DC VS. Vampires 1 – review

Written by: James Tynion IV & Matthew Rosenberg

Illustrations: Otto Schmidt

First published: 2021 (thb)

Contains spoilers

The blurb: The war for Earth isn’t beginning… it’s already here! It’s the heroes of the DC Universe against the undead in an epic fight for the very survival of the human race!

The Justice League has long protected Earth from all manner of foreign and alien invaders over the years, always keeping a vigilant eye to the skies for the next threat. But what if the threat was already walking the Earth…hiding in plain sight…watching…waiting for their moment to strike…

A mysterious new vampire lord has already put a plan in motion to conquer the Earth, and his horde are hunting on the streets of Gotham. Can Batman save his city—or will he succumb to the undead plague?

In the tradition of DCeased comes a terrifying new series from the twisted minds of James Tynion IV (Nice House on the Lake; Something is Killing the Children), Matthew Rosenberg (The Joker Presents: A Puzzlebox; 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank; Hawkeye), and Otto Schmidt (Green Arrow) that will tear the Justice League apart in their war with the undead!

This volume collects DC vs. Vampires #1-6, the first half of this bloody battle.

Constantine and vampire Zatanna

The review: Like Marvel, DC have always had vampires within their universe and this limited series of two trade hardbacks (part 2 due next year) brings DCs mightiest heroes head to head with them – and you know it’ll be epic when the rear of the dust jacket shows a vampiric Superman.

The series starts with Andrew Bennet, the anti-hero of I, Vampire, approaching the Hall of Justice to warn the Justice League that something is very wrong amongst vampire kind – so wrong that he approaches in daylight, almost combusts and is intercepted by Green Lantern. Mary, the Queen of Blood, has been overthrown and the new leader of the vampires has set their sights not only on the world, but on converting both heroes and villains to vampirism. Unfortunately for him, Green Lantern has already been compromised – his lantern ring able to protect him from sunlight. Luckily for the world, a tortured and defiant Lex Luthor has been able to get a sample of blood to Batman. Batman’s briefing to the Bat Family is amusing, taking place in a sun-drenched room in Wayne Manor and giving everyone drinks made with holy water (he had the boiler blessed too, in case Alfred was compromised... his shower would have been devastating).

The volume prepares us for a devastating war on the world and by the end of it there are familiar DC figures turned and others dead but to find out who, you’ll have to read the volume. The writing was crisp and the artwork as good as one would expect for a major DC event. Of course, it is only half way through and carries a level of nihilism that I enjoyed but may not be to everyone’s taste. I think, so far, 7.5 out of 10 is fair.

In Hardback @ Amazon US

In Hardback @ Amazon UK