DC Vs. Vampires: World War V #1 & #2
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg, Tyler Boss
Artist: Otto Schmidt, Miquel Muerto
Color Artist: Pierluigi Casolino, Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Tom Napolitano, Becca Carey
Review by Davydh Tidey
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. The vamps are back – DC Vs. Vampires: World War V #1 & #2 are here!
My first review for this site was a complete retrospective for DC Vs Vampires, because I absolutely adored the first series. DC Vs. Vampires: All-Out War was a welcome addition to the universe, adding more context to the events of the main book and providing essential viewpoints of underground heroes and villains just trying to ride out the storm. I loved the way the two stories blended and worked together to tell a larger picture of this horrific dystopia.
And that ending in the main book? Class. Just class.
But, now we come to the promised sequel. Sans James Tynion IV as co-writer, writer Matthew Rosenberg is flying solo with artist Otto Schmidt to do it all over again!
A Horror Reimagined
“We came back to SAVE you!” – John Stewart
*SPOILERS FOR DC VS. VAMPIRES AND DC VS. VAMPIRES: ALL-OUT WAR AHEAD*
It’s a new world for our heroes and villains, as Batgirl settles into her new role as Queen of the Vampires. A delicate peace has been struck between vampire and human, but the days of war still haunt both sides of the conflict.
One rogue element threatens all that has been built (DC Vs. Vampires, especially the one-shot DC Vs. Vampires: Hunters, should give you a fairly large clue of who this element could possibly be). The humans face a tough decision; lean into the discord and capitalize on it, or cooperate with the vampires in an effort to flush it out.
A Turncoat Army Redirected
“It’s not us that needed saving.” – Wonder Woman
Everything people loved about the first two series is on show here in DC Vs. Vampires: World War V #1 & #2, from the breakneck horror action to the nuanced character work in the ways the various characters from the two factions interact. Remember, it’s not just hero vs. villain in this story; both sides have their fair share of both.
Old friends with long histories are now pitted against each other in a race for survival, and it truly is survival. The vampires aren’t clearly on the winning side, both sides have their troubles, and it’s a risk for either to act without igniting the situation. For all the advantages the vampires have, the humans are still more than capable of gaining the upper hand, should they so choose…
Their Humanity Rediscovered
“You have been calling me this whole time. I wasn’t ready to listen… I am now.” – Alfred Pennyworth
Matthew Rosenberg returning to write DC Vs. Vampires: World War V was the exact thing this series needed. It’s easy for a sequel series to lose momentum and lose what made it so special in the first place under a different creative team, and Rosenberg coming back has helped guarantee a sequel of equal, if not better, quality. Boy, does he prove that in these first two issues.
All the humor and drama I loved from WildC.A.T.S. and What’s The Furthest Place From Here? is on full display (we even get a little WildC.A.T.S. cameo in issue #2, as a treat), and it really quantifies why Rosenberg is one of my favorite writers. The knack he has for putting across natural human beings and making it genuinely entertaining is unmatched.
I didn’t think the twist ending of the main DC Vs. Vampires series could ever be matched, but the ending of issue #1? I applaud you, sir.
A Monarch Removed
“No. Everything’s fine in here, luv.” – John Constantine
Otto Schmidt also returns, bringing along colorist Pierluigi Casolino this time around. Just as I said for the last series, the art really lends itself well to the tone of the story. Shmidt’s facial expressions for the characters are just amazing, bringing that horrific element to the vampires without them even trying to be horrifying. There’s just something about the way they’re drawn that makes them seem unnatural, while the humans don’t have the same effect. Very cleverly done, and demands the readers pay attention.
Casolino’s colors really pop in this book, dictating the tone of every page. Muted and dull? Pay attention to the words being said. Bright and vibrant? Pay attention to the action on the page. It all feels very natural and earned, a lot of thought went into how these pages are presented, and it’s very much appreciated on the receiving end of the work.
A Parallel Being Remains
“Sorry, I’m sure whatever nonsense the narrator was saying was great, but have you seen Batman anywhere?” – Bat-Mite
As if you didn’t get enough of him in Batman / Superman: World Finest, here’s Bat-Mite! With hilarious commentary on the size of the Batfamily and extra-dimensional hijinks, Bat-Mite is here looking for Batman!
…with absolutely no clue what’s happening in the world. Sounds about right.
Tyler Boss has worked long enough with Matthew Rosenberg to know how to fit this side-story into his Vampiric world seamlessly, and that definitely shows. Continuing the humor from the main book, this tale is silly in all the right ways, contrasting well with the overall horror of the setting. Very nice to see the return of a character who’s been absent for a bit as well, after seemingly being disgraced in the main DCU. A great little touch!
Miquel Muerto reminds me very much of the likes of Javier Rodriguez and Tyler Boss himself, with his bold linework and block colors really adding to the ambience of the book. The story has its moments of vampire horror, but really leans into the goofiness of Bat-Mite and the contrast of his antics with the world they’re in now.
Conclusion
Rosenberg, Schmidt and Casolino bring the series back with a burst of sunlight, with Boss and Muerto telling their side-tale beautifully to compliment. I’ve missed the world of DC Vs. Vampires, and I’m glad to see it back in a way that feels completely natural. Of course this world would never recover from the damage done to it, even with the sort-of happy ending of the main series.
Did you really think Babs would be any better? Did you really think vampires could go against their nature? First and last mistake.
Moving forward I’ll be back to reviewing this series individually, so you nor I will miss a single moment! After all, every moment counts when you could be taken by the creatures of the night…
DC Vs. Vampires: World War V #1 & #2