WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for DC vs. Vampires: World War V #8!Elseworlds story has officially nerfed some of the DC Universe’s most powerful beings, not just with a minor decrease in power, but by rendering them virtually powerless. But does DC’s explanation for this power robbery hold up? That’s for fans to decide.
Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt’s DC vs. Vampires: World War V series has been a relentless march of death and carnage, with one of the latest and most significant casualties being John Constantine. However, even in death, this magic won't get any rest, as evidenced by the arrival of the Spectre, Phantom Stranger, and Doctor Fate, three of DC's most powerful beings.
These characters often operate on a cosmic level, dealing with matters beyond human comprehension. Their abilities allow them to reshape reality, combat existential threats, and challenge divine or supernatural forces. Yet, in this storyline, all three have been severely nerfed, leaving them completely powerless.
DC vs. Vampires: World War V Strips Cosmic Heroes of Their Power
Cover C Puppeteer Lee Variant for DC vs. Vampires: World War V #8 (2025)
DC vs. Vampires: World War V #8 picks up with John Constantine’s non-death, now sequestered in the House of Mysteries alongside the Spectre, Phantom Stranger, and Doctor Fate. When John asks why they aren’t helping with the chaos outside, the trio reveals that they’ve been bound to the House of Mysteries and cannot leave. To make matters worse, they explain that the mystical house only exists as long as it is maintained in the minds of those who believe in it, and somehow, its existence has been wiped from the memories of everyone who knew about it.
The Spectre sums up their predicament by saying, “We are forgotten. We no longer exist.” Doctor Fate goes on to explain that they can’t affect anything, meaning Earth-63 is beyond their reach, and there’s nothing they can do to assist in the conflict. This turn of events essentially strips these three powerful characters, along with Constantine, of their abilities, nerfing them in an unprecedented way. It’s a bold move by Rosenberg, allowing him to explore these characters in a new light now that their god-like status has been revoked. However, there may still be hope for them yet.
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John Constantine May Be Dead, But He’s Still Scheming
Cover B Fabrizio De Tommaso Variant for DC vs. Vampires: World War V #8 (2025)
While the Spectre, Phantom Stranger, and Doctor Fate have accepted their fate and resigned themselves to watching the world burn without the ability to intervene, Constantine is determined not to give up so easily. If there’s one thing fans can count on, it’s that if there’s a way to cheat death and defy the laws of magic, John Constantine will find it. It’s clear he already has a plan, as he takes the House of Mysteries in search of someone who might help. While fans are left in suspense, it’s evident that DC’s newly powerless heroes won’t stay powerless for long, thanks to Constantine.
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DC vs. Vampires: World War V #8 is available now from DC Comics!
