Writer – Cary Bates
Artist – Tod Smith
Inker – Tony DeZuniga
Colours – Michele Wolfman
Letters – John Costanza

Mr. Bates, not to be confused with writer Cary Bates, had hired some Visitor mercenaries to take out Ham Tyler and that plan failed spectacularly, so much so that Ham and his buddy Mike have taken one of the Visitors hostage in order to sneak into Bates’ mansion and get to the bottom of it all. This all leads to the revelation that Bates knows of the Starchild – the young woman named Elizabeth, born of human and Visitor. Bates knows that she was stopped by some Visitors not one day past and that if Ham wants to save her, he would also have to save Kyle, Bates’ son. This of course all comes to pass aside from the rescue of Kyle who is now missing and most likely a prisoner of the Visitors. The story in this book moves along at a solid pace, never lacking for interest in the slightest and the book also welcomes artist Tod Smith aboard whose work looks and feels the same as that which came before. Another thread in this ongoing saga introduces Earl Meagan outspoken critic of the Visitors and messenger of peace and unknowingly to most, part of the resistance. He joins Julie and Mike Donovan sometime after going on live television to promote some peace talks he hopes to have with Diana and while Julie is all for welcoming the man aboard, there are those like Mike who do not trust the man at all. As the book moves forward and Meagan ingratiates his way into the company of the resistance, Diana is meting out punishment to those who continue to fail her, specifically the man she promoted in the previous issue. Most intriguing is the fact that she too is looking forward to the peace treaty talks though one can be sure it is not to strike up a lasting peace between her people and humankind. The book leaves off on a cliff-hanger which gives readers a couple of things to ponder until they are able to pick up the next one. With action, drama, intrigue and more, V continues to deliver on all fronts.

3.5 out of 5