Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Artist: Otto Schmidt
Colorist: Pierluigi Casolino
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Release Date: 14th August 2024

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Despite a truly soul-shaking opening which sees a pair of dutiful Green Lanterns falling right into the hands (or should that be fangs?) of an undead Wonder Woman and her ever-hungry super-powered minions, a fair portion of Matthew Rosenberg’s narrative for issue one of DC vs. Vampires: World War V is actually extraordinarily sedentary. Indeed, the action doesn’t arguably really pick back up until this thirty-two page periodical’s shocking last minute conclusion when Barbara Gordon is sent into a flaming death-dive from atop her Gotham City-based ‘ivory tower’ by a duplicitous Hush; “You misunderstand. We simply came to bring you a message.”

However, for those readers able to set aside any sense of disappointment about such a situation, the American author’s ability to pen a wonderfully intriguing political drama is debatably just as entertaining as watching numerous meta-humans physically go toe-to-toe against a planet partially consumed by murderous Nosferatu.

Foremost of these ‘hooks’ has to be the precarious string of agreements, treaties, truces and laws which this comic’s considerably-sized cast must abide by so as not to plunge the planet back down into chaotic carnage. The resultant arguments, threats, and concessions provide a palpable sense of fear throughout all the conversations, and make it intriguingly dangerous to second guess the true motivations of a fair few ordinarily entirely trustworthy characters.

In addition, the writer also introduces a third party into the mix, by way of Damian Wayne’s breakout vampire rebellion. Unwilling to bend the knee to Batgirl and the likes of her ambassador Gorilla Grodd, Robin appears intent on carving out his own kingdom from civilisation’s remaining population – and whilst this might seem like a good idea to begin with, the immortal boy’s guerrilla fighters might actually be just the spark to pit human against blood-drinker once again.

Equally adding to the success of this smash-hit series is Otto Schmidt, who does a stellar job of imbuing all the antagonists infected by the curse of the undead with just the sort of emaciated hawkishness a bibliophile may well associate with Dracula’s kith and kin. Furthermore, the Siberian illustrator somehow manages to make the likes of Grodd appear even more dangerous than ever before, with many in this comic’s audience soon realising just how deadly quick a vampire can actually be if hungry (or angry) enough to disregard the fragile armistice currently in place.

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The writer of this piece was: Simon Moore
Simon Tweets from @Blaxkleric ‏
You can read more of his reviews at The Brown Bag

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