VICTORY #5, by Dynamite Comics on 11/1/23, brings the spinoff mini-series to a close when Victory is assaulted on all sides to relinquish her magic ring.
The Details
- Written by: David F. Walker
- Art by: Brett Weldele
- Colors by: Brett Weldele
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Carla Cohen (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 1, 2023
Is VICTORY #5 Good?
David F. Walker brings Victory’s journey of self-assurance against selfish forces to a fitting end in VICTORY #5. In a mini-series troubled by ups, downs, and oddities, Walker deserves credit for ending the mini-series as well as could be expected.
When last we left Victory, she was assailed by individuals who looked like her mother, father, abusive ex-boyfriend, and Belilah. Everyone claimed to have Victory’s best interests at heart, but when pressed, the doppelgangers’ faults and flaws bubbled to the surface. Now, the true nature of the doppelgangers is revealed, along with a traitor vying for the ring to upset the natural order of things. In the end, Victory learns the power to win was within her the whole time.
If that last phrase sounds unusually cliché, that’s because this entire finale is unusually cliché. David F. Walker had an opportunity to take a slick, hip, cool character, unlike anyone in Vampirella’s extended cast of characters, and give her an equally distinctive identity. Instead, Walker went with the standard tropes of a woman who overcomes when she chooses to believe in herself.
What’s great about VICTORY #5? Now that Victory’s origin story is set forth in gory detail, Dynamite can check that box and have her move on to bigger, better things. In fairness, Walker does wrap up every major loose thread, so the ending is complete, if not satisfying.
What’s not so great about VICTORY #5? Victory’s character development is hackneyed and cliché, the fight choreography in this issue makes little sense since Victory is swarmed by demons who seem incapable of taking a ring off Victory’s finger, and the capability of Belial’s ring is appreciably now more confusing because Walker intentionally described it as working however the wearer needs it to work.
How’s the art? Not great. Weldele’s storybook sketch style doesn’t suit the mature vibe and themes of the character or the plot, the fight choreography makes little sense, and the figure work is amateurish.
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 #5 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our VICTORY #4 review to find out how Victory was surrounded by the memories of her past.
We begin with the physical representation of Victory’s parents and her abusive ex-boyfriend badgering Victory to give up Belial’s ring. Victory keeps explaining the ring no longer works and she can’t get it off. Realizing they must take the direct approach, Belilah commands the doppelgangers to help Victory yank the ring from her finger.
Elsewhere, Gaye wakes up from unconsciousness and realizes Lucy is not the partner he thought she was. Gaye grabs one of the severed demon arms lying nearby and races after Victory. We conclude the issue with a warning about a traitor, a ring now powered, and a woman empowered.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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VICTORY #5 brings the ill-begotten mini-series to a close. Walker’s opportunity to elevate Victory beyond a cliché version of a woman having the power to succeed inside of her the whole time comes off as silly against incompetent demons, and the sub-par art is a poor fit for the mature themes of the script.
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