DC vs. Vampires: World War V #2 is written by Matthew Rosenberg and published by DC. Artwork and cover is by Otto Schmidt, colours by Pierluigi Casolino and letters by Tom Napolitano.
DC vs. Vampires: World War V #2 is available from today, in print and on digital where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
The peace between vampires and heroes is wearing thin. Lois Lane will try and negotiate a way to maintain a truce, but with Damian’s relentless attacks on the vampire queen and her armies, the only thing that might be able to bring them together is a…Miracle.
Review
Today we head back to a captivatingly bleak version of the DCU today as the second issue of DC vs. Vampires: World War V hit comic book stores. The latest chapter of the Elseworlds story lays out a complicated road ahead for both humans and vampires. But with an accomplished writer on board and artwork as delectable as a vampire feast, there’s plenty ahead to sink your fangs in to…
The uneasy truce between humans and vampires was left hanging in the balance last month with an attack on vampire queen Barbara Gordon. With the results of that attack made very clear it’s up to new emissary, former Aquaman Arthur Curry, to liaise with Lois Lane and the humans about a way to move forwards. Thankfully for Lois, Arthur is a little more adept at negotiations than Grodd. Naturally the vampires aren’t happy that their queen has been offed and they believe Damian Wayne was the one behind it. Arthur lays down a gauntlet to the humans: deliver Damian’s head on a pike or there’s no guarantee the truce will remain.
Rosenberg uses issue #2 to flesh out a subplot from last month which is potentially a game-changer. There we saw Batman rescue a man which a child. This month those two are found by vampire hunters in Pennsylvania and we learn far more about their true identities. No spoilers from me but the storyline ties in to established characters and potentially offers up a Hail Mary for humanity. This issue also introducing a next twist in the tale in Dakota City as Oliver Queen, Swamp Thing and their crew breaks in to a vampire factory which is reportedly creating synthesised blood. The mission brings another layer of complexity to the story which may hint towards shades of grey within the vampire community.
It seems that Rosenberg is complicating matters on both sides of the war. An interesting angle for a story which could easily be black and white and retain all of its impact. This way it feels like there’s plenty of room for choose a side. Generating plenty of conversation amongst readers as to who has the truer motives when it comes to ruling the planet.
This month’s DC vs. Vampires: World War V also reintroduced John Constantine in a sequence which tasks artist Otto Schmidt to do some of his best work in the book to-date. That’s in addition to some eye-popping sequences featuring Talia al Ghul, Alfred and the truly terrifying vampire Wonder Woman. Firstly, Schmidt is on fire this month, secondly this is an incredibly busy set of plot lines which continue to feel quite disparate for the time being.
The only drawback at this early stage in the twelve-issue series is the disconnect between all these various elements. Whilst scenes with Lois and Arthur share connective tissue with Wonder Woman and Alfred. Those with Constantine, Olivers mission and those in Pennsylvania are currently all playing out in isolation. Individually they’re great but together it feels a little like a collection of scenes in an anthology. I’ve no doubt that Rosenberg has a plan and all will become clear. But for now, in this issue, it feels a little discombobulated.
Coming out of issue #2 is a great cliffhanger which calls back to a similar moment for another character in DCeased. It’s a cool image, even cooler in Schmidt’s style. Again it offers up enough narrative thrust to keep up going through issue #3 next month. But at such an early juncture it probably isn’t going to turn the tide of the war just yet.
Verdict
DC vs. Vampires: World War V continues to be one of the best looking books in the DC slate thanks to Otto Schmidt. The books various plot threads currently feel a little distant, but the promise of what is to come is more than enough to keep the plot running.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
