DC Vs. Vampires: World War V #4 - DC Comics

DC VS. VAMPIRES: WORLD WAR V No. 4, January 2025

Despite containing a couple of rather shocking revelations which should genuinely catch this comic’s audience by surprise, Matthew Rosenberg’s palpable pacing problems throughout Issue Four of “DC Vs Vampires: World War V” arguably bury much of their impact. Indeed, this twenty-four page periodical’s plot is so suffocatingly sedentary, that even a pulse-pounding battle between Alfred Pennyworth and Ra's al Ghul is somewhat drowned out amidst all the word-heavy dialogue – and at the time Bruce Wayne’s butler is wielding all the awesome power of a Green Lantern, whilst the dead billionaire’s estranged father-in-law has just been revealed as the new Batman.

Quite possibly one of this book’s other big problems are all the mysterious characters it suddenly introduces throughout the narrative. These shadowy figures are clearly going to be central to this mini-series’ main plot in the long-term. But they simply appear absolutely out of nowhere with little explanation, and supposedly shake the people they encounter to their very core, such as the shrouded old woman who confronts Gorilla Grodd inside his high-rise palace, and informs him that she knows he has lost his formidable psychic abilities since becoming one of the undead.

Likewise, many a bibliophile may well become increasingly confused as to just what Robin’s role within this convoluted storyline now plays, following the death of his mother and rebellious followers. Having previously appeared to be a major thorn in the Vampire Queen’s side, the Dark Knight’s former sidekick first appears to be a pawn in his grandfather’s scheme to become an immortal blood-drinker himself. However, once Alfred intervenes and this opportunity passes, poor Damian is simply penned as a pitiable traitor to his own kind, whose life is now seemingly without any purpose; “I’m sorry, kid. Tell yourself this is a mercy killing if that makes it easier.”

Debatably as uninspired by all these slow-moving shenanigans as many within the publication's audience is Otto Schmidt, predominantly just seems to go through the motions with his pencilling. Fortunately, the illustrator does somewhat up his game throughout the aforementioned fracas between Pennyworth and The Demon's Head, even if it does appear a little odd that the former butler’s formidable Oan energy-fuelled powers are apparently little match for the elderly mastermind’s punches.

The regular cover art of "DC VS. VAMPIRES: WORLD WAR V" #4 by Otto Schmidt