VICTORY #4, from Dynamite Comics on 9/20/23, continues Victory’s fight with Belilah when visions of her past arrive to confuse and confound her.
The Details
- Written by: David F. Walker
- Art by: Brett Weldele
- Colors by: Brett Weldele
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 20, 2023
Is VICTORY #4 Good?
“Confuse and confound” is probably the best way to describe VICTORY #4 because the longer this series from David F. Walker goes on, the longer we’re confused and confounded by why it exists, what Walker was told to write, and how an interesting, troubled character was allowed to be turned into a rejected Tyler Perry soap opera pilot. Oy!
When last we left Victory, she, Gabriel, and Lucy came to blows with Belilah (Belial’s daughter) and her demonic minions. Gabriel got roughed up, Lucy got knocked out, and Victory was left to fight off Belilah’s demons while Belilah fled. Now, Gabriel tends to Lucy, a decision he’ll later regret, as Victory races after Belilah alone. After a short pursuit, Victory is suddenly confronted by the ugliness of her past in the form of a rapey Z-Rock, her unprotective mother, and her abusive father.
Where’s the magic? Where’s the horror? At best, Walker is crafting an urban fantasy with a paper-thin supernatural veneer. This story could take place in any town with any main character, and it would read exactly the same. There’s nothing uniquely Warren/Vampirella/Victory about this script, so it’s as if somebody said to Walker, “Here’s this character. Do what you want, and don’t bother with research or authenticity to her canon.”
What’s great about VICTORY #4? In Walker’s defense, he delves into weighty trauma from Victory’s past, from failed relationships to abuse. You could argue those topics are too serious to be handled sensitively in this format, but credit is due to Walker for not pulling any punches.
What’s not so great about VICTORY #4? The character work is wildly miscast for the situation Victory finds herself in. The opening crack about Tyler Perry isn’t an accident or inaccurate. This reads like a shlocky soap opera drama, so Victory is completely robbed of elevation or respect.
How’s the art? Weldele’s style is the second sore spot of this issue. It’s unclear what Weldele was told about this character or the goal of the series, but when you’re drawing a scene depicting a woman about to get raped by a demon, drawing the characters like a scene from a children’s book is probably not the best choice. Oy, again!
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s VICTORY #4 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a brief flashback to a time when Victory and Vampirella were still lovers. While in bed, Victory opens up to Vampirella in the hopes of bonding, but Vampirella shuts Victory down with brutally hurtful words. Now, Lucy is on the floor unconscious, and a wounded Gabriel is in a chokehold by one of Belilah’s demons.
Victory activates her ring and creates a light sword to cut off the arm of one of Belilah’s demons, sending them both running. Gabriel chooses to stay behind to tend to Lucy while Victory races after Belilah, who runs into a nearby house. Inside, Victory is met by the demonic embodiment of Z-Rock, who attacks Victory. Z-rock beats Vctory and makes ready to rape her when he’s knocked out by a frying pan knock on the head.
Victory is surprised to see her savior is her mother. We conclude the issue with proverbial backstabs, trickery, and more demons.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
VICTORY #4 is an oddly unsettling entry in the series as Victory is miscast, miswritten, misused, and abused by everyone around her. There’s nothing remotely similar to Victory’s world or life going on here, coming off like a badly written, inappropriately drawn TV soap opera.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.