I have loved DC vs. Vampires. The series has surprised with a lot of twists and turns. It has dived into the deep end bringing paranoia with it. You never know who has been turned and who’s next to be turned or outright killed. DC vs. Vampires: Hunters #1 seems to be set between the two halves of the main series acting as a nice reflection on what has happened and hinting at what’s to come.
It’s hard to review this issue without spoilers, so if you haven’t read the series up to this point, don’t go any further.
DC vs. Vampires left us with Nightwing being revealed as the Vampire King and his turned heroes and villains going on the attack and enveloping the world in darkness. Damian had been turned and Batman (among other heroes and villains) killed.
Matthew Rosenberg kicks the issue off with Damian seemingly a vampire on a mission hunting the remaining heroes and villains for the vampire nation. What’s soon revealed is despite his being turned, he’s still on the side of good secretly trying to stop Nightwing.
DC vs. Vampires: Hunters #1 is a fascinating issue giving us the resistance to the big bad empire. It’s a situation and concept we’ve seen so many times before but Rosenberg has something up his sleeve… rivalry. The issue plays off the rivalry between Damian and Dick as well as their connection to Alfred. It shows there’s more going on here than just a big bad, there’s something more to Nightwing’s big picture plan. It’s all laid out here creating a key issue for the event that many may skip thinking it’s a one-shot tie-in. No, it’s a pretty important issue!
The art by Neil Googe is good. It’s a bit different than the main series but still works pretty well. With color by Antonio Fabela and lettering by Troy Peteri, it’s strength is its action, humor, and shocking moments. Googe really nails down the framing of scenes and what to focus on to emphasize what’s going on. The rest of the team ups the quality with colors that pop and lettering that really emphasizes the action and emotion.
What stands out about DC vs. Vampires: Hunters #1 is its surprises. Much like the main series, the comic never quite goes in the direction you expect. It has shocking moments for sure, and there’s a body count, but it surprises the reader. More importantly, it points to a very intriguing second half of this series.
Story: Matthew Rosenberg Art: Neil Googe
Color: Antonio Fabela Letterer: Troy Peteri
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics– TFAW
Source: Graphic Policy
