/9.jpg "DC vs. Vampires #9")
Road trip! Our heroes split up and spread out across the globe to prepare for the final strikes against the vampire kingdom! Will Green Arrow's mission force him to battle one of his oldest friends? What horrors await the Birds of Prey inside the ruins of Gotham? And does Black Manta's secret mean a watery grave for Supergirl?
At this point, I'm probably repeating myself, but I loved this issue. It's a testament of the writers' skill (a surprisngly good combo, personally) that this issue is mostly told through action scenes yet it still manages to keep what makes the series so engaging. Suspense, black comedy, genuinely good twists and reveals (oh, that Black Manta moment was really well done) and the little character moments (Steel and Kara, Green Arrow and Grifter (!), Aquaman pausing for a second when he sees you-know-who *and* that you-know-who answering exactly how you'd expect).
Supergirl is probably the best addition to this second half, because I'm really invested in her fight. She's probably the most traditional superhero left in the setting and I love how she's still fighting for their friends souls (not just to win). The writers have managed to capture her earnestness and personality in a way that makes perfect sense for this setting and actually enriches it with the contrast. Kudos. Oh, and I loved that little cliffhanger with her. That last moment in the ocean was haunting.
© 2025
Both Tynion and Rosenberg have said that Tynion wrote most of the plot even before Rosenberg came in. And Rosenberg has said that the Batfamily/Birds of Prey/Barbara Gordonstuff is by Tynion.