Stop trying to make me dislike vampires.
Normally, when I dislike something, I don’t bother writing about it. There’s no point, I’d rather write about something fun. But sometimes, oh, sometimes a gem comes along. Something that is so bad I feel almost obligated to share it with you. They lost me at, Superman and Batman Vs. Vampires and Werewolves. I’d rather scratch my nails down a chalkboard then ever say that title out loud again. Even saying it in my mind is making me twitch. The following are my issue-by-issue recaps of the mini-series previously published on GEN (and an early look at the last installment) with added scans for effect.I don’t have anything for the first because it was released before I started my column and there was no way I was going back to re-read it. Believe me, you’ll get the gist. (Note to readers: I am a big fan of vampires and I think werewolves are cool)
Issue #2 First issue it was actually Wonder Woman and Batman, this time it’s Batman and Nightwing though Superman finally makes an appearance on the very last page. Nightwing brings a werewolf to the Batcave where Batman already has a vampire captured and concluded is the real deal. Before passing out, the werewolf mentions Dr. Combs is behind his transformation. Batman heads to his office only to find him on the floor with an amphibious creature climbing out of his mouth. Dimeter, the vampire from last issue, helps to distract the creature so Batman can kill it. Too bad there’s something much bigger, with tentacles no less, up on the roof. Here’s hoping the team in the title of this book will do something interesting next time.
Issue #3 This limited series might be dragging it’s way through six issues but they manage to reference Lovecraft and Warcraft in this one so it’s can’t be all bad, right? Right?? Again, not much happens this issue but at least Superman is finally in it from the start. He’s busy trying to fight a giant fish/slug thing that happens to be magic while Batman tries getting more information out of the vampire Dimeter. Doctor Combs opened a door the the Land of the Un-Dead while trying to open a door the the Land of the (just) Dead. Superman slays a vampire who was attacking a young man and feels sorta bad about it, then he gets attacked by a werewolf who tells him and his friend to butt-out. Unfortunately, Combs gets to the young man Superman just saved before he can get back to him. Batman gets surrounded by vampires in the park but is saved by Green Arrow and Jason Blood. The preview says “thrilling conclusion” next but this is listed as a six-parter.
Issue #4 I can’t tell you how much I’m beginning to despise this book. Sadly I’m one of those people who must finish what she starts. In a hospital Superman finds Chadd, the young boy he failed to save. He’s in the process of stealing blood and Superman thinks he might be able to save him because he hasn’t fed yet. Green Arrow and Jason Blood show up just as some more werewolves attack. They try to kill Chadd but Superman prevents them from doing so. Batman says all his research has shown the condition is irreversible. He whispers Langstrom as Superman flies Chadd away to safety. Green Arrow explains Dr. Combs once tracked him down while looking for people who had died and come back to life. Dimeter shows up with a werewolf named Janko. He says they were the first of Combs’ experiments and they believe it can be reversed. Another gang of vampires and werewolves shows up and Blood must call on Etrigan for help. Combs also shows up and is caught but Etrigan says him, Dimeter and Janko are not what they seem.


Well there you have it. This series started around Halloween and seemed like a fun, appropriate concept title for the season and it might have had it been a one-shot or at most (I’ll be generous) three issues. Six were entirely unnecessary. For something called…I’m not going to write it again…it would have been nice if it actually focused on the two heroes it named. How could Superman not have shown up until the end of issue two? Why were there so many other heroes involved? Why did Batman not actually do anything important? I could go on and on. I’ve never read anything else by Kevin VanHook and this has guaranteed I won’t.
Don’t give up publishing stories about vampires and werewolves DC, just do it better next time.
Haha well Eric, I was writing them for my column and I felt it was best to describe accurately just how bad it was. I’ve know of those Batman stories you mentioned but I haven’t read any of them. I’ve heard good things though. Nice puns. :)
@Andy, I’ve come to realize through the years that vampire and werewolf stories can go horribly wrong at the drop of a hat.
You’re very welcome Prof!
This series sounds absolutely terrible… my wallet thanks you for the warning!
Damn you, DC! First the convulted mess of Final Crisis and now you mess up a story with Vampires AND werewolves in it?
Also, Man-Bat totally rocks the house. How can anything with Man-Bat suck?
For shame, DC.
Wow. I’m surprised you gave such detailed reviews for a series that appears to be just as bad as you say.
If you like Vampires and you likes da Batman, Jill, as I know you do, I recommend the Elseworlds Graphic Novel trilogy from ’91 or thereabouts, called Batman and Dracula: Red Rain, Bloodstorm, and Crimson Mist. Written by Doug Moench and lavishly illustrated by Kelley Jones.
I suspect you are familiar with it, but it is and has been one of my personal favorites not only of the Elseworlds line, but of Batman in general.
Back to the reviews, even with the appearance of Man-Bat, this series managed to “bite”? Pun intended. That sucks. Pun intended.