Writers: James Tynion & Matthew Rosenberg

Art: Otto Schmidt

Colors: Otto Schmidt

Letters: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC
Price: $3.99
Release Date: 11/23/2021
Reviewer: Soycornholio

Blood + Sand

Ummm wow? That is all that I can say after reading James Tynion’s and Matthew Rosenberg’s DC vs. Vampires #2. Continuing to ride the wave of issue #1, the House that Batman Built hits another homerun with issue #2. With the beginning to extend their grip over the DC Universe, how is Batman preparing to fight back?

*Mild Spoilers*

The Fam:

At the end of the previous issue, the vampire Andrew Bennett, successfully warns Batman that something sinister is taking place with the vampires. Being the Dark Knight, B-Man assembles the Bat-Family in the middle of the day. Honestly, this was beyond odd. Avid Batman fans understand that the daylight belongs to Bruce Wayne. The night normally belongs to Batman. Seeing Nightwing, Batgirl, and Batman in the middle of the day demonstrated that even though Batman is still (figuratively) in the dark, he has an idea of how to move forward.

The Scooby Gang:

The Bat-Family is like the Scooby Gang from Buffy the Vampire Slayer in DC vs. Vampires. Everything from the plot to the gathering of everyone, screams Sunnydale. Heck, even narrowing down who the vampires would want to take down/change first took me back to Giles’s library. Not trusting anyone, Batman naturally tests everyone via holy water in the tea and hot cocoa (Damian’s favorite). Once they all pass his test, he takes them to a different version of the Bat-Cave. Again, I get total Buffy vibes. There are axes, spikes, crosses, and other medieval esque weapons. I do not know about you, but I am so ready to see the Bat-Family unleashed.

Humor:

The humor that Tynion and Rosenberg included in the issue is as a highlighter. It is beautiful. Besides Damian calling Jason the “crazy one,” we also have the Bat-Fam staring at Damian once he grabs a cross in yet another Bat-Test, and Alfred taking a bath in holy water. These little slices of life add the “natural” factor that I am always looking for when I read comics. Yes, I know we have Batman vs. vampires (how real can that be?), but you must be able to sell me the characters. Make me believe that the characters are truly gearing up for a vampire war. Luckily for us, both Tynion and Rosenberg accomplish this.

Final Thoughts:

DC vs. Vampires #2 is stellar. I cannot stop raving about how enthralling this series is thus far. Issue #2 delivered humor, horror, and most importantly, Batman! But I will also add that this is not a Batman series. Batman was only a portion of issue #2. A lot is going on in the background. Do not forget, Zan was placed in a blender and a vampire Green Lantern is blending in with the Justice League. That alone adds more to the story than just Batman. I would 100% recommend this issue to ANYONE. It is an action-packed joy ride from beginning to end!

9.1/10