DC has done an amazing job in its “Elseworlds” stories, taking familiar characters and putting them into new and different situations. DC vs. Vampires had me expecting a pretty straightforward story like DCeased but vampires instead of zombies. The series has surprised me with a slow build that has left me paranoid and guessing who has been turned and who will die next. With it being an “alternate” world, the creators can have fun taking it in directions that are unexpected. DC vs. Vampires #4 takes things in a familiar direction but at its core delivers another issue that’ll leave you guessing what’s next.
Written by James Tynion IV and Matthew Rosenberg, the series has kept readers guessing as to who has been turned and who to trust. There’s an underlying paranoia about each issue. You never know when a character will be revealed as having been turned into a vampire and what might happen from there. Hero. Villain. No one is safe in this series. We know the Justice League has been compromised with Hal Jordon now a vampire and recruiting from the team as well as sowing distrust with Batman who is on the trail figuring out who is a vampire.
The comic follows a lot of tropes we see a in comics. The heroes fight do a misunderstanding and then team-up. We’re left with a battle as a cliffhanger. But, it all works and works really well. Rosenberg and Tynion play off of everything they’ve built up to this point to keep us on our toes. As the battle commences at the end of the issue, I’m still left guessing who might be a vampire and who’s not. Has Hal turned even more individuals?
But, the duo also make sure to deliver a story with some heart too. It opens with a bit of a tragic event and a friendship that’s dysfunctional but endearing too. Despite the action of the series and it’s rather B-movie type concept, the series has delivered punches like that playing off of the nostalgia we have for so many of these characters. We don’t want to see them turned and if they do, we hope they can be saved instead of destroyed.
The art by Otto Schmidt continues to be fantastic. Along with Tom Napolitano on lettering, the comic looks fantastic delivering action, tension, and just damn good looking characters. Schmidt’s style is unique and the comic has a flair and look about it that makes it all stand out. It also helps keep the story rooted in its superhero boots. Too dark of a style and it’s horror, too light and it just doesn’t work. Schmidt has a balance that’s great and Napolitano’s lettering perfectly hits the beat for each major moment.
The worst thing about this series is there’s so much more to go. I want to find out what happens now! If this was collected, I’d be glued to my couch reading it in one sitting to enjoy and find out what’s next. But, each issue is played perfectly leaving readers hanging and guessing as to what’s going to happen next.
Story: James Tynion IV, Matthew Rosenberg Art: Otto Schmidt
Color: Otto Schmidt Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.45 Overall: 8.3 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW
Source: Graphic Policy
