Originally published on Patreon
We're getting closer to the end of DC vs Vampires, and it feels like the pieces are being put into place for the finale as we follow three groups as they make their moves to end the vampire menace.
Supergirl, Steel, Jayna, and Black Manta come to the end of their boat journey, with Australia on the horizon. However, when the sea grows eerily calm Manta knows that it's not a good sign, and vampire Atlanteans storm the ship. Unfortunately, they're the Royal Guard, which means Aquaman is on the scene. And here's where we get a pretty cool reveal (spoilers coming), as Manta removes their helmet, to reveal Mera! The queen of the ocean engages with her former husband in battle! But its not enough, Jayna dies, and the ship is destroyed, with the wreckage pulling Kara down into the depths.
Already in Australia, Oliver Queen begins an assault upon one of the blood farms, taking out guards, stealthing through sand storms in tumbleweed suits, and setting up for a fight with 'the big man'. After taking down dozens of vampires, he's grabbed by Hawkman.
Back in the US, Harley, Black Canary, Frankenstein, and Barbara try to find a way into Gotham city using the secret tunnels that Harley used to smuggle people out. However, it looks like the tunnels are all discovered and collapsed, leaving the group with the option to try and cross the river into the city using a small boat, whilst the skies are patrolled by vampires like Wonder Girl and Power Girl. Fortunately, they get some help in the form of Damian, who offers them a way into the city.
There's a lot of cool stuff this issue, and it feels like one of the better entries in the series since issue six and the jump forward in time. The Green Arrow stuff is really good, and it's great seeing him infiltrating this place and getting closer and closer to his target. Some of the traps he comes up with are pretty evil, such as petrol bombs that have holy water in them for 'twice the burn', and him rolling into camp disguised as a tumbleweed are ridiculous and so like Solid Snake I can't not love it.
The scene in the concetration camp with Grifter was pretty interesting too, and shows how much Ollie has changed in this new world. The old Ollie would do whatever it took to break those people out, and would put helping people in need above his mission, but here he's only focused on the one thing. He's grown cold. It's also not clear if Hawkman is 'the big man' or if he's an underling, but considering him and Carter have always had a bit of beef, it'll be interesting to see them clash.
The stuff around Gotham is pretty slow compared to everything else, and seems to be more focused on getting things ready for next issue. It's good that Damian is back involved, and will be interesting to see how much of the stuff that's been happening with him in the one shots and DC vs Vampires: All Out War comes into play.
The boat scenes might be the best bits of the issue, and looking back at how Black Manta was drawn before the reveal, it's kind of obvious that someone else was inside the suit, as they were smaller and slimmer. The fact that no one else knew and it was a shock reveal to the characters shows that they weren't doing the 'you don't know the voice because of voice balloons' cheap fake out, and that the suit was modulating Mera's voice.
I've had a bit of a soft spot for Mera since Blackest Night, and getting to see her lose her shit and take on Arthur is great, and you can really feel that this is something a bit different; the moment of pause from Arthur, the rage in Mera's face. It's all big and exciting, and kind of overshadows the death of Jayna a bit because that happens so quickly, and is given so little focus. Out of all of the stuff in this issue, seeing if Mera made it out alive or not is one of the things I'm most looking forward to next time.
The art, by Otto Schmidt, looks really good. I've always found that this series has really good looking art, and the vamps look particularly vicious and mean. There are some great moments scattered throughout, and the art really elevates them from good into great.
I know some folks have been feeling a bit of a flagging feeling with this series, possibly in part due to the extras and tie-in's, but this is one of the best issues in months, and shows that there's still a load of good stuff to be found here.
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