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DC vs Vampires: All-Out War #2
- Writer:
- Matthew Rosenberg, Alex Paknadel
- Artist:
- Pasquale Qualano
- Letterer:
- Troy Peteri
- Cover Artist:
- Alan Quah
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-08-16
- Colorist:
- Nicola Righi
Vampires have overrun the world, painting the land red with blood and darkening the skies with fumes, giving them cover to march on with absolute impunity. Instead of the traditional hero and villain camps, the DC vs. Vampires series divides the metahuman community into vampires and humans, pitting bloodthirsty evil against the resilient spirit of mortals. The title has spawned several spin-off one-shots and an ongoing miniseries from DC, with the latter depicting a parallel storyline about a splinter resistance group who have inadvertently unearthed the secret to curing vampirism. Written by Alex Paknadel, Matthew Rosenberg, and Emma Vieceli with artwork from Pasquale Qualano, Nicola Right, and lettering from Troy Peteri, DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War #2 takes matters from bad to worse for the ragtag team.
DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War #2 opens with a recap of the previous issue's cliffhanger ending and the terrible loss it leaves in its aftermath. When a turned Grant Emerson, aka Damage, explodes inside the resistance base, hundreds of rebels lose their lives. With Deathstroke learning about the Lazarus pits' potential to cure vampirism, John Constantine takes the remainder of the team to the League of Assassin's Chicago base. Constantine tries to make his case, pleading Talia al Ghul to give up the other Lazarus locations. But everything changes when the Vampires led by Wonder Woman make a surprise attack using the sewers. The backup story, "Dark Birth," tells the Vampire King's origin story for the first time.
DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War #2 starts off with scenes of death and destruction everywhere, warning readers of the violent nature of the tale they are about to read. But it goes further than that, mixing drama and suspense to invigorate the enjoyability of an otherwise cliched trope. The rising conflict ups the ante, propelling the story through exciting twists and turns that expedite the pace and make headway into bigger and worse developments. Constantine plays a central role. Through him, readers get acquainted with new plot points as he brings new characters into the fold and provides updates on the ones still alive. Writers Alex Paknadel and Matthew Rosenberg let the action do most of the heavy lifting while deftly smuggling in emotional moments that give the book depth without interfering with the unpredictable outcomes.
Artists Pasquale Qualano and Nicola Righi give the DC vs. Vampires franchise the black, white, and red treatment. The intricately drawn lines frame the characters all around the panels in sweeping style, some deep in thought, as others revel in the bloodshed, showing their propensity for evil. Shadows play a vital role in bringing out the desperation and madness, splattering debris and blood over the panels. The striking red tones spread in the air and attack the senses with the gusto of blood.
DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War #2 is a wild ride from start to finish that heats up the plot with its frenetic final act, ending things with a bang. Despite the chaotic scenes, every character gets a chance to shine as Paknadel and Rosenberg make room for everyone's voice to be heard. While it's exciting to see Mary decimate vampire armies with the inherent innocence of a child (no doubt a coping mechanism), Azrael's inner strife at his failure to subdue his vampiric thirst adds another layer to an issue rife with personal struggles. DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War #2 ends on an ominous note that will keep the audience in suspense.