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Umbrella Academy: Single Issues #4
The Umbrella Academy #4
The fourth issue begins with a flashback to eighteen years ago. Vanya runs through the Academy, shouting about how she hates everyone around her. She is consoled by Dr. Pogo and, when she states that there's nothing special about her, Pogo tells her that she is indeed special because, unlike her siblings, she doesn't need to destroy in order to be herself. We then jump to the present, where Vanya is being forcefully experimented on by The Conductor of the Orchestra Verdammten. The Conductor reveals the Academy and tomorrow they will end the world.
The book ends with a riddle: Two bodies have I, though both joined in one. The stiller I stand, the faster I run. The answer is 'an hourglass'.
The book ends with a riddle: Two bodies have I, though both joined in one. The stiller I stand, the faster I run. The answer is 'an hourglass'.
24 pages, Paperback
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1199 people want to read
About the author
Gerard Way
229 books4,541 followersGerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and comic book writer who served as frontman, lead vocalist, and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance from the time of its formation in 2001 until its breakup in 2013. He is the author of the Eisner Award-winning comic book series The Umbrella Academy (now a Netflix original series) and The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. In January 2014, he announced via Twitter that he and artist Gabriel Ba will begin work on Umbrella Academy Volumes 3 & 4 in late 2014/early 2015. His debut solo album Hesitant Alien was released on September 30, 2014. Way lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Lindsey (bassist of Mindless Self Indulgence) and their daughter, Bandit.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 17, 2019
sondaki çizimler şahane değildi de ne?
beş ve altıncı cildi de hemen okumak istiyorum...
beş ve altıncı cildi de hemen okumak istiyorum...
January 15, 2019
I LOVE how this issue begins with young Vanya crying and screaming about how she doesn't belong at the Academy, and how Dr. Pogo consoles her. Before we're thrust into the present, into the middle of her being experimented on by The Conductor of the Orchestra Verdammten.
Man, that guy is creepy.
The interactions between Spaceboy, Kraken, Rumor and Séance are fascinating because even though they mostly seem to get along, there's always an undercurrent of animosity between them. Pogo and Boy were a great change of pace, as Boy tries to figure things out.
And you know, I think Dr. Pogo is a very important character that sometimes gets lost in the background. I like him, he's cool and quite a mastermind, really.
As for Vanya: THIS is what I was waiting to see. I knew there was something very special about her and becoming The White Violin certainly takes this story to the next level. I just wish the bad guy wasn't the one to bring this out of her. BUT, with all her fears about not belonging and not being special, her alienation from the others was bound to push her over the edge. :/
Two more issues, as we creep closer to the apocalypse...
Man, that guy is creepy.
The interactions between Spaceboy, Kraken, Rumor and Séance are fascinating because even though they mostly seem to get along, there's always an undercurrent of animosity between them. Pogo and Boy were a great change of pace, as Boy tries to figure things out.
And you know, I think Dr. Pogo is a very important character that sometimes gets lost in the background. I like him, he's cool and quite a mastermind, really.
As for Vanya: THIS is what I was waiting to see. I knew there was something very special about her and becoming The White Violin certainly takes this story to the next level. I just wish the bad guy wasn't the one to bring this out of her. BUT, with all her fears about not belonging and not being special, her alienation from the others was bound to push her over the edge. :/
Two more issues, as we creep closer to the apocalypse...
April 14, 2021
The following is a review for the six parts that make up the first volume, as it is difficult to review each individual part alone.
I’ve heard a lot about The Umbrella Academy, so I decided it was finally time to dive into the first volume – Apocalypse Suite – and give it a try. I’ll be honest and say that I’m not the biggest fan of graphic novels, in fact I’m super picky, but I was curious enough to dive in.
Apocalypse Suite was an interesting introduction to The Umbrella Academy world, and I happily devoured this in no time. Although it was an easy read that had me curious about how things would play out, it did not wow me quite as much as I had hoped it would. There were quite a few things that were never quite as clear as I had hoped, and this stopped me from being fully invested.
All in all, interesting but not quite for me.
I’ve heard a lot about The Umbrella Academy, so I decided it was finally time to dive into the first volume – Apocalypse Suite – and give it a try. I’ll be honest and say that I’m not the biggest fan of graphic novels, in fact I’m super picky, but I was curious enough to dive in.
Apocalypse Suite was an interesting introduction to The Umbrella Academy world, and I happily devoured this in no time. Although it was an easy read that had me curious about how things would play out, it did not wow me quite as much as I had hoped it would. There were quite a few things that were never quite as clear as I had hoped, and this stopped me from being fully invested.
All in all, interesting but not quite for me.
February 19, 2019
This is going too fast...
I want to know more about their past
I want to know more about their past
April 26, 2019
Can I become a cool hero? Lol
May 13, 2022
OH SHE'S ACTUALLY A VILLAIN HERE
February 24, 2019
What the fuck, Vanya. Now, I'm kinda extra-mad, because apparently Pogo has been the truest angel. Damn it.
August 9, 2020
Honestly, I think the show improved on the source material on this one.
June 14, 2025
Allison: “I assume you’re going to bed?”
Klaus: “I’m tagging along…I’ve been eating speed for the last three days and every time I close my eyes I see centipedes.”
Allison: “That’s great.”
I love revisiting this series so much, especially now that I know the story and can take in all the details, and more importantly the sincere moments, and really see how they culminate into this beautiful story. This issue starts with one of those sincere moments. 18 years ago Pogo overheard Vanya run to her room with her busted violin. Once again she felt frustrated and broken feeling like the only child there that doesn’t belong…that’s useless. Abut there was pogo to stand beside her and come to comfort her. HE tells her she is right, she isn’t like the others…she doesn’t need to destroy things to prove herself. But that frustration has built up and festered and continued to grow, with no help from Diego, and it has led to the moment she is stuck into a machine by the orchestra Verdammten and transformed into the killing machine she has always had the potential to be. Turns out the conductor killed a few people to get her father’s notes on her, and knows exactly how to make her the pure being the need to bring about the end of the world. Right as the machine lights up and Vanya explodes with white and musical notes…she promises that she will kill the conductor. We see from Vanya’s perspective as she goes through the painful process,not fully understanding where she is or what she is looking at…until she finally breaks, she hears the music…the sound of angles suffocating…and she loves it.
Elsewhere Five and Pogo are using the levitator belts to go around the city searching for any sign of the apocalypse. Pogo wonders and suggests to five, what if during his years trying to get back he went insane? What if there is nothing? Five has thought the same thing…but on the other hand, what if it was all real? What’s the harm in trying to save the world from a false alarm vs the end of it as they know it? From the fight at the fair, Luther, Allison, and Klaus get back home via the televator…only to find Diego already there patching himself up. After some heavy handed words about the artificial love of their father and the way Diego acts towards Vanya…Diego stormed off. Leaving the three we came in with to head right back out the door on patrol, no time to slew on the edge of the end of the world. Pogo and five on the other hand ended up stopping at a diner. Seeing the newspaper it’s clear that the public has had enough of the umbrella academy and their claims about the end of the world. It seemed an order of black coffee was exactly what they needed…only for a few very oddly dressed individuals in gas masks and hazmat uniforms to come in looking for five. Now as I already know who they are, lol, I love the angry look on five’s face that he has to deal with these clowns now.
We now conclude this issue at the Icarus theater for the conductor’s grand reveal of La Viole Blanche aka The White Violin! Vanya steps out, now completely white…almost porcelain looking with the strings and air openings of a violin engraved on her body. She is handed a white violin and instructed to do what she was born to do. So of course she immediately uses her new insane power to split the conductor apart! This is her show now, and she commands the orchestra. Tonight they shall end the umbrella academy and tomorrow the world!
Klaus: “I’m tagging along…I’ve been eating speed for the last three days and every time I close my eyes I see centipedes.”
Allison: “That’s great.”
I love revisiting this series so much, especially now that I know the story and can take in all the details, and more importantly the sincere moments, and really see how they culminate into this beautiful story. This issue starts with one of those sincere moments. 18 years ago Pogo overheard Vanya run to her room with her busted violin. Once again she felt frustrated and broken feeling like the only child there that doesn’t belong…that’s useless. Abut there was pogo to stand beside her and come to comfort her. HE tells her she is right, she isn’t like the others…she doesn’t need to destroy things to prove herself. But that frustration has built up and festered and continued to grow, with no help from Diego, and it has led to the moment she is stuck into a machine by the orchestra Verdammten and transformed into the killing machine she has always had the potential to be. Turns out the conductor killed a few people to get her father’s notes on her, and knows exactly how to make her the pure being the need to bring about the end of the world. Right as the machine lights up and Vanya explodes with white and musical notes…she promises that she will kill the conductor. We see from Vanya’s perspective as she goes through the painful process,not fully understanding where she is or what she is looking at…until she finally breaks, she hears the music…the sound of angles suffocating…and she loves it.
Elsewhere Five and Pogo are using the levitator belts to go around the city searching for any sign of the apocalypse. Pogo wonders and suggests to five, what if during his years trying to get back he went insane? What if there is nothing? Five has thought the same thing…but on the other hand, what if it was all real? What’s the harm in trying to save the world from a false alarm vs the end of it as they know it? From the fight at the fair, Luther, Allison, and Klaus get back home via the televator…only to find Diego already there patching himself up. After some heavy handed words about the artificial love of their father and the way Diego acts towards Vanya…Diego stormed off. Leaving the three we came in with to head right back out the door on patrol, no time to slew on the edge of the end of the world. Pogo and five on the other hand ended up stopping at a diner. Seeing the newspaper it’s clear that the public has had enough of the umbrella academy and their claims about the end of the world. It seemed an order of black coffee was exactly what they needed…only for a few very oddly dressed individuals in gas masks and hazmat uniforms to come in looking for five. Now as I already know who they are, lol, I love the angry look on five’s face that he has to deal with these clowns now.
We now conclude this issue at the Icarus theater for the conductor’s grand reveal of La Viole Blanche aka The White Violin! Vanya steps out, now completely white…almost porcelain looking with the strings and air openings of a violin engraved on her body. She is handed a white violin and instructed to do what she was born to do. So of course she immediately uses her new insane power to split the conductor apart! This is her show now, and she commands the orchestra. Tonight they shall end the umbrella academy and tomorrow the world!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2022
Solo puedo decir omfg,, im- esto es magnifico.
La envidia de Diego al carino y el preferitismo de Reginald a Luther es el complemento perfecto que necesita la trama de esta historia.
"¿Como matar a billones de pérsonas en un simple parpadeo? Primero tuvimos la metralleta fennler de alimentación manual... despues la cámara de gas. Y finalmente mi favorita la bomba atómica."
La envidia de Diego al carino y el preferitismo de Reginald a Luther es el complemento perfecto que necesita la trama de esta historia.
"¿Como matar a billones de pérsonas en un simple parpadeo? Primero tuvimos la metralleta fennler de alimentación manual... despues la cámara de gas. Y finalmente mi favorita la bomba atómica."
August 7, 2020
More development
I liked seeing more development of Vanya Hargreeves, strange seeing it the way it’s laid out in the comics, because if I’m being honest, I was expecting these and the show to be rather similar, although there’s no sign of Hazel and Cha cha.
I liked seeing more development of Vanya Hargreeves, strange seeing it the way it’s laid out in the comics, because if I’m being honest, I was expecting these and the show to be rather similar, although there’s no sign of Hazel and Cha cha.
March 3, 2019
Better than #3
The plot in this one is much better than the previous one. But as heroes, they definitely leave something to be desired.
The plot in this one is much better than the previous one. But as heroes, they definitely leave something to be desired.
March 20, 2019
Este capítulo sin dudas fue mejor que los anteriores. Y Pogo es de los mejores :).
January 12, 2020
loved this one!
July 28, 2020
74/100
August 13, 2020
Creo que ha sido el más interesante hasta ahora.
No tengo mucho que decir, tho.
No tengo mucho que decir, tho.
December 29, 2021
not diego and vanya 😭😭😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2022
Violin Vanya
Interesting to see Vanya as a proposed villain! Can we blame the shaming of Luther or Diego for this, or is this her version of independence?
Interesting to see Vanya as a proposed villain! Can we blame the shaming of Luther or Diego for this, or is this her version of independence?
July 4, 2022
this may be my fav part of apocalypse suite
August 5, 2022
3.2⭐
Reseña pendiente
Reseña pendiente
May 19, 2024
"She was stunned to speak-"
February 20, 2019
4/6 The Umbrella Academy
This keeps getting increasingly interesting, I wish it wasn't rushing so fast to an ending. Nonetheless I'm happy we finally get to see team Dr Pogo & Number 5 in action and to understand Vanya's true nature in a Harley-Quinn-like revelation. Her motives could have been better and a slower build-up might have made it a less shallow and selfish move but I guess there isn't time to complain.
On to the next!
This keeps getting increasingly interesting, I wish it wasn't rushing so fast to an ending. Nonetheless I'm happy we finally get to see team Dr Pogo & Number 5 in action and to understand Vanya's true nature in a Harley-Quinn-like revelation. Her motives could have been better and a slower build-up might have made it a less shallow and selfish move but I guess there isn't time to complain.
On to the next!
December 29, 2016
This is my favourite issue so far-The 3 different stories, including a flashback & especially the focus on one of the 'Heroes' & what happens to them...I can tell I'm going to miss this series when I finish it!
June 7, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews