The birth of the most 90's team ever!!
But seriously, if this were the 90's, a book based around this 4 heroes wouldn’t be a surprise at all for they all are what you might say, grim and gritty versions of more iconic heroes without the horrible writing on the most part (Haven't read the new ghost rider but the first 20 something issues of Hulk were baaddddddddd....). So after months of waiting, we finally get the crossover "event" coming out from the venom book which has been solid since issue 1. And what threat makes this four heroes join forces? None other than Blackheart, one of the marvel villains I always wanted to read about as he literally brings hell itself on earth while all this is perfectly set up in issue one.
The issue starts with the four heroes accidentally gathering in the place the whole thing will occur, none other than the place where things that happens there, stay there…..Okay sorry for that one it’s Las Vegas….well, Flash was already there but you know what I mean. X-23 is infiltrating this casino of a punk/goth guy who is taking people’s souls, the new ghost rider is being trained by Johnny Blaze nearby, Rulk is hunting down the venom suit and Flash is getting wasted similarly to the cover of issue 11. This punk/goth guy slowly is revealed to be planning a big satanic ritual in the middle of a theme park under construction as he only needs the ghost rider to complete his plans. As this goes on, in a diner Alejandra (new ghost rider) feels that she is being treated like a child by Johnny as they have a little discussion (more like a tantrum from her part) till she feels the presence of the tainted souls and leaves without help despite Johnny telling her that she is not prepared for this kinda stuff.
Meanwhile our main hero is still drowning himself in alcohol till housekeeping in the shape of the red hulk bust in demanding the alien suit which quickly started bonding with him. Geez, that has to be the sluttiest symbiote in the entire universe, it bonds with almost anyone it touches, i don't see other symbiotes doing that as much as this one. But this was all a trick to try to blow up Rulk in a gas station which begins the first battle of the day. While this happens, X-23 gets deeper in the casino and finds a lab filled with clones of her which she intends to blow up but they don’t like this as they attack her, covered in symbiote suits to make things worse. The battle between both super powered soldiers continue till they notice the floor is filled in fire and all kind of demonic and horrific hellspawns rise from the ground (while i keep wishing spawn would join the party any minute). All this happened because Alejandra was too stubborn and jumped to the stage where the demonic ritual was being held and summoned by accident a part of hell. And the goth guy is revealed to be none other than Blackheart! Blaze knowing full well of how messed up things are, decides to take Alejandra’s place to keep the entire world to be consumed by hell so she can fix this. The issue ends as the four heroes finally gather to face off against Blackheart as he summons from a mirror twisted versions of the good guys which not all of them seem that twisted (Venom’s is a cool looking angel and Ghost Rider’s is a priest but…….X-23’s is a creepy cheerleader with cuts all over her body and Rulk’s a giant brain monster, I said not all of them….).
The Good:
Somehow this team up shouldn’t work that well, it’s true they all belong in the same universe but what I meant is that their concepts aren’t related at all. You have a red giant that was before a prestigious general who was after as similar creature he became into and now tries to redeem himself, the female clone of one of the greatest killer machines in the world who still tries to find her place in this world, a rookie replacement of the spirit of vengeance and a handicapped solider who idolized spider-man and got his wish to become like him even if the source is completely dangerous. But somehow it works and the reasons why everyone gather makes sense. The "twisted" versions of the four look great and i can't wait to see how opposite of them they truly are. The characterization of each one fits perfectly to their current continuity so you got to praise remender for hitting the mark on each one. I also liked how in one issue, everything manages to be put in place, when a typical event comic would take 2 to 3 issues to get things started. Circle of Four manages to set up the situation, the characters and the man bad guy in the first issue. Sure the players are fewer than usual but that doesn't change anything.
The art is amazingly fitting for this story, grim and gritty to the max, even if X-23 looks kinda odd sometimes (she looks way too old for her age). But one of the strongest points for me is definitely the interaction between Rulk and Venom, it was as awesome as expected. The two might be military men but obviously they won’t get along, the red giant doesn't tolerate “cowards” who defect and Venom is just trying to keep his loved one save, doesn't like to be reminded that he betrayed his country and became a wanted men for it. I hope to see how flash interacts with the red giant and the other two girls.
The Bad:
Nothing much to say except that the opposite of hulk is a giant brain monster? the hell?
Overall: 5/5
This is just great fun. Remender knew of it and did it damn well. Uniting this “darker” version of the fantastic four (yes, I’m aware of that short lived team involving wolverine, spider-man, ghost rider and hulk). This issue is a perfect set up for the rest of the month which will be amazing for we venom readers, will get an issue per week. If you haven't pick up this tittle and you are fan of any of this characters i suggest you jump in the fun because you are about to miss something epic.
