Mild Mannered Reviews - DC vs. Vampires Comic Books
DC vs. Vampires #2 [of 12]
Scheduled to arrive in stores: November 23, 2021Cover date: January 2022
"Blood and Sand"
Writer: James Tynion IV and Matthew Rosenberg
Artist: Otto Schmidt
Cover: Otto Schmidt
Variant Covers: Francesco Mattina
Reviewed by: Craig Boehmer
Click to enlarge
Green Lantern kills Anton Arcane and has a brief meeting with the head vampire who chastises him for allowing a warning about the vampires to get out. The scene then changes to the Bat family gathering in Bruce's home in costume, in the sunlight, where Batman reviews with them the seriousness of the vampire uprising. He then recruits them and gives them weapons specific for fighting vampires. He reveals that the tea was made with holy water as a test to see if any of them were infected. Interspersed with these scenes a group of villains are meeting in a park. They are discussing the disappearances of many lower-level villains. Green Arrow approaches them to talk about the vampire uprising. At first, they don't believe him, but he reveals that one of their numbers (Everyman) is a vampire, and swiftly kills him. The final scene shows Barry and Hal meeting on a beach. Hal warns Barry of an impending war and tells him that he would have preferred to change him, but it would have led to the death of everyone. So instead, Hal kills Barry.
Story - 5: These alternate world stories are incredibly fun. Tynion IV and Rosenberg nail the Bat family interactions, balancing each of the characters personalities off each other. Dick and Barbara come across as lighthearted veterans, while Jason provides a nice counterpoint with his more violent vigilante tendencies. A great group moment. Hal is written well in this story, he maintains some of his more traditional characterization, and even when killing Barry, you can still see the remnants of their relationship together.
Art - 5: The art is much crisper in this issue, the colors really pop and bring these characters to life. The crispness and color allow the narrative to flow better.
Cover Art - 3: This cover is adequate. The colors are muted in the background. Batman is dark, strong and brooding. But there just isn't any pizzazz to it that screams "pick me up and read me!"
Variant Cover Art - 5: This cover is fantastic. The green energy rippling around Hal gives him a very demonic and rageful look. The thin red line streaming from his eye is a nice touch as well. This is a great cover.
Mild Mannered Reviews
2021
Note: Except for digital first releases, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.January 2021
- Superman #27
- Action Comics #1027
- Batman/Superman #14
- Justice League #56
- Justice League #57
- Young Justice #20
- Legion of Super-Heroes #11
- DCeased: Dead Planet #5
- Dark Nights: Death Metal #5
- Justice League: Endless Winter #1
- Superman: Endless Winter #1 [of 1]
- Superman #28
- Justice League #58
- Action Comics #1028
- Batman/Superman #15
- DCeased: Dead Planet #6 [of 6]
- Dark Nights: Death Metal #6 [of 6]
- Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
- DC's Very Merry Multiverse #1
- Challenge of the Super Sons #4
- Challenge of the Super Sons #5
- Justice League: Endless Winter #2
- Legion of Super-Heroes #12
- Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1
- Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1
- Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #1
- Future State: Justice League #1
- Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #1
- Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #1
- Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #1
- Future State: Batman/Superman #1
- Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights - Metal #1
- DCeased: Dead Planet #7
- Dark Nights: Death Metal #7
- Challenge of the Super Sons #6
- Challenge of the Super Sons #7
- Challenge of the Super Sons #8
- Challenge of the Super Sons #9
- Truth & Justice #4
- Future State: Superman of Metropolis #2
- Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #2
- Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #2
- Future State: Justice League #2
- Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #2
- Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #2
- Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #2
- Future State: Batman/Superman #2
- Future State: Superman: House of El #1
- Challenge of the Super Sons #10
- Challenge of the Super Sons #11
- Challenge of the Super Sons #12
- Challenge of the Super Sons #13
- Challenge of the Super Sons #14
- Truth & Justice #5
- Truth & Justice #6
- Infinite Frontier #0
- Crime Syndicate #1
- Superman #29
- Action Comics #1029
- Superman: Red and Blue #1 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #16
- Justice League #59
- Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #3
- Superman by Grant Morrison Omnibus HC
- Superman #30
- Action Comics #1030
- Superman: Red and Blue #2 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #17
- Justice League #60
- Crime Syndicate #2
- Superman #31
- Action Comics #1031
- Superman: Red and Blue #3 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #18
- Justice League #61
- Justice League: Last Ride #1
- Crime Syndicate #3
- Superman #32
- Action Comics #1032
- Superman: Red and Blue #4 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #19
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1 [of 8]
- Justice League #62
- Justice League #63
- Justice League: Last Ride #2
- Crime Syndicate #4
- Infinite Frontier #1
- Action Comics Annual 2021
- Action Comics #1033
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #1
- Superman: Red and Blue #5 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #20
- Superman & The Authority #1 [of 4]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #2 [of 8]
- Justice League #64
- Justice League #65
- Crime Syndicate #5
- Justice League: Last Ride #3
- Infinite Frontier #2
- Infinite Frontier #3
- Justice League Infinity #1
- Action Comics #1034
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #2
- Batman/Superman #21
- Batman/Superman 2021 Annual #1
- Superman: Red and Blue #6 [of 6]
- Superman & The Authority #2 [of 4]
- Superman '78 #1 [of 6]
- Superman vs. Lobo #1 [of 3]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #3 [of 8]
- Justice League #66
- Justice League: Last Ride #4
- Justice League Infinity #2
- Crime Syndicate #6
- Infinite Frontier #4
- Infinite Frontier #5
- Action Comics #1035
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #3
- Batman/Superman #22
- Superman & The Authority #3 [of 4]
- Superman '78 #2 [of 6]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #4 [of 8]
- Justice League #67
- Justice League #68
- Justice League: Last Ride #5
- Justice League Infinity #3
- Infinite Frontier #6
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #4
- Superman & The Authority #4 [of 4]
- Justice League: Last Ride #6
- Justice League Infinity #4
- DC vs. Vampires #1 [of 12]
Back to the Mild Mannered Reviews contents page.
Check out the Comic Index Lists for the complete list of Superman-related comics published in 2021.