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Black Hammer, Vol. 4: Age of Doom, Part Two
(Black Hammer #4)
by
The Eisner Award-winning superhero saga continues with this two-part mystery that will change the world forever!
After learning how they got trapped on the farmworld, our heroes find themselves with everything they thought they wanted. Yet not everything is right just yet and it takes the strong resolve of the new Black Hammer to get the team back together, as shocking reve ...more
After learning how they got trapped on the farmworld, our heroes find themselves with everything they thought they wanted. Yet not everything is right just yet and it takes the strong resolve of the new Black Hammer to get the team back together, as shocking reve ...more
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Paperback, 192 pages
Published
December 31st 2019
by Dark Horse Books
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Start your review of Black Hammer, Vol. 4: Age of Doom, Part Two

So this is the end and it was kinda great and kinda sucky. <--for me

I mean if the past volumes were any indication, these guys were going to have to sacrifice. But this was in a lot of ways a Happy Ending sacrifice for everyone.
Except the one character who deserved to get a fucking happy ending.
(view spoiler) ...more

I mean if the past volumes were any indication, these guys were going to have to sacrifice. But this was in a lot of ways a Happy Ending sacrifice for everyone.
Except the one character who deserved to get a fucking happy ending.
(view spoiler) ...more

Well, I shouldn't really say much about the specifics in the resolution of. . . the series? this arc? (it's not clear to me if this is the finish) but I have to say, with all the time I have invested in this series and in all the spin-offs so far, I have to say I am at this moment disappointed. So it's a tale of "getting the band back together" one more time, to plan to face Anti-God one more time, and we find out why they were initially imprisoned on "the farm" outside Spiral City and by whom,
...more

When Spiral City pizza parlor waitress Lucy Weber gets an odd phone call, she finds herself face to face with a robot named Talky Walky and starts piecing together the mystery of the Black Hammer...
Here we are, the end of the Black Hammer. At the end of the previous volume, the gang learned the secret of The Farm and the Anti-God. Now, the Anti-God is on the horizon and Spiral City is a city without heroes. Can Lucy Weber put the gang back together in time to stop the Anti-God?
As usual, I dug th ...more
Here we are, the end of the Black Hammer. At the end of the previous volume, the gang learned the secret of The Farm and the Anti-God. Now, the Anti-God is on the horizon and Spiral City is a city without heroes. Can Lucy Weber put the gang back together in time to stop the Anti-God?
As usual, I dug th ...more

…Is that it?
After all the build-up, all the struggles, all the random detours and spin-off mini-series, that’s the ending we get? I’m disappointed to say the least. Without going into spoiler territory, I didn’t think this was going to be the end of the series. Given that Black Hammer has already relaunched once, I thought this was just going to be the end of this era, and then we’d get a new series next year or something. But no, this is apparently it.
It just feels like a jip. These character ...more
After all the build-up, all the struggles, all the random detours and spin-off mini-series, that’s the ending we get? I’m disappointed to say the least. Without going into spoiler territory, I didn’t think this was going to be the end of the series. Given that Black Hammer has already relaunched once, I thought this was just going to be the end of this era, and then we’d get a new series next year or something. But no, this is apparently it.
It just feels like a jip. These character ...more


You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Would you rather live in a world, that you love, but made up of lies or deal with a real world, that you hate, composed only of truths? It is only when you realize that your decisions aren’t unrestrained by universal laws, including one where the greater good takes precedence over your own personal desires, that you realize that life just isn’t fair to anyone. Once you’ve had a taste of both worlds, once you’re put on stage and forced to make a ...more

So Black Hammer ends not with a bang, but a fizzle? The first two issues drawn by Rich Tommaso were not for me. His simple art feels really out of place here, especially when placed next to Dean Ormstrom's. Then we get back to the meat of the story, which had this fantastic build up. Then as we approached the end it was like the car was spinning out of control and I could see the tree up ahead, but couldn't steer clear of it. It makes sense why Lemire ended the book the way he did. I just wanted
...more

This final volume made me realize that reading Black Hammer was one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made.
At first, I thought the characters were unoriginal , but I found the premise to be interesting. By the second volume, I grew fond of the characters as well, as that volume had some good character development. But at the end, I think the book has lost its identity and theme altogether.
It's as if the writer himself is confused about what he is trying to convey through these books. Is this b ...more
At first, I thought the characters were unoriginal , but I found the premise to be interesting. By the second volume, I grew fond of the characters as well, as that volume had some good character development. But at the end, I think the book has lost its identity and theme altogether.
It's as if the writer himself is confused about what he is trying to convey through these books. Is this b ...more

Some parts of Black Hammer ended on my favorite shelf, with spin-off Doctor Star & the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows being my favorite, but sadly ending is simply not satisfying. It starts off very badly. First two volumes are little too much meta and where probably weakest wrting I seen from Lemire. It gets better after that but but for story that was subtly emotional and atmospheric ending left me indifferent.
...more

I don't want to say much about this as to avoid spoilers, but this brings a fitting and emotional ending to the main Black Hammer series. The ending might be a bit thematically controversial for some, but personally, I really enjoyed this! This series and the entire world it's created is something to be revered. Can't wait to see where the World of Black Hammer goes from here.
...more

"Hey, bitch, nice house."
This was good, I hated the art from the first two issues, and that whole story seemed a bit too meta and silly for me. The ending, or non-ending was good, happy/sad. I am intrigued as to what is next... ...more
This was good, I hated the art from the first two issues, and that whole story seemed a bit too meta and silly for me. The ending, or non-ending was good, happy/sad. I am intrigued as to what is next... ...more

At first I wasn't digging this. The first two issues are pretty silly and not all that good.
Luckily that changes after issue 1-2.
Everyone has forgotten who they are. There's no such things as heroes. What happened? Well Dragonfly happened. Is this another alternate dimension? Why is the Anti-God returning? Lucy remembers it all but why is her father here? So many questions, so little time, and Black Hammer wraps up its first "Season".
Luckily the characters are so strong. Everyone has great ch ...more
Luckily that changes after issue 1-2.
Everyone has forgotten who they are. There's no such things as heroes. What happened? Well Dragonfly happened. Is this another alternate dimension? Why is the Anti-God returning? Lucy remembers it all but why is her father here? So many questions, so little time, and Black Hammer wraps up its first "Season".
Luckily the characters are so strong. Everyone has great ch ...more

Ye gods this title is frustrating. It feints toward a potentially interesting fourth-wall-breaking meta-comic resolution, then flails around for a while before doubling down on the lazy, insipid maintain-the-balance-between-good-and-evil ending.
There are more homage-to-the-history-of-comics elements here--animal sidekicks, adventure characters, soldiers and knights--but they're just drive by's. There's nothing compelling or interesting about them and they're gone after a few pages.
The Jekyll ver ...more
There are more homage-to-the-history-of-comics elements here--animal sidekicks, adventure characters, soldiers and knights--but they're just drive by's. There's nothing compelling or interesting about them and they're gone after a few pages.
The Jekyll ver ...more

Following in Mark Millar’s footsteps, Jeff Lemire now seemingly writes every one of his creator-owned books as though it’s a TV pitch. In the case of Black Hammer, I wouldn’t mind its television aspirations so much if I didn’t also get the sense that it wears its “prestige” badge a little too proudly on its sleeve.
Nevertheless, this concluding (for now) arc of the main Black Hammer book ties up a lot of loose threads—albeit in eye-rolling and unsatisfying ways.
[Read in single issues]
Nevertheless, this concluding (for now) arc of the main Black Hammer book ties up a lot of loose threads—albeit in eye-rolling and unsatisfying ways.
[Read in single issues]

3.5 stars. Both poignant and a little frustrating, as it was great to have the gang back together again, but I’m not sure I liked where they ended up, despite their contentment. I am also unclear if this is the end-end, or only the close of a chapter, especially as we are told in one of the other volumes that there is a Black Hammer team in the far future. A feeling of “Is there more?” had me looking past the end pages for some sign or answer.
I’ve really enjoyed this series and the various side ...more
I’ve really enjoyed this series and the various side ...more

In this volume the artwork decided to suck more than the story. Almost. Then there's the names. Holy crap, they couldn't be more ridiculous. Is this comic a parody? Can't be. Parodies are sometimes funny and this awful comic has nothing going for it. The characters, the dialogue (if 'Oink! Oink!' and 'Quack! Quack' are dialogue), the ridiculous plot, the deus ex machinas. Everything sucks and the flashbacks are back with a vengeance. This feels like the story that is going to make me stop readin
...more

(Wow, donked one star off my initial rating and poof, my first review disappeared..)
Disappointingly weak ending, especially after spending so much time with these characters. Basically another iteration of (view spoiler) .
I have never been convinced by the we-have-to-balance-good-and-evil idea of the Black Hammer universe, it feels arbitrary and too easily accepted by everyone involved. And then there's the moment where Madame Dragonfly explains why she doinke ...more
Disappointingly weak ending, especially after spending so much time with these characters. Basically another iteration of (view spoiler) .
I have never been convinced by the we-have-to-balance-good-and-evil idea of the Black Hammer universe, it feels arbitrary and too easily accepted by everyone involved. And then there's the moment where Madame Dragonfly explains why she doinke ...more

...and so we return and begin again.
The resolution to Black Hammer is interesting. On one hand, there is no real "win" for the heroes. The reality of the situation is one that truly solidifies the label of Heroes for these characters, but could be regarded as the ultimate sacrifice for the entire universe. On the other hand, the characters get a happy ending...of sorts. And while the entire series is predicated on the need to move away from, what they view as a cage, ultimately its where they fi ...more
The resolution to Black Hammer is interesting. On one hand, there is no real "win" for the heroes. The reality of the situation is one that truly solidifies the label of Heroes for these characters, but could be regarded as the ultimate sacrifice for the entire universe. On the other hand, the characters get a happy ending...of sorts. And while the entire series is predicated on the need to move away from, what they view as a cage, ultimately its where they fi ...more

With this volume, the series comes to what appears to be a satisfying conclusion. I kind of hope that is the end, actually, though I suppose it wouldn't be the first time I’ve prematurely thought a series was over.
Story and art have remained high quality throughout. It's a pleasant blend of homage to classic superhero tropes and Lemire’s more indie sensibilities.
Not much else to say without spoiling anything, really. Highly recommended! ...more
Story and art have remained high quality throughout. It's a pleasant blend of homage to classic superhero tropes and Lemire’s more indie sensibilities.
Not much else to say without spoiling anything, really. Highly recommended! ...more

Jeff Lemire is one of the best doing comic book drama, but he kinda sucks at writing for Marvel and DC, the solution? Writing his own superhero universe, BANG, he nailed it, what a ride this has been, I like the way he used some of the tropes of the superhero genre but still managed to keep the focus on the drama, Black Hammer was all about these characters and their stories, and all of them got a proper ending in this final volume, the only reason I'm not giving it a perfect score is because I
...more

The ending to the series was not what I expected. It felt slightly underwhelming from all the built up/reveals beautifully done in the third volume. Regardless, it will remain one of my favorite series. One of the main factors is that it is essentially a meta parody off the idea of superheroes and you can tell Jeff Lemire is a fan of the genre. I greatly enjoyed that aspect of it. Black Hammer didn't take itself seriously, which made it all the more fun to read; it was self-aware. It truly felt
...more

So Lemire read Morrison's ultimate "what's a fourth wall?" moment in Animal Man and said, "I can do that, too!" And he did. And those issues, which all firmly live beyond the fourth wall, are the best part of the book. But then we apparently had to wrap things up, and it just felt rushed. I can see where this must have been planned out, but I still feel like something, and I'm not sure what, is missing.
...more

Black Hammer feels like its losing steam in this volume. The story is going in circles ((view spoiler) ), and I wasn't impressed by the ending.
To be more specific, (view spoiler) ...more
To be more specific, (view spoiler) ...more

Black Hammer Volume 4: Age of Doom, Part Two by Jeff Lemire was fantastic a perfect ending to the series. I was a little shocked that it ended I know of two other volumes to the series, but upon further research, one is short stories told in the world, and the other is a prequel. This is such a weird series that embraced the weird and did not shy away from it, but through all that weird it told a story of a dysfunctional super hero family, and the ending really nailed that aspect. This is easily
...more

So more then probably the end for the Black Hammer series, might see others universe related story but for the main one, yeah... probably done and it shows a bit of, wouldn't say lack of ideas, but let's say a slower originality or vision in the overall plot. This one might not be the best as an stand alone issue, but truly a great way to wrap things up, close the door and say proper goodbye to this great cast. It was a funny ride I enjoy the humor, the arts (the first part of this one was weird
...more

(3 of 5 for kind of mediocre-ish finale for part of Black Hammer Universe for which I admire myself for getting that far)
I will refrain to comment Lemire here, repeating myself for thousand times. But so far Black Hammer was almost (there are few exceptions) complete disappointment. In art, in the story and in ways which the themes are tackled. There were good moments, but the level of ballast and filler is damn too high. This "end" wasn't as bad as some previous parts, but it wasn't good either ...more
I will refrain to comment Lemire here, repeating myself for thousand times. But so far Black Hammer was almost (there are few exceptions) complete disappointment. In art, in the story and in ways which the themes are tackled. There were good moments, but the level of ballast and filler is damn too high. This "end" wasn't as bad as some previous parts, but it wasn't good either ...more

I'll have to echo others' disappointment. Ultimately we're getting set up for getting the band back together and defeating the big bad but then the resolution is so anticlimactic. I like this series and see it having lots of potential but I really feel like it's been diluted of late with some of the recent storylines.
Also couldn't believe that there was a Toronto real-estate agent, turned city council hopeful, Punch Sockalingam reference. ...more
Also couldn't believe that there was a Toronto real-estate agent, turned city council hopeful, Punch Sockalingam reference. ...more

Just SO underwhelming. I don't even know what else to say.
...more
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Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.
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