10 Best Blade Stories in Comics

In simpler terms, Blade is a well-known character from Marvel Comics who has evolved significantly since his debut. Initially appearing as a supporting character in “The Tomb of Dracula” #10, he was initially written with stereotypical dialog typical of Black characters prevalent in comics during the 70s. However, his dialogue underwent significant changes when he received his own series, which primarily focused on horror themes. In the 90s, Blade’s character took a turn to resemble Wesley Snipes’ portrayal of him in movies. Nowadays, Blade is considered an A-list Marvel hero, and in 2025, he was even the focus of a major event series dedicated to his character.

Moving on from the unique series of events he was part of, let’s delve into some of Blade’s finest tales in Marvel Comics, which also include his stints on the Tomb of Dracula and his standalone series.

10) Blood Hunt (2024)

2024 saw Marvel Comics launching an event series titled “Blood Hunt“. Contrary to expectations, this series did not star Blade as the protagonist but rather transformed him into Marvel’s deadliest antagonist. The story commenced with the Darkforce Dimension spilling onto Earth, obscuring the sun. As the superheroes discovered, Blade was leading a vampire assault on Earth. The shocking revelation was that Varnae, one of Blade’s most formidable adversaries, had taken control of the hero and turned him against the Marvel Universe. This series intertwined with various titles such as Avengers, Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Strange Academy comics featuring Doctor Strange, among others. Although Blade became a significant figure in Marvel Comics, this event series received mixed reviews and fell short of other recent epic storylines.

9) Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973)

For the first time in Marvel Comics, Blade made his debut in issue #10 of “Tomb of Dracula” in 1973. This comic book series was one of Marvel’s initial forays into horror comics following the loosening of rules by the Comics Code Authority. The creative team opted to incorporate Dracula into the storyline. Blade, a new character, emerged after Marv Wolfman joined the series and started shaping its direction. His entrance was impressive, as he strutted in wearing his signature leather jacket and sunglasses, swiftly taking out a couple of vampires with his wooden stakes. In this storyline, Blade proved to be an excellent adversary for Dracula, demonstrating from the get-go that he could hold his ground against the world’s strongest vampire. This also hinted at Blade’s solitary nature, as he showed no regard for other vampire hunters.

8) Tomb of Dracula #53 (1977)

Marv Wolfman decided to keep Blade out of Tomb of Dracula until he could craft a distinct character, avoiding stereotypical portrayals. When Blade eventually reappeared, he was more powerful than ever and became one of Dracula’s most relentless adversaries. In issue #53 of Tomb of Dracula, Blade was deceased, prompting Hannibal King to seek help from Daimon Hellstrom to resurrect him. This led to the elimination of a doppelganger who had taken Blade’s place. After this, Hannibal and Blade pursued Deacon Frost, three characters who later gained fame in the Blade movies of the following two decades. This story is noteworthy as it offers an interesting glimpse into how these characters were depicted before they entered the movie realm.

7) Avengers (Vol. 8) #45 (2021)

During the 2020s, Blade joined the ranks of the Avengers officially, having previously worked with them as Ronin in the New Avengers. He now stood alongside heavyweights like Black Panther, Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor. However, his membership raised complications post the “King in Black” saga. With Knull vanquished, Black Panther found himself facing a new menace – Dracula, who mobilized his vampires to aid the heroes against Knull. Post the battle, Blade took it upon himself to eliminate the vampires that had contributed to their victory, creating a conundrum for the Avengers. This predicament offered an intriguing exploration into how the Avengers navigated this situation and how Blade effectively became Dracula’s sheriff in his newly established kingdom.

6) Wolverine vs. Blade #1 (2019)

In 2019, there was a one-off comic book titled “Wolverine versus Blade” which pitted the formidable vampire hunter against the deadliest member of the X-Men, Wolverine. This graphic novel is among Marvel’s mature titles and contains intense violence and gore. It begins with Blade and Wolverine brutally eliminating a temple filled with vampire cultists. Six months later, both characters are lured back into the same cult, where they find out that their main adversary is Varkis, a messiah for the vampires, who was once a mutant and then transformed into a vampire. They also uncover a prophecy predicting them fighting each other to defeat Varkis. The storyline is intelligent, offers exciting action sequences between Wolverine and Blade, and features stunning artwork by Dave Wilkins.

5) Spirits of Vengeance #1-5 (2017-2018)

In this supernatural tale, Johnny Blaze’s Ghost Rider embarks on a quest to find an undercover angel’s slayer, a move that could tip the scales in the ongoing conflict between Heaven and Hell. However, he’s not fighting this battle solo; instead, he assembles a new team to track down the killers. The lineup includes Blade, Daimon Hellstrom, and Satana. The antagonist, Necrodamus, aims to eliminate the archangel Michael during the Covenant, an action that would permanently shift the balance towards Hell by sealing Heaven off forever. This series showcased our four demonic heroes taking on Hell and even Satan himself in a valiant effort to save the world from impending doom. It also pushed Blade into uncharted territory, elevating him beyond his usual capabilities.

4) Marvel Preview #3 (1975)

Initially, some impressive early portrayals of Blade occurred in Tomb of Dracula, but his origin was first revealed in Marvel Premiere. In a battle against vampires, he unintentionally kills a human girl, which pushes him to a point he thinks is irreversible and makes him a fugitive. Yet, Blade is determined to protect the only person he values, while also prepared to surrender once his mission is complete. Fortunately, a psychic named Kate Fraser discovered the truth, and Blade confided in her about his transformation into a vampire slayer (this was before his origin was revised as a Daywalker, but his mother’s death remains consistent). This comic book is oversized, featuring a novel-length narrative penned by Chris Claremont, making it one of Blade’s most epic tales.

3) Blade: The Vampire-Hunter #1-10 (1994-1995)

1994 saw the release of the comic book series titled “Blade: The Vampire Slayer,” which was part of the Marvel Comics’ “Nightstalkers” series. This 10-issue run laid the groundwork for the Blade movie franchise, debuting four years later. In this inaugural ongoing series, characters such as Hannibal King, Deacon Frost, and Dracula were introduced, many of which made their way to the big screen. Despite his desire for a tranquil retirement, Blade was forced to continue his vampire-hunting mission due to the return of Dracula and Deacon Frost. The series concluded on a suspenseful note, hinting at Blade’s impending cinematic stardom within Marvel Comics.

2) Blade (Vol. 5) #1-12 (2006)

In 2006, the outstanding fifth volume of Blade’s Marvel Comics saga was launched, delving profoundly into Blade’s personal history. This series not only shed light on his past but also introduced his vampire father, Lucas Cross, and brought him face-to-face with superheroes he had never encountered before. Some pivotal events include assaults on the Helicarrier and a time-travel adventure where Blade rescues Cynthia Von Doom, who is pregnant with none other than Doctor Doom at the time. Each installment of this series includes flashbacks to Blade’s past that echo the present narrative, providing unprecedented insight into his life compared to any other series he has featured in, both before and after this run.

1) Blade: Crescent City Blues (1998)

Among all of his solo series in Marvel Comics, the 2006 Blade series stands out as his best ongoing one. However, the most outstanding story featuring this character was a one-shot from 1998 titled Blade: Crescent City Blues. This followed his well-received 1996 series and introduced a notable alteration to the Blade character. This comic book served as a minor reboot, transforming Blade into the version portrayed by Wesley Snipes. The creative duo of Christopher Golden and Gene Colan, who co-created Blade, was responsible for this tale. It brought back Deacon Frost, Hannibal King, and even Safron Caulder, Blade’s former love interest, all of whom had been resurrected. This story became a heartfelt tribute to the character of Blade while also setting a new course that increased his popularity significantly.

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2025-08-10 20:22