The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry. However, the plans of our super men and women have finally started to come together. Victory has come fairly easy for the bloodsucking regime ruling the DC Universe, but this may be the chance to meaningfully flip the script!
This week in DC Vs. Vampires, I’ll be giving you the good, the bad, and the preternatural. Recently captured last issue, Green Arrow has made it inside the human camp. I thought my futile prayers of seeing Cole Cash again wouldn’t get an answer, and surprisingly I was wrong. The addition of Grifter to the book brings some much needed levity. Moreover, the dynamic between him and the grizzly Green Arrow could prove a well thought out match. Weirdly enough, he looks like Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead. Either way, Green Arrow’s suicide mission suddenly doesn’t seem as self-destructive as originally thought.
More on the good side of things is the reveal of Supergirl’s destination. Supergirl survives her drowning by Aquaman with the help of her new teammates. The rescue features another unique display of Jayna’s new powers. Early on, I billed Jayna as one of the characters to keep an eye on, and so far she is living up to the role. While I’m not sure if Tynion IV and Rosenberg wanted readers to buy her bloody fake-out death last issue, I’m glad she’s ultimately fine. Whether they were led into a possible “cosmic tuning fork” shaped trap is unclear for now.
DC Vs. Vampires has an awful timeline of events made worse by sharing characters between tie-ins. I constantly question who is where doing what and how it makes sense. At the very minimum, someone could answer my pleas of clarity on Constantine’s status. Pay off on all of the interconnected scenes amount to very little. In any case, Batgirl’s group finally arrive in Gotham. The book features a strange barter between vampire Punchline and the survivors that feels like a side quest. You could remove every panel of their brief interaction, and it would change nothing. The story is literally began and resolved off panel. After a rough journey, I will admit that Batgirl’s stand in Gotham was an appreciated but mostly symbolic highlight.
I have made no secret for my love of Otto Schmidt. His art style remains very animated and fun. While the color profile continues to deliver on its stunning cinematic tone and lighting, I have notice a drop in craftsmanship. More than a few panels don’t hold up under scrutiny. The color seems a bit more rushed leading to bleeds outside of the line art. There is even a frame where one of Punchline’s vampire goons is missing a hand. While I’m incredibly biased on Schmidt, I don’t believe any of the shortcomings affect the ability to enjoy the book overall.
Recommended If…
- DC Vs. Vampires has got you by the blouse with every issue tightening it’s glamour.
- In search of good vampire fiction just in time for Halloween.
- You too have been waiting for Cole Cash to do something (anything!).
Overall
The bad news is that this issue convinces me that the tie-ins have absolutely diminishes the quality of the series. The books may each have their individual merits, but every attempt to connect them has resulted in unnecessary anachronisms. In better news, Otto Schmidt’s art might be slipping here and there, but every page is still gorgeous. The various teams and characters are entertaining and the icky vampires are still creative. Despite it’s flaws, there are more reasons than not to stay tuned in to DC Vs. Vampires. I hope things continue to come together as we approach the end.
Score: 7.5/10
Disclaimer: DC Comics provided Batman News a free copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
