DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1
Chad Burdette
Recap
Green Arrow led humanity’s final charge from the blood mines of Smallville, Supergirl’s mission to get off-world came to an explosive end, and Batgirl fought Nightwing for the fate of the entire planet with the future of humankind is on the line!
Now it's the dead of winter, and any hope for a fragile truce between the Green Arrow-led human heroes and vampire queen Barbara Gordon's army has been dashed by Damian Wayne and his guerrilla fighters. He's the only one fighting back against the bloodthirsty hordes, leaving Green Arrow with a choice: Does he stand and fight or sacrifice the boy in the name of peace?
Review
DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1 returns readers to the corner of the DCU where Vampires rule, humanity is fighting to survive, and the superhero community has been vastly widdled down.
The issue begins with Green Lanterns John Stewart and Kyle Rainer returning to Earth after a year away on the other side of the cosmos. The Lanterns are met by a group of their fellow heroes who reveal that they have been turned into vampires and led by Wonder Woman. After putting up a valiant struggle, John and Kyle are both killed, leaving John’s ring floating in the air, which will most likely become a thread of the story in a future issue.
Next, Rosenberg shows readers that he and Batwoman (both vampires) are still fighting the Vampires (now led by Barbara) and the few remaining heroes at odds with each other about how to ensure their future while maintaining the “truce.” The human council is visited by Vampire-Gorilla Grodd, who wants them to deal with Damian and his faction. During this time it is also revealed that Green Arrow is not interested in just stopping the war, but winning it. It is here through a long-winded exposition that Olloe also recounts the high points of the original story and how events led to where they currently stand.
Next, the scene changes to New Jersey, revealing that there is a new Batman (sporting a very Earth-2 Bat-Suit) readers get a glimpse into what Barbara, now the Vampire Queen has planned while putting forth the front of a truce, and still having “farms” of living humans. Barbara seems to be trying to bring a balance to the Earth but finds it difficult to do so. The issue ends on a cliffhanger that may leave the future of the relationship between the vampires and humans in flux.
Overall, it’s a fun read, and fun to see the heroes of the DCU taken out of the main continuity and thrown a curve. Rosenberg does an excellent job of bringing the reader up to speed but may have worked better if it had been done at the beginning in a concise paragraph as opposed to waiting till the second half and having Ollie do it in a monologue.It will be interesting to see how Rosenberg continues this story, hoping that the ultimate outcome is one that is unique and separates itself from the other “vampire-themed stories on the shelves these days
Final Thoughts
DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1 is a welcome return to the DCU Earth where vampires reign supreme. This opening issue answers some questions of what has transpired since the last series and leaves many more needing answered as to the fates of characters like Supergirl who played a major role in the conclusion of the initial series.
DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1 – A Return To The Elseworlds Earth Where Vampires Rule
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 7/107/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10
