The unthinkable has happened in DC vs. Vampires: World War V: The vampires and humans have a common enemy. Darkseid has come to Earth and wants to smite everyone, but thankfully, the All-Father and other New Gods have also come to entertain a fight. The new rules of war are forming in DC vs. Vampires: World War V #9, but is it already too late?
As is custom in this series, Matthew Rosenberg does a great job juggling many characters. It helps many of them who are cooped up in rooms, like Batgirl and a bunch of good guys, including Green Arrow, Lois, Lobo, and Supergirl. The issue opens at a secret location in Rhode Island covered in snow. There, the remaining heroes converse with the New Gods to devise a plan to stop Darkseid.
Having everyone at a table lets Rosenberg give characters like Deadshot a moment, adding a bit of his colorful character. Eventually, they need to plan with Batgirl, who was once their worst enemy, on what to do next. A lot of standing around and bickering feels a little stuffy, but things eventually move along.
Outside of the good guys, Rosenberg and artist Otto Schmidt catch us up on Ras Al Ghul and Alfred, who have banded together and become a new target for Darkseid to smash. Giving the story plot progression is a bigger push to find Mister Miracle.
So now we know how they’ll beat Darkseid.
Credit: DC Comics
If you’re looking for action, Darkseid brings it in a full-out war with the monsters of DC Comics. Nearby, a band of heroes, including Cyborg Superman, Cyborg, and Red Tornado, to name a few, are also going at it with vampires. Schmidt does a great job of making these battles feel chaotic and messy. I can’t say enough about how Schmidt draws Darkseid, who is insanely huge and frightening. In his confidence, we see a character who knows he will win.
On the reverse side of good art, the fight scene in Atlantis looks a little unfinished. The location is fairly simply drawn, and the characters aren’t as detailed.
DC vs. Vampires: World War V #9 continues to deliver tense, character-driven storytelling, with Matthew Rosenberg skillfully balancing a massive cast and Otto Schmidt’s art bringing the chaos of battle to life. However, the issue’s slower dialogue scenes and uneven artwork in certain panels keep it from reaching its full potential.
You must be logged in to post a comment.