Join Bishop’s students as they find themselves trapped in a desperate battle against Orchis while Bishop and Tempo navigate an alternate universe. Discover if Bishop can find his way home in Bishop: War College #4 by Marvel Comics!
BISHOP: WAR COLLEGE #4
Writer: J. Holtham
Artist: Sean Damien Hill, Victor Nava, and Alberto Foche
Colorist: Espen Grundetjern
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Editor: Sarah Brunstad
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 24th, 2023
Previously in Bishop War College: Bishop initiated a new training program that took an unexpected turn on its final day. The notorious Fenris twins, employed by Orchis, launched an assault on Krakoa. Their objective was twofold: to liberate prisoners from the Pit and unleash the poisonous substance known as Brightswill upon mutants. Amidst the chaos, Tempo and Bishop found themselves transported to an alternate universe, encountering an all-Black iteration of the X-Men. In their quest to locate Tempo’s counterpart, Bishop was abruptly ambushed by the Human Liberation Front.
Bishop: War College #4 continues the intense action between Bishop and the Human Liberation Front. Bishop battles Earth-63 Feilong, Simon Trask, Tony Stark, and Moira MacTaggert. To everyone’s surprise, Bishop even manages to rally this Earth’s Bishop to join the fight, despite his role as a teacher. However, things take a turn when the X-Men arrive to lend a hand, only to witness Tempo’s father getting injured. Utilizing her time-manipulation abilities once again, Tempo freezes time.
Meanwhile, Bishop’s students put their training to the test as they confront the formidable Orchis twins. Wrongslide, Aura, Armor, and Surge devise a clever strategy for a surprise attack, successfully stealing the twins’ bracelets. These bracelets hold the power to counteract the Brightswill’s dampening effect on mutant abilities, providing a much-needed cure. Nevertheless, their efforts come too late, as the destructive drill penetrates the Pit, endangering everyone inside.
I found myself disengaged from the plot of Bishop: War College #4. While it aimed to raise tension through explosive fights across Earth-616 and Earth-63, it lacked the emotional impact I hoped for. The conflict involving the students against the twins felt underwhelming, diminishing their victory. Additionally, Tempo’s character development throughout the arc fell short, making her decision to use her time powers in the comic’s conclusion feel weak. I desired to see more depth from Bishop and wanted the students to face significant internal conflicts when coming together.
On a positive note, I appreciated the two distinct art styles representing the different Earths in the book. The quality of the artwork impressed me, and the imagery kept me engaged. Although there wasn’t a standout panel, I commend the artists and colorist’s consistent, high-quality work.
Bishop: War College #4 seemed to serve as a bridge toward the upcoming climax and conclusion, making it better suited for a trade paperback format. While the overall story is intriguing, with its compelling ideas and themes, this particular issue did not stand well on its own for me. Consequently, I would rate this comic 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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Bishop: War College #4 intensifies the tension for the overall arc, although it did not function well as a standalone issue for me.
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