Late Reviews: DC vs Vampires All Out War #6 and Dark Crisis #7

 Ok, ok. Very late to the party but let's get this done with. 

All-out war, Part 6

Writer: Matthew Rosenberg and Alex Paknadel
Artist: Pasquale Qualano

Colorist: Nicola Righi

Letterer: Troy Peteri

Editor: Ben Abernathy
Cover: Alan Quah

The conclusion to what has to be the best comic from 2022 with Deathstroke. I must admit that this issue was the weakest of all but not bad by any means. Another fun read as you can expect from this series, i guess my problem is the somewhat predictable ending. Anyway, if you fallowed the series so far you're going to read this regardless. 

Dawn of DC

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Editor: Paul Kamisky
Cover: Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez 

A whatever ending. I guess my problem with this series is how much it plays safe and this issue was that. The most safe ending possible.  It uses the characters in whatever way fits the story instead of using the characters to move it.  And i just hate how much this tries to lie to us.  This series asks us to look at the past, but not the actual past we read but a different version that the writer want us to. And yeah, at the end of the day this was just some eye candy with some cheap fan service. Not even 10% of  what the original crisis was. It goes in the complete opposite direction. Just another robotic cashgrab event. 

Dark Crisis #6 Review

 

It took 6 issues but finally 

Legacy War

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Editor: Paul Kamisky
Cover: Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez 

The best issue so far, hands down. Finally the action that was needed for this to be a crisis. 

Everything with Jon was the highlight for me, and now it's fair to call this an event about legacy. I still have some problems, like how Pariah and Deathstroke are used to coment on fanboys who think that everything in the past was better and who hate legacy heroes, feels somewhat shallow and unecessary since we already had a similar thing with Superboy prime. Also, not a fan of some of the dialogue, specially moments like Nightwing trying to talk with Rose but I think it's fair to let that slide. As a Deathstroke fan, it pains me to see what is being done to the character but since we're almost at the end I don't care anymore. This was easily the most fun issue.

Dark Crisis #5 Review

 

So... (almost) nothing happened 

Together

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Editor: Paul Kamisky
Cover: Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez 

So far this series felt more like a regular Justice League story, not a Crisis, after the last issue it seemed that this would change. Not the case unfortunately. The scale of the battles feels small and rushed. This is supposed to be about legacy but all we get is some cheap fanservice. It lacks a real argument about legacy heroes, instead it just goes "hey, look, the young heroes look cool".  Also, this issue also was hyped as the return of the Justice League, which is horrible for a story about legacy, in my opinion. Some of this event is feeling like an Walking Dead ep, something insane happens at the end, to hook you up for the next ep, but then, nothing happens, people just talk and in the end another crazy thing happens. Last issued ended with the return of the infinite earths, today's issue should open with the insanity something like this should bring but we get stuff that should be at the begging of a story like this, like heroes being recruted. And again, nothing original. The return of the infinite earths? We got that years ago in another sequel for crisis on infinite earths, infinite crisis. Again, the art is amazing and at least the plot is rolling but it feels so empty. What is the point of this besides events with crisis on the name making easy money?

Dark Crisis #4 Review

 

Lex Luthor vs. Deathstroke but it's the abridged version

Crossovers

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Editor: Paul Kamisky
Cover: Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez 

Alright, now I get why some people where saying this should not be a crisis. 

Not a bad issue by any means, it gets the job done, but the scope of the action feels small, especially compared to previous crisis. This feels more like a prelude to a crisis event. I'm confident that the next issue will be better but so far it's just ok. The art as always is nothing short of amazing. If I had to criticize something, once again, it would be the use of Deathstroke. And I was kind of right about it? Luthor did kick Slade's ass, Deathstroke lost every  fight he was in, I can't buy this guy as a big deal. This series always shows Slade as a pathetic loser and then talks about how he's a big threat, there's a disconnect. But whatever, he's just a puppet for the real villain. Anyway, it's just alright. 

Dark Crisis: Young Justice #3 Review

 

Hm... ok 

The Trinity of Trauma 

Writer: Meghan Fitzmartin 
Artist: Laura Braga

Colorist: Luis Guerrero 

Letterer: Pat Brosseali

Editor: Ben Abernathy
Cover: Max Dunbar and Luis Guerrero

First things first, wasn't Jericho, using Slade's body, the one who shot Impulse? Or am I remembering it wrong? Anyway. This issue was... something. The face your trauma part felt rushed, forced even. The conflict between our main trio didn't flow naturally, in my opinion. I liked the artwork but sometimes how the characters emote don't fit with what they are saying. Like when Superboy talks about being trapped in other planet. This issue jumps from one place to another so quickly that one can say this is all over the place, every section, every argument, feels like a parody. Maybe this is on purpese and maybe this is a good thing, but I just don't know. Trying to get what this wants to say is somewhat confusing. And it ends like issue 2, with a tease about who the main characters are going to fight next. Let's just hope the next issue utilizes its main threat better. 

Joshua Williamson doesn't get Deathstroke

 Man, if you hate the character just don't write him. 

Writer Joshua Williamson, that most DC fans must know for this work on Flash, did take over Deathstroke a few months back, he already leaved the title but still writes the character, as one of the main antagonists of DC's current big event Dark Crisis(I refuse to call it the other way).As you can imagine Williamson has spoken about the character in some interviews and I do take issue if some of his statements.In other words, some of the things he said are incorrect. I really don't want to sound arrogant, I do respect Williamson and his work, that's his vision and he has the right to share it. But ok, let's go. 

1. No, Deathstroke does not hate "legacy" 

In an interview published in june 7, 2022 by NewsArama, Williamson stated that Slade hates legacy, that's why he battled the Teen Titans. This is false. The reason Slade hunted the Titans was simpler, he blamed them for the death of Grant Wilson, his older son. The character has said multiple times that kids should not use costumes, that's true, but not because he hates legacy, but because he thinks they are being irresponsible with it. And years later, in Geoff Johns Teen Titans run, you can see Slade realizing how the Titans are the only chance his kids have of having a good and caring family. So even if he hated legacy at some point that would already be resolved years ago. 

2. Is Slade irresponsible? 

In the same interview, Williamson talks about how slade never takes responsibility for his actions. This is also false. During Wolfman's time on Teen Titans and Deathstroke The Terminator the character grew and evolved, learning about his mistakes, even trying  to pay for it. Besides that, in 2016 Deathstroke solo series Slade can be seen being aware of his mistakes. 

Slade, using a disguise, admitting that he was to blame for Joseph's death and that he should die for it. Deathstroke The Terminator #5.

3. Deathstroke is one of the world's greatest tacticians

Yes, in terms of doing the right, moral choice, Slade isn't rational at all. However, in terms of making the most effective strategy to achieve his goals, Slade is a master. But according to Williamson, in a more recent interview with The Popverse(August 9, 2022), Deathstroke is inractional about his choices and that just makes zero sense when you look at the character's past. I don't want to sound disrespectful but this sounds like an excuse to write him in the most convenient way for the story to progress. Just think about something like Judas Contract or Deathstroke vs Batman, Slade always has a plan, he never makes a move without thinking. 

During Batman vs Deathstroke, Slade is shown to be the master strategist he is, by already having a contingency plan for Batman of all people. 

This last one is particularly a issue to me, since 90% of the character relies on him thinking before acting, if you break that, you break the character. 

In conclusion

Williamson's take on the character has issues, during Deathstroke Inc, Shadow War and now in Dark Crisis, Slade feels off, almost like a parody of himself. it's shame seeing a character with so much story potential being thrown around almost like a henchmen. In a way, he's just that to Pariah now, heh. 

That's it for now, take care and have a good one. And of course, do not be a jerk towards Williamson, after all, this is just fiction. 

Dark Crisis #3 Review

 Who you gonna call?  Black Adam! 

BOOT CAMP

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Editor: Paul Kamisky
Cover: Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez 

First of all, after this years Comic Con and the announcements about this event my perspective about it has changed a lot. I already was somewhat negative about it due to the lack of original things happening in it, and now i think i know why. I think DC has a list of things they know how their readers feel about it and they are just checking each item(like the JSA making a aperrence, I love the group, specialty the character Wildcat, but at this point seeing them feels empty, due to the amount of stories that used them showing up this way)  However, so far this has been a competent event. I'm a little bit disappointed with how this used the cliffhanger from issue 2, I went in expecting action and I got a "mission briefing" type issue. And, still, this was my favorite issue so far. This is what I like, characters talking, showing if they agree or don't about a subject. What they are feeling, etc. Even tho it feels like the Black Adam training the League section wasn't fully explored, I'm still in a positive opinion here. My problem so far with this event was how robotic it felt, like a computer wrote it, issue #3 breaks that. 

Dark Crisis #2 Review

Oh no, not the Titans Tower 

FALL OF THE TITANS

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Editor: Paul Kamisky
Cover: Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez 

I have lots of mixed feelings about this. The art was great, all the fights looked cool but the story felt... slow? 

To start, I must say that Beast Boy being alive is a good thing, I'm relieved for that. (And it's funny since almost the same happened way back in New Teen Titans #10 and 11) Again, the artwork was amazing, and that was my favorite part about it. Seeing Kyle at the end was my second favorite thing, the ending here definitely hypes up the next issue. 

But, we're promised this big fight between Dick and Slade and the whole thing was posted by the artist on social media or some site posted it.  It was so short that I felt tricked(?). And the lack of original ideas is bothering me. The identity of this event is the theme about legacy, However everything else has been done before. But of course, one could just say that's how comic books are theses days and that's fair.  This comic ain't bad by any means, although it can feel very basic. 

Dark Crisis #1 Review

How many times has the Titans Tower been blown up?

The Justice League is dead 

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Editor: Paul Kamisky
Cover: Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez 

I really love how this issue opens, feels very respectful and proud about DC's history. The art is amazing too. Jon trying to assemble a new League was the best part for me. I can see this character becoming a good Superman easily. However... This reminds me how Jon already having this level of responsibilities feels wrong and forced. Kara should be the one taking Clark's place. I feel somewhat similar about the new Wonder Woman and Batman. Yara, the "fake" brazilian(I'm brazilian myself and I have some issues with her) and the Batman who uses a Bat costume, the name, but wants nothing to do with it(?).

About Black Adam's role here, don't they have anything that can just see if he's lying or not? Like lie detector machine or something.

But ok, let's talk about the titans section of this issue. Deep down, I know complaining about this is stupid but, how does Dick survive a bomb that close? And I want a really good explanation for Slade doing this, he had made a deal with Nightwing, his "troubles" with the Titans are resolved. I guess this has to do with what happened when Slade was in the Lazarus pit(very dumb thing btw) but still, this needs a better explanation and quick. And Slade's new design is just ugly, I'm sorry.

But my major problem here is Deathstroke killing Gar. This is not the first time he does this, but it feels wrong. After Trial of the Terminator the two became friends, seeing this ignored bothers me a lot. This comic wants us to think about the old days, this is clear by the opening page, but it does not want us to remember all the details.

Gar's death is also another problem with this by itself. Events like these always feel the need to kill characters but this is just empty to me. Feels robotic, a editorial mandate, "kill someone, this will boost sales and people will know what we're serious about this". Think about Dark Nights Metal. No one died there, and yet, everybody was buying. Actually, that event had "negative" deaths, with missing characters coming back. That event had its problems but it was exciting to read. This? I'm not so sure, now I'm just like "ok, who dies next to help with the sales?".