REVIEW: ‘Vampire: The Masquerade,’ Issue #6

Vampire: The Masquerade #6 is published by Vault Comics, written by Tim Seeley, Tini Howard, and Blake Howard, art by Devmalya Pramanik and Nathan Gooden, colors by Addison Duke, and letters by Andworld. With the discord surrounding the destruction of Prince Samantha finally settled, it seems like things would be quiet in the Twin Cities. But if there is one thing that is rare in a vampire’s life, it is quiet. With Calder’s clan sending an inquiry to make sure he has his cities under control, things are less than peaceful. Plus, Cecily still has questions about Ali that need answers. 

It is said that it is easier to win a throne than to sit upon it. To claim a throne takes a single victory at the right moment, while to hold a throne takes a lifetime. And there will always be someone looking to knock you off of it. Sadly, this is a reality most do not fully appreciate until it is too late. Take our old friend Calder for example.

As Vampire: The Masquerade #6 opens, we see the Twin Cities’ new Prince a bit beside himself. Even though his control over his little corner of the Camarilla is firmly in his grasp, all is not well. It seems his clan has concerns about his ability to rule and is sending someone to inquire into how his rule is going. A rather notorious reputation precedes the individual, and Calder is more than a little unnerved. And of course, who else can he turn to for help but his favorite Brujah.

While Cecily is at first resistant to Calder’s request for aid, she realizes there is an advantage to be gained through doing so. And Cecily is never one to let an advantage slip by. So Cecily agrees to help Calder and leaves Ali to keep an eye on him. While Ali is less than thrilled about the prospect, Cecily’s assurances seem to assuage her fears enough to concede to the request.

From here, Vampire: The Masquerade #6 follows Cecily as she hits the town for some fun, feeding and searching for information. And with Ali indisposed, she can try to discern a bit more about where her young companion came from. The discoveries she makes are revealing, to say the least.

This issue’s focus on Cecily allows the reader a chance to catch up with the character after the events of the previous story arc. As always, Seeley imbues the character with the perfect balance of energy, style, and gritty darkness. Her decades in the night-filled world of the vampire have tempered her, but it seems it can never fully quench the fire inside her.

The art in Vampire: The Masquerade #6 captures all the shifting moments of the story well. From Calder’s blood sweating anxiety to Cecily letting loose on the dance floor, every scene is gifted with the appropriate energy.

In the back portion of this issue, we receive the latest chapter in the Anarch Tales. With the group having split up in the last issue, this story sees what Mitch has been up to since. Not surprisingly, he seems to be losing himself to his more feral tendencies. This story gives a bit deeper of a dive into Mitch’s mindset, as the writing is solely made up of an internal monologue he has throughout the tale.

The art in this secondary story does not shy away from the bloody brutality of Mitch’s nature. As he leaves a trail of victims in his wake, the art shows both the remains and their killer in a severe and brutal light.

Wrapping up our look at Vampire: The Masquerade #6 is the lettering. The lettering provides a clear and easy-to-follow path for the reader to enjoy the story throughout both stories.

When all is said and done, Vampire: The Masquerade #6 starts this next chapter to its story with a wonderful mix of energy and tense discovery. What will eventually come of Cecily’s investigations in this issue are unknown, but they promise to have the potential to impact her for the rest of her unnatural life.

Vampire: The Masquerade #6 is available now wherever comics are sold.