DC Vs. Vampires: World War V #4 – Matthew Rosenberg, Matthew K. Manning, Writers; Otto Schmidt, Acky Bright, Artists; Pierluigi Casolino, Colorist
Ray – 8.5/10
Ray: This series hasn’t been my favorite so far, with it never quite breaking out of the shadow of its predecessors, but this issue shows some very intriguing elements as some forgotten players enter the fray. Scott Free has now become the centerpiece of the book, as he (and his daughter) are the most sought-out people in the world due to their unique nature. That adds some fascinating parallels with Damian, who is another vampire who hasn’t been fully turned. And his story is in some ways the heart of the book. The return of Ra’s Al Ghul this issue, in a role I never expected to see him in, is fascinating, and the showdown between Ra’s and Alfred is one of the most amusing moments of the series. A lot of elements are being set up here, and I’m increasingly excited to see them pay off.
The backup, focusing on Black Lightning, is pretty intriguing as well. It follows Jefferson Pierce as he travels the country, seeing safe zones and searching for his family. There are some truly disturbing segments here as he thinks he might be encountering them in the worst way possible, and the stark black-and-white art by Acky Bright makes this one of the more intimate stories in this high-octane universe.
Multiversus: Collision Detected #5 – Bryan Q. Miller, Writer; Jon Sommariva, Artist; Matt Herms, Colorist
Ray – 8/10
Ray: It’s the penultimate issue of this oddball crossover miniseries, and we last left off with Steven Universe at death’s door thanks to the Joker. He’s saved from death by Reindog, who is definitely the breakout star of this story, but that still leaves one big question – what’s next? The mysterious Devoid is lurking in the shadows, the actual main villain of the series, and Avia Free is getting increasingly anxious. This issue is actually a little slow for the penultimate issue, without too many big developments aside from a hilarious battle between Brainiac and the faulty programming that comes from Rick Sanchez. But when the final part of the issue comes, things pick up in a very big way as the main villain shows themselves. And we get ready for a final showdown as the call for fighters goes out. Of course, this is only a prequel to the game, so the odds are the main action will happen there.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
