Deathstroke is trying to resurrect one of DC’s greatest heroes to save the world in DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War.
Spinning out of the main DC vs. Vampires series, a preview for All-Out War‘s debut issue shows Deathstroke, Damage and Blue Devil exploring a cave in the Swiss Alps. At this point in time, it has been a year since the vampires seized control of the planet and blackened its skies, forcing human survivors into hiding. The trio discover a Lazarus Pit — capable of resurrecting the dead — within the cave, which Deathstroke intends to use to bring Batman back into the fight.
Batman was one of the first heroes to learn of the vampire threat and begin fending it off in secret with the Bat Family. However, he was murdered by Nightwing in DC vs. Vampires #6 after his protégé revealed himself to be the Vampire King and ordered his army to attack the world. Despite Blue Devil questioning, “Don’t Lazarus Pits mess with your head when they bring you back from the Great Beyond?” Deathstroke believes that having any Batman in the fight against the vampires is better than no Batman at all. Of course, the trio just so happen to stumble upon a former Batman at that exact moment.
DC VS. VAMPIRES: ALL-OUT WAR #1
- Written by MATTHEW ROSENBERG and ALEX PAKNADEL
- Art by PASQUALE QUALANO
- Backup written and drawn by GUILLAUME SINGELIN
- Cover by ALAN QUAH
- Variant cover by KAEL NGU
- 1:25 variant cover by JAMES STOKOE
- 1:50 variant cover by EJIKURE
- $3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 | Black and White | Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
- ON SALE 7/19/22
- One of the last secret, underground human cities is facing total annihilation and its leader—John Constantine—must plan a suicide mission to assassinate a key lieutenant in the vampire empire! Against unreal odds and with an unlikely team including Booster Gold, Deathstroke, and Mary Marvel, does the Hellblazer have one more trick up his sleeve?
- A gritty, violent, monochromatic companion series to DC vs. Vampires, this series will feature a brutal story with a cadre of talented creators delivering 32 pages of original content for $3.99!
Before they can submerge Batman in the pit’s rejuvenating waters, Azrael/Jean-Paul Valley emerges from the shadows, grabs Damage and bares his vampire fangs, which is where the preview ends. Azrael filled in as Batman during the “Knightfall” storyline from the ’90s, and art covers for All-Out War indicate that Azrael will be fighting alongside Deathstroke and his allies. The three-issue spinoff explores John Constantine leading Deathstroke, Booster Gold, Mary Marvel and others to kill a “key lieutenant in the vampire empire,” with Bane, Deadman, Talia al Ghul, Midnighter and Batwoman set to appear in the title as well.
What Hope Do DC’s Heroes Have Against Nightwing’s Vampire Empire?
The human resistance does have one vampire working for them already: Damian Wayne. Nightwing turned the young Robin into a vampire, though Damian continued to help Alfred Pennyworth and human survivors afterward. The real key to ending the vampire empire lies within Harley Quinn though, being that she injected herself with Lex Luthor’s blood, which contains vampire-killing properties. DC vs. Vampires #7 showed that Harley is currently being experimented on by Professor Pyg, the Thinker, Hugo Strange and Frankenstein to understand this ability, while the main series is set to run for 12 issues total.
DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War #1 is written by Matthew Rosenberg and Alex Paknadel with art by Pascal Qualando, colors by Nicola Righi and letters by Troy Peteri. Main cover art is done by Alan Quah with variant covers by Kael Ngu, James Stokoe and Ejikure. The issue also features a “Batgirl Hunts” backup story by Guillaume Singelin, and goes on sale July 19 from DC Comics.
Source: DC Comics