Summary
- Damian Wayne defies Batman's "No-Kill Rule" in a badass variant cover ahead of the release of Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt’s returning Elseworlds series.
- Riley Rossmo's variant cover is as bloodthirsty as it is badass and shows Damian in peak vampire-slayer mode.
- Robin's existence proves why Batman's "No-Kill Rule" should apply to vampires.
In official art teasing the sequel to the fan-favorite DC vs. Vampires series, Batman’s “No-Kill Rule.” While the typical rules governing the operations of the Bat-Family may not always apply to Elseworlds stories, it's doubtful that the Dark Knight would endorse Damian Wayne’s return to killing, even if it's against undead vampires. Yet, whether he would have his late father’s approval or not, there’s no denying the badassery of this bloodthirsty variant cover.
With a gleeful, fanged smile adorning his face and bloodied katanas in hand, it's evident that Robin is responsible for these vampire slayings, resulting in an exceptionally memorable variant cover.
On August 14, 2024, Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt’s critically acclaimed Elseworlds series returns with DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1. This debut issue marks the beginning of a 12-part series that will expand upon the storylines introduced in DC vs. Vampires and DC vs. Vampires: All Out War while also reintroducing beloved characters like vampire Damian Wayne.
DC VS. VAMPIRES: WORLD WAR V #1 (2024) |
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Release Date: |
August 14, 2024 |
Writers: |
Matthew Rosenberg |
Artists: |
Otto Schmidt |
Cover Artist: |
Otto Schmidt |
Variant Covers: |
Riley Rossmo, Homare, Steve Beach, Jae Lee, June Chung, and Nikola Čižmešija |
DC vs. Vampires was the brutal first chapter in a larger war for the fate of Earth! In this sequel by Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt, sunlight is restored to the Earth, but was it too late? As a new Ice Age dawns, humanity faces their most deadly threat yet—Barbara Gordon Queen of the Vampires! |
Damian has already proven his readiness to kill vampires in previous installments, but a new variant cover by artist Riley Rossmo teases that fans can anticipate even more brutal vampire slayings from the Boy Wonder as he continues to disregard of Batman’s “No-Kill Rule."
Want to catch up on the bestselling world of DC vs. Vampires ? DC vs. Vampires Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 , DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War Part 1 and Part 2 are now available!
Damian Wayne Breaks Batman’s “No-Kill Rule” With Twin Katanas in Art for Vampire War
Rossmo’s variant cover depicts Damian adorned in his signature red, green, yellow, and black Robin colors, wielding twin katanas—a weapon closely associated with the character but seen less frequently in recent main continuity stories. Therefore, the resurgence of this character-specific weapon is more than welcome. However, the most attention-grabbing aspect of this cover isn’t the Boy Wonder’s swords but rather the assortment of decapitated vampire body parts cascading around Damian. With a gleeful, fanged smile adorning his face and bloodied katanas in hand, it's evident that Robin is responsible for these vampire slayings, resulting in an exceptionally memorable variant cover.
Despite unfolding on Earth-63 and being an Elseworlds tale, the Bat-Family adhered to No-Kill Rule. However, the emergence of vampires prompted the surviving of the Bat-Family to reassess this rule. Yet, even killing soulless vampires illustrates why most incarnations of Batman refuse to take a life under any circumstances—killing leads down a slippery slope. This is explicitly demonstrated in DC vs. Vampires Vol. 2 when Damian kills Two-Face, who was not a vampire. By doing so, Robin underscores Batman’s argument that the threshold for who is deemed acceptable to kill continues to shift further and further.

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Sorry, Robin: But You’re Proof Why Vampires Should Fall Under Batman’s “No-Kill Rule”
From Batman's traditional perspective, there's an argument for why vampires should fall under his “No-Kill Rule.” This argument is exemplified by Damian Wayne and Kate Kane. Despite both being vampires, they have demonstrated that the vampire race as a whole isn't inherently malevolent and can coexist without posing a threat to humanity. Damian's affection for Alfred Pennyworth and his enduring grief over the loss of much of his family further underscore that his humanity remains intact. Therefore, it's likely that if Batman were still alive, he would view Robin's killing of vampires as a significant transgression of his moral code.

10 Saddest Deaths in DC Vs. Vampires (And Why They Should Have Lived)
DC vs. Vampires and its follow-up All-Out War have delivered many heartbreaks; with another sequel coming, here are the 10 saddest deaths so far.
DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1 will be released on August 14, 2024, from DC Comics!

- Alias
- Bruce Wayne
- FIRST APP
- Detective Comics #27 (1939)
- Created By
- Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Franchise
- D.C.
- Race
- Human
- First Appearance
- Detective Comics
One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.