Suspecting that superheroes are to blame for a virus that’s wiped out a chunk of humanity, FEMA has established quarantine camps and begun to round-up anyone who wears a mask. With few heroes left, and a new crisis on the horizon, it’s finally D.D.’s time to shine.

Here’s the official word from Darkhorse:

With all superheroes ordered to internment camps until research can prove that they aren’t a diseased risk to humanity, and one of the world’s most powerful heroes now a mind slave to mysterious powers, who will stand to save humanity from the shadowy group taking over the world?

This particular run of the The Victories, both penned and illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming, has been intent on exploring the now classic superhero theme of “super-us” vs. “normal-them.” And now, with issue 6, we find ourselves in a world where the “normal-them” have essentially won. That is to say, the heroes have been captured. Worse, they’re tucked away in an underground base and have become the subjects of strange and mysterious experiments. While Oeming uses issue #6 to push this story forward, he does so in an immensely satisfying way: the narrative is told through the P.O.V of Sleeper, a character who’s essentially the waking dream of a mystic cat still tucked away in the city. Even though the Feds *technically* have Sleeper in custody, they haven’t found the cat yet which means Sleeper is still somewhat free to look for a hero who can upend this whole mess. His target: D.D.

Oeming’s continued focus on the character of D.D., again, needs to be applauded. Oeming has consistently offered a very human depiction of her — she is a character saddled with remorse, haunted by her past, and paralyzed by her responsibilities to save the day. But if Issue #6 is meant to act as D.D.’s heroic awakening, Oeming kinda ruins it with moments that feel a bit too grandiose (at one point she spouts: “I’m D.D. motherfucking Mau!”). Really? But if you can forgive those moments where D.D. suddenly sounds like Samuel L. Jackson in Snakes on a Plane, there’s plenty of room to really appreciate what a special run this is.

Art-wise? I can’t help it. I love Oeming’s style. I won’t say one bad thing about it. I could look at his lines and strokes all day, and Victories #6 is another example of his range and talent.

The Victories #6 is a great read — creative, insightful, and beautifully strange. Go grab this thing today.

4.5/5