DC Vs. Vampires #5 Review

Writer: James Tynion IV and Matthew Rosenberg

Art: Otto Schmidt and Tom Napolitano

Publisher: DC Comics

Price:$3.99

Release Date: February 22nd, 2022

The fate of human civilization is at “stake” as a crusade between BATMAN and HAL JORDAN culminates in this week’s DC VS. VAMPIRES #5 by James Tynion IV and Matthew Rosenberg! Will the undead, bloodsucking GREEN LANTERN be too difficult for BATMAN to handle? Will the fate of humanity be in the hands of a new vampire slayer? I’ll give you a hint… It’s not BUFFY! Let’s dive into DC VS. VAMPIRES #5 and take a nice, hard look at this bloody, bestselling tale!

If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, than simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon.

THE DISPATCH

Elseworld stories are simply the best. They provide the most wiggle room for zany, and sometimes outlandish story beats to occur that could never happen in normal continuity without offending fans or putting the toys back in the toy box where they started. Within the past couple of years, DC COMICS has been King of the Elseworld stories with the likes of INJUSTICE, DCEASED, and even their BLACK LABEL titles. Well, DC VS. VAMPIRES continues to fit that very same criterion and takes an otherwise silly concept involving DC COMIC heroes and villains as vampires and doubles down with excitement and unique twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seat.

By this point, I can only assume most of you have at least read a few of the past issues of DC VS. VAMPIRES. And if not, I’m sure you’ve got the overarching premise. However, Tynion and Rosenberg do a fantastic job throwing in some pretty intricate wrinkles making this not your normal MARVEL ZOMBIES/ the-world-is-infested-with-Vampires narrative. Sure, some heroes and villains are Vampires. Yet, Tynion and Rosenberg use more of a manipulation strategy instead of a normal Vampire Apocalyptic Army. The Vampires legitimately have a plan. And, it’s a good one.

Plus, Tynion and Rosenberg keep the character backgrounds pretty straight and narrow. They get that certain heroes and villains should be killed instead of turned. This creative team also understands that certain heroes need to be mind-controlled or lied to in order to keep up appearances. It shows that this team has done its homework. Moreover, Tynion and Rosenberg add some extra dialogue to help explain some of the techniques and strategies used by the heroes.

ART

Otto Schmidt’s renderings are incredible. DC VS. VAMPIRES seems to have rejuvenated Schmidt and continues to captivate me with unique aspects and perspectives while orchestrating this enigmatic story. Otto’s work just feels so refreshing with his choice of vibrant colors and clear linework. He understands the tension and setup so well ultimately crafting this entire narrative together giving it this almost dark comedic feel. It’s almost as if Schmidt naturally has each fight scene roll across every page. His style just carries so much weight to the story and helps make DC VS. VAMPIRES #5 one of the best things at DC COMICS right now.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, DC VS. VAMPIRES #5 continues to show just how simple yet dynamically clever this story is. Due to its Elseworld nature, it’s a book cluttered with everyone’s favorite DC COMICS heroes and villains either being killed or turned into bloodsucking Vampires. What’s not to like? Plus, fans can tell the big reveal is yet to come with someone close to the Bat-Family probably pulling the strings. Please don’t let the title scare you off from trying out this series. It’s wildly entertaining and loads of fun. Additionally, I promise it’s not too late. Grab DC VS. VAMPIRES #5 and snag the back issues ASAP. If you can’t get your hands on them, then preorder the DC VS. VAMPIRES trade now. You can thank me later. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!