DC vs. Vampires #5 Review

 

Vamping It Up

Writer: Matthew Rosenberg, James Tynion IV

Artist: Simone Di Meo, Otto Schmidt

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: February 22, 2022

After not liking the first issue much, this series has become one of my favorites.  It is on my $25 Do-or-Die Pull List (see our podcast if you are interested in what that is), and I look forwards to each issue as they come out.  So, does this issue continue upping the ante for me?  Let's find out!

The issue opens with the Suicide Squad hitting Gotham with a few nights to kill, but unfortunately, they don't seem to realize what they are up against.  But, of course, Amanda Waller does and tells them to stick with the plan... find and kill vampire Joker.  We don't see the Joker in the issue, but I still think this is Rosenberg swerving us as to who the actual head vamp is.  I still think it's Dick Grayson, but time will tell.

While this is going on, we get the continuation of the last issue's cliffhanger with the Justice League confronting Batman and Green Arrow in the Batcave.  There are many cool things here, and Rosenberg plays off of everyone's suspicions about Batman vs. Batman's stubbornness to do anything the easy way.

Of course, Batman suspects everyone, and he and Ollie are on the attack.  Batman warned Ollie that he would have to kill people he loved and when it came down to it, he couldn't do it.  The cynic in me says that's because we are only at issue #5, but the guy who likes reading fun comics says that it was a feels moment and spot-on for Oliver, no matter what he promised Batman.

Back with the Suicide Squad, we see a compromised team in desperate need of help as we also see Batman sending some heavy-hitting possible allies away from where they can help.

I have enjoyed the art more and more as this series has progressed, but I found myself confused with what was going on multiple times in this issue.  A lot of the action pulls the camera in way too close, and moments that should feel more significant fall a little flat,

Besides that, I suspect this setup issue is getting things lined up for wow moments next issue that will set up the second half of the series.  Even though one moment might be a little too much, Rosenberg is having fun here, and Batman doesn't realize how much he has helped the vampires by the end.  However, we all know that Batman's plans have plans, so I only hope that is the case.

Make sure to listen to our Weekly DC Comics Recap and Review Podcast to hear us talk more about this book.  Just look up "Weird Science DC Comics" anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!

Bits and Pieces:

DC Vs. Vampires #5 is a down issue in a great series.  You'll have those now and again, but at least this sets up what should be a banger next issue.  Fight scenes dominate the issue, and unfortunately, the art makes a lot of what's going on hard to decipher.  This is still one of my favorite books coming out right now, but this issue was a bit disappointing.

7.0/10