DC vs Vampires: World War V # 10 review

sigh

Let’s just get this over with.

DC vs Vampires: World War V #10 hits a new low. Like an all-time series low. Like it is so disappointing at this point that I’m forgoing the bit I’ve been doing with the series as my partner in a toxic relationship because this thing deserves a proper examination on how bad it is.

So in the last issue, Mr. Miracle and his miracle baby escape from Atlantis only to encounter Vampire Raven (who should be dead multiple times over in this series but- ah, forget it) and Vampire Ghost Maker (who fulfils his non-existent arc of hunting Mister Miracle throughout the series). And then Lobo and Steel show up, confirming the dread I was feeling since last issue – the vampires and humans are now working together to stop Darkseid.

No reason needed. Its just plain bad.

Yep, the plot twist so predictable a baby could have seen it coming happens. I have to wonder why this series is even being published at this point if there isn’t going to be an attempt to try to innovate. Maybe there are contractual obligations that need to be fulfilled or something, but believe me somehow it gets worse.

Not even getting into this…

So, Cyborg (who has a funky Afro for some reason currently. I know he’s had it since he showed up in World War V but I guess there’s the innovation I was looking for) shows up on Dinosaur Island to see it’s completely empty except for an unconscious or deceased Beast Boy. He contacts Killer Moth (who is clearly the favorite character of someone on the creative team considering how much he’s shown up despite his D-list status and has miraculously remained alive so far) to inform them… the New Gods from New Genesis are working with Darkseid to eliminate both the humans and the vampires. Because the vampire plague is so deadly they can’t risk it spreading to the rest of the universe (oh God that’s the sequel to this, isn’t it?)

sigh

I keep trying to find the words to describe my feelings on this, but most of them are swear words so I must desist. “But isn’t this a twist?” I hear some of you ask. “Shouldn’t you be happy that the story caught you off guard? Doesn’t that make it a compelling, if not necessarily good story?”

Well, let’s break that part down, shall we? For starters, the New Genesis Gods apparently massacred all of the heroes/villains/monsters fighting Darkseid’s forces on Dinosaur Island, none of whom were actually vampires. So either the so-called good “New Gods” had no issue with turning on their allies just to fulfill their Faustian pact to Darkseid, or were just as disgusted by the more inhuman earthlings as much as they were by the vampires. Holy hell, you know what this reminds me of? The Problem with Susan by the disgraced Neil Gaiman, where Aslan and the White Witch decide to join forces and kill the kids. So don’t be surprised if we see Darkseid and Highfather making sweet, sweet love in the next issue because this series has gone that far off the rails.

Off the rails Exhibit A: Green Lantern Alfred, Ra’s al Ghul Batman, and dead baby Deadman

Also, Orion says the reason they turned on the humans and their allies was because if they allied with the vampires they may be a greater threat. You know who else allied with the vampires? Freakin’ Darkseid when he sent Granny Goodness to search for Scott in the first place!!! I’d ask where the logic was but it left the building when the first series was being published. At least that one could be entertaining.

Score: 2/10

Backup: Madness is a Thing with Feathers, Part One

Sadly, even the backup disappoints this issue. We get a story starring Loma Shade, the current wielder of the M-Vest is taking two kids (they may be supporting characters in her series but I haven’t read it so I can’t say for sure) to a safe zone, all the while using her powers to keep them safe. However, Rac Shade, the original wielder who is evil now (something that happened in said series apparently) wants her to use her friends to get the vampires high as apparently blood-tinged with madness is like a drug for them.

You know, there’s esoteric work that I will admit to not fully understanding. And then there’s just stuff that’s trying to be esoteric and is just plain bad. Guess which one this story is?

Score: 5/10

Recommended If

• You were starved for Shade, the Changing Girl content
• Killer Moth is your favorite character
• You did Cyborg’s Afro

Overall

DC vs Vampires: World War V #10 is the point where this saga has hit its nadir. I’m not sure that was even possible but here we are. The only thing that scares me at this point is that there’s two more issues of this dreck before I’m released from reviewing this thing. But I am committed to seeing this through…even if I’m in a straitjacket by the end of it.

Score: 3.5/10

Disclaimer: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.