- "No sign of any vampires. I wish this was like a Kristen Stewart type, all broody and sparkly."
- "Vampires don't sparkle."
- —Nate Heywood and Mick Rory on vampires[src]
Vampires are powerful undead supernatural creatures known for sucking blood. Multiple beings were suspected of vampirism, although most of these have not been proven.
Overview
The idea behind vampires was that of undead creatures lying in their coffins and needing blood to function. They were supposed to suck out the blood from a wound; made with two sharp teeth, a "bite mark" resembling that of a double syringe used in the 19th century by a follower of Mallus. Much later, in the 21st century, a drug dealer, Cecil Adams, became known as "The Count" for his use of the "vampire bite" device,[3] being connected to the legendary count Dracula, the main antagonist of Bram Stoker's "Dracula", a book read by Mick Rory over the course of the Legends' adventures in late 19th century London. Another fictional vampire, portrayed by Kristen Stewart, was mentioned by Nate Heywood as a "broody and sparkly" vampire type, although Mick disagreed on the fact that vampires can sparkle.[2] On Earth-TUD5, there is a fictional vampire named Looker.[4]
History
Original multiverse
Earth-1
In the 19th century England, vampires were wildly believed to be a possible occurrence responsible murders in London. The murders were investigated by Rip Hunter and the Legends and found out to be the work of Damien Darhk's followers and the worshiper of Mallus, the Order of the Shrouded Compass.
It is unknown whether vampires have ever been real, though a number of people were confused for one. Damien Darhk was thought to be a vampire "master", as he was getting blood transfusions into his coffin thanks to his followers.[2]
Cecil Adams used the vampire imagery as part of his gangster alter-ego.[3]
Lamashtu, a demonic goddess that feasted on the blood of infants, was disregarded by John Constantine as "a bit of a glorified vampire" and considering John's mastery of the topic of supernatural, it is possible that he was speaking from experience rather than from mythological knowledge.[1]
One example of a vampire is Crucifer, a vampire from an unnamed universe; who was fought several times by Breacher. Crucifer has a staff with a blade on it and is impervious to sunlight.[5]
A serial killer named Natalia Knight was mistakenly called a vampire by the Gotham Gazette. Her way of killing was to drain the victims' blood.[6]
New multiverse
Earth-Prime
It's implied Transilvanians are largely the source of Earth-Prime's Vampire mythology.[7]
A vampire named Noelle visited John Constantine's house and gave him the map to the Fountain of Imperium.[8]
Powers and abilities
Powers
- Immortality: Being undead, vampires are virtually immortal, though not invulnerable.[2]
- Conversion: Vampires are supposedly able to turn those that they bite into their own kind, unless the person is pierced with a wooden stake.[2]
- Superhuman strength: Vampires possess levels of raw strength that are far superior to humans.
- Superhuman speed: Vampires can move at vast speeds.[8]
- Superhuman durability: As a reanimated corpse, vampires cannot be harmed by guns, bladed weapons or physical attacks. But they can still be hurt and killed by wooden weapons due to their divine connection to the bloodsuckers.
- Superhuman senses: Vampires possess incredible senses of sight, hearing and smell far superior to humans.
- Hypnosis: Vampires most likely have the ability to mesmerize and control the minds of humans through eye contact, and force them to think and do whatever they want them to.
- Beast form: Vampires can shape shift their facial features to take on a more monstrous appearance, composed of glowing eyes, veiny faces and razor sharp fangs.
- Magic: Since their blood possesses mystical supernatural properties, some vampires can perform powerful magic. The vampire the Scarlet Lady has blood so potent, that her magic can only be accessed safely by other vampires.
Weaknesses
- Garlic intolerance: Garlic is supposed to guard one from a vampire.[2]
- Wooden stake: A wooden stake is supposed to remove a vampire's ability to rise from the dead.[2]
- Sunlight: Most vampires are weakened by sunlight.[8]
- House protection: Vampires cannot enter someone's home unless invited.[8]
Known vampires
Individuals mistaken for vampires
- Cecil Adams/The Count/Count Vertigo (by the police)
- Damien Darhk (by Nate Heywood)
- Lamashtu (by John Constantine)
- Natalia Knight/Nocturna (by the Gotham City Gazette)
Appearances
Arrow
Season 1
- "Vertigo" (mentioned)
The Flash
Season 1
- "Power Outage" (mentioned)
- "The Nuclear Man" (mentioned)
Season 4
Constantine
Season 1
- "The Saint of Last Resorts" (mentioned)
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Season 3
- "Return of the Mack" (pictured)
Season 4
- "Witch Hunt" (mentioned)
Season 6
Black Lightning
Season 1
- "Lawanda: The Book of Burial" (mentioned)
Batwoman
Season 1
- "Drink Me" (mentioned)
Superman & Lois
Season 2
- "All Is Lost" (mentioned)
Behind the scenes
- In mythology, a vampire is a being from folklore that subsists by feeding on the life essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires were undead beings that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths in the neighbourhoods they inhabited when they were alive.
- In the DC Comics continuity, vampires are a sub-set of the undead that have been appearing in the comics since at least 1935.