Dampyr #105 (2008) pages 62-63: What is evil, anyway?

Using the power granted by Samael, Tess O'Day leads her friends through the painting connected to the underwater realm of the Vodník:

(Nikolaus from behind the Vodník) “A great and bitter truth…”

“Who?”

“…bad times are coming for you now! Tesla, Kurjak! Get the girl.”

(Harlan) “We'll take care of you, dandy in green.”

“Intruders! How is that possible?”

“You came!”

“Get away from him, Hanneke. And you, buddy… don't move.”

“A gun? Ha ha ha! This air bubble at the bottom of the Moldau will burst if you shoot, and you'll all drown except me... which will happen anyway, unless you leave immediately.”

“I definitely preferred it when you summoned him for romantic serenades, Nik. But is this really the same creature?” (Back in Dampyr #54, the Vodník played his violin while Harlan and Berthe were on a date.)

“The Vodník's nature is dual, Harlan. Or simply amoral. Tell me, my good fellow, do you consider yourself above good and evil?”

“Interesting question, Nikolaus. Indeed, these are human categories, while I… Ah, treachery! You tried to distract me, but you won't get out of here alive!”

Once again the heroes defeat the villain through cunning rather than brute force, distracting him with irrelevant questions about himself while they spirit his captive Hanneke away. But it is an interesting philosophical question, whether evil requires malice or simply indifference to human welfare.