DC Vs. Vampires: All Out War #6 - DC Comics

DC VS. VAMPIRES: ALL OUT WAR No. 6, February 2023

For those readers who have followed Alex Paknadel and Matthew Rosenberg’s six-issue mini-series from the start, this “grand finale” probably took them on an emotional roller-coaster of a ride through several waves of disconcerting depression. However, such negative vibes are not in any way connected to the well-penned plot provided, as the likes of Booster Gold and Deathstroke bravely tackle an utterly homicidal Man of Steel head-on. But rather that its conclusion fatally ends the enthralling adventures of several significant cast members who have done everything asked of them in order to keep Humanity’s hopes of salvation alive; “The blizzard’ll last a little longer. It’ll cover him real good, I promise. It’ll cover all of ‘em.”

Naturally, most comic book fans will be pretty certain as to who should win a contest between a deranged Superman, Slade Wilson, and the Twenty-Fifth Century Gothamite. Yet, this publication’s plot still manages to throw in several shocks, courtesy of its collaborative storytellers utilising John Constantine’s covert partnership with Deadman to catch both the vampiric Kryptonian and the vast majority of bibliophiles completely off-guard at the last minute. In addition, there’s some surprising humour to be found within the twenty-four-page periodical, such as when an abandoned Midnighter returns to life having literally been torn apart by Baron Cinder and asks if anyone from the ”Suicide Squad” is still there.

Adding an extra edge of horror to all these pulse-poundings proceedings is Pasquale Qualano and Nicola Righi, whose blood-soaked grey-scale panels repeatedly reinforce just how frighteningly murderous Kal-El has become since joining the legion of Nosferatu. The artistic pair are particularly good at highlighting the colossal physical powers in play when Mary Marvel downheartedly decides to go toe-to-toe with Clark Kent’s alter-ego after witnessing him kill Deathstroke with a single punch, and should certainly cause many within this publication's audience to give a momentary cheer when she opens up her attack with a mighty wallop to the chops.

Just as enthralling is this comic’s “backup” tale written and drawn by Mirka Andolfo, which focuses upon what happened to Poison Ivy once she was turned into a vampire. Initially slaughtering her undead brethren due to her need for “snacks”, Doctor Pamela Isley soon succumbs to an overbearing lust for fresh sustenance, which causes her to both suck dry the prisoners she potentially was intending to rescue, as well as extend her deadly vines throughout the metropolis like some giant lethal web of red-coloured vegetation.

The regular cover art of "DC VS. VAMPIRES: ALL OUT WAR" #6 by Alan Quah