Despite the Original Sin #4 spoiler-filled preview taking place right after the end of issue #3’s explosive cliff-hanger, I still hope Original Sin #4 will exorcize the demons of Original Sins #1 from fandom.
To get you caught up heading into Original Sin #4 take a look at the below:
- This All-New Marvel Now bi-weekly Original Sin series had a stealth debut in All-New X-Men #25. Original Sin #0 followed and retold The Watcher’s origin and also expanded his scope and power set.
- Winter Soldier, Moon Knight, and Gamora in space.
- Dr. Strange and the Punisher on the astral plane.
- Black Panther, Ant-Man and Emma Frost close to the Earth’s core.
- Original Sin, the 8 issue (9 if you include the #0 issue) core event book (no “s” at the end), that surrounds the mystery of who killed The Watcher, what he saw and what’s the deal with his eyes; the House of Ideas’ take
on a cosmic whodunit. - We get an interlude in Original Sin with, I believe, with more branding-over-story controversy a.k.a. numerhoaxology from Marvel as Hulk vs. Iron Man gets the Original Sin #3.1 to #3.4 treatment. Did Tony Stark lead to the creation of the Hulk?
- Continuing in that vein, we also have Original Sin #5.1 to 5.5 mini-series called Thor & Loki: The 10th Realm involving the revelation that former Spawn stalwart Angela is the sister of Thor and Loki!
- We’ll get Original Sin tie-ins in some regular ongoing series where we learn of some “sins” of Marvel Now’s heroes and villains. Like with All-New Invaders #6 and many others.
- The Original Sins (with an “s” at the end) is a companion anthology 5 issue mini-series to spotlight Young Avengers in particular, but also showcase done-in-one tales from across the Marvel Universe revealing more sins, but this time for characters who don’t headline their own ongoing series.
Following that, Original Sin #1 and #2 set up the various investigations into the Watcher’s death and theft of his eyes. In addition to Nick Fury Sr. leading the prime investigation at the request of the Avengers’ Captain America, three other groups of heroes are also independently investigating on different planes literally at the behest of a mysterious benefactor:
What ties them together? Monsters and mysterious green bullets?
The big news so far from Original Sin #3 was the holy sh*t moment at the end that saw the death of a major Marvel Comics hero at the hands of another iconic hero! That issue also revealed how the villains identified at the end of issue #2 got together, namely Dr. Midas, his daughter Exterminatrix and The Orb, met here and here.
Before we get to the spoilers and capsule review for Original Sin #4, here’s what you need to know about Marvel Comics’ All-New Marvel Now Original Sin publishing plan:
Spoilers and capsule review for Original Sin #4 follow.
The free preview to Original Sins #4, as the previous issues have done, include a dramatis personae and a summary page to get readers caught up. Hmmmm. Is the Watcher still alive?
Ok, onto the issue. The book opens with:
- The fallout of the Winter Soldier’s murder and decapitation of Nick Fury Sr.
- Wolverine and the Hulk stumble upon Nick’s headless corpse.
- Dr. Strange and the Punisher and they actually take down Wolverine and the Hulk; Punisher vs. Hulk was some fun.
- With Wolverine and the Hulk out-of-the-way, Dr. Strange and Punisher free The Orb and use him to track down the Watcher’s missing eye (we still don’t know where his second eye is).
The Orb leads Dr. Strange and Punisher from Wolverine and Hulk to the space investigators Moon Knight and Gamora who were seemingly betrayed by Winter Soldier. The former Bucky turns up with Nick Fury Sr.’s head and the Watcher’s eye and before he can explain what he’s been up to Gamora attacks him. Ant-Man, Black Panther and Emma Frost also join the space party; so all three teams have converged.
The more entertaining aspect of all this is that Moon Knight and Gamora had to hitch a ride with the Guardian of the Galaxy’s Rocket Raccoon. Plus, Rocket Raccoon and the Punisher try to out-macho each other!
And, as the issue wraps up we learn why the Winter Soldier killed Nick Fury Sr. at the end of issue #4; he has the most sophisticated Life Model Decoy (LMD) yet even, seemingly, fooling Wolverine’s tracking senses from earlier in the issue! And, the real Nick Fury – an aged on – reveals himself at the end seemingly the one who may be behind the various hero groups investigating the Watcher’s murder and maiming.
The Unseen seems to the villain behind Original Sin. Any idea who that might be?
I’m really torn by Original Sin. I really, really want to like it. The clichéd “return” of Nick Fury Sr. after a “fake” Holy Sh*t moment last issue can’t help me and other readers get past many aspects of this plodding tale. The art is great, but the storyline remains weak at the half point of the bi-weekly series.
Thanks for reading. All feedback welcome.
