biggest bang yet. Yes, a bigger bang than the ones Russia launched at last issue’s end. The Russian nukes are stopped by the X-Men, Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. Sue explodes one and then contains the explosion with her force fields.
Elsewhere, the Winter Soldier and David Colton are on the hunt for a Russian missile base. Throughout Dave’s appearances, his internal thoughts are shown. Since receiving his powers from the origin box in Weapons of Armageddon #4, he receives dream-like visions of his mother telling him to say a magic word. Stating if he says it, he can do even more good than he is currently.
Colton reveals he feels these new powers are integral in fixing the world’s problems. However, they also make him feel like an outsider within his own body. Dave’s thoughts are interrupted when he and Bucky are ambushed by the Red Hulk and the Winter Guard.
Captain Marvel arrives to help but Red Hulk overwhelms both of them before he explodes. Essentially having been turned into a living nuke, Ross destroys all the people near him.
Colson is on the brink of death and he knows it. Back in his visions, he has a conversation with his mother, where she tells him that he just has to say one word. To reject death and become a “God”, the magic word he must utter is Kimota. Colton does it, and it transforms him into Miracleman.
Analysis
Even though the execution could’ve been a bit better, the Red Hulk’s demise is built up decently well. He believed he was dedicating his life to America. When America herself turned her back on him, he lost his purpose. A lot of Ross’ yelling towards Colton about being an American enemy came off as self-projection.
Another conversation that doesn’t involve projection, but was also done well, is between Bucky and Dave. Bucky speaks on Colton’s lack of preparation, and it shows his desperation for peace if he was willing to jump on Colton’s train without a thought-out plan. From one troubled soldier with demons to another, the dialogue flows smoothly showing relatability and a genuine desire to bring an end to war.
The matchups are really good on paper. Captain Marvel and Colton versus Red Hulk are great matchups. Unfortunately, despite the amount of panels the fights get, they still feel like something is missing. That’s because of the nuclear energy radiating around Ross, which makes his body look blurry and the hits look unregistered.
What registered though, was Marvel’s promise. Ever since Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon, Marvel has been swearing that Armageddon will contain lasting effects for the Marvel Universe. We hear it every year, and it’s usually just hype for events. The last event off the top of my head that I can think of with genuine effect, was Devil’s Reign. Also written by Zdarsky, the long-standing consequence of that book was solid, as it established Luke Cage as mayor. That’s been a success.
This is a whole different beast. Finally introducing Miracleman into the 616 is no small feat. And there are few, if any, characters that can handle the weight of the themes attached to Miracleman that David Colton can.
Final Thoughts
The promised status-quo change has arrived, and it’s heavy. Miracleman is in the 616, after months of hard work by Zdarsky to pave the proper road to him. Avengers: Armageddon #4 takes a break from its elite political aspect to flesh out its psychological aspect, and it’s a worthy change.
