-
DC vs. Vampires #6
- Artist:
- Daniele Di Nicuolo, Otto Schmidt, Simone Di Meo
- Colorist:
- Rex Lokus, Otto Schmidt
- Cover Artist:
- Otto Schmidt
- Letterer:
- Tom Napolitano
- Price:
- 3.99
- Publisher:
- DC Comics
- Release Date:
- 2022-03-29
- Writer:
- Matthew Rosenberg, James Tynion IV
The plague of vampirism is spreading fast through the DC Comics universe, digging its fangs into metahumans, aliens, and demigods alike. The few heroes left can do nothing to stop the invasion. The only two non-powered individuals on the Justice League roster, Batman and Green Arrow, have teamed up to fight the bloodsucking army, but Green Lantern's treachery continues behind the scenes and this time turns the entire League against the duo. However, they are not the only ones following the trail of blood as the Suicide Squad finds out about the sinister plot in the worst way possible. Written by James Tynion IV and Matthew Rosenberg with artwork from Otto Schmidt, Simone Di Meo, Daniele Di Nicuolo, and Rex Lokus and lettering by Tom Napolitano, DC vs. Vampires #6 brings the Vampire King out of the shadows in a climactic tale.
A massive war is brewing in DC vs. Vampires #6 and humanity is losing hope, night by night. After defeating the Justice League and the vampires among their ranks, Batman and Green Arrow make a daring escape with the help of the Bat-Family, all battered and bruised. They regroup on the outskirts of the city to devise a strategy. Danger, however, seems to have followed like gum stuck to a shoe. In true Batman fashion, the heroes find a way out of their predicament, but can they find out the traitor in their midst before it's too late?
DC vs. Vampires #6 continues the breakneck pace of the previous issue, in an action-driven tale that generates enough horror to keep the story rooted in suspense. The tag team of writers James Tynion IV and Matthew Rosenberg has crafted a no holds barred Elseworlds story where nobody is safe from the bloodthirst of the heinous creatures of the night. The story not only leans into the usual trappings of vampiric lore, with the same strengths and weaknesses seen in popular culture, but it also changes up established tropes to make room for new plot points incorporating superhero mythos. The story moves back and forth between two narratives, creating an immersive experience where both the reader and the characters observe events simultaneously. Despite its engrossing narrative, the story rushes to find a conclusion and relies too heavily on its deus ex machina.
The prolific Otto Schmidt works alongside a band of up-and-coming artists to create a blindingly colorful aesthetic in an otherwise dark comic book. Schmidt takes on art and coloring duties for the main storyline, using his anime-inspired artwork to enrich the world with an ample amount of shadow and colors. Meanwhile, the stylized art of Di Meo and Di Nicuolo portrays the misadventures of the Suicide Squad, bringing a dichotomy of art styles to the book. Di Meo is known for his low-angle shots and diagonal paneling and uses them to good effect. Colorist Rex Lokus overexposes the panels in a soft yellow glow and adds rotation blur with sparks flying across the pages to give this action-packed issue a new dimension.
DC vs. Vampires #6 is heavy on the action, which plays a huge role in propelling the story forward, but the approach feels heavy-handed at times. While DC Comics has rich vampire lore, it has often been side-lined in lieu of superhero titles. The DC vs. Vampires limited series tries to bring back the horror and takes inspiration from a long-forgotten '80s storyline I…Vampire, borrowing several plot points from said series. Meanwhile, this book raises more questions than it answers and leaves several narrative plays open, all of which will certainly be tied together in the future but seem inexplicable for now. DC vs. Vampires #6 ends on an intriguing cliffhanger with the death of a major DC Comics character. As the world is engulfed in darkness, fans of the series will find this issue an entertaining read till the last panel.