Blade: Red Band Preview Starts a Bloody New Era for Marvel's Vampire Hunter (Exclusive)

As a seasoned gamer and longtime Marvel fan, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia when it comes to Blade. The iconic vampire hunter has always been one of my favorites, with his sharp wit, unmatched skill, and penchant for making the undead quake in their boots. But after the tumultuous events of Blood Hunt, I’ve found myself wondering if there’s anything left of the Blade we once knew.

In this analysis, we delve into Blade’s path towards atonement as he grapples with the aftermath of his role in Marvel’s recent crossover event, Blood Hunt. As you may recall, Blade, Marvel’s infamous vampire slayer, was taken over by Varnae, the original vampire, leading to a vampire insurgency across the Marvel Universe. His own daughter, Bloodline, teamed up with Earth’s strongest superheroes to put an end to Blade and free him from Varnae’s control. However, Blade remains haunted by his past deeds. The next phase of his redemption story unfolds here, commencing with a mature-rated sneak peek.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve just got a scoop on an exciting new comic series – “Blade: Red Band” #1! This thrilling miniseries, penned by Bryan Hill, illustrated by C.F. Villa, inked by Java Tartaglia, and lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles, is exclusively unveiled by ComicBook. Following the success of the red band editions of “Blood Hunt,” Marvel is continuing the trend with this captivating Blade spin-off that stems from their vampire-focused event. The recap page reveals that although Blade’s body has recuperated from “Blood Hunt,” his body and psyche are still grappling with the chaos and carnage he unleashed.

Blade moved to Lupui Island, a southeastern Asian island infamously called the “Island of the Forgotten,” which is often inhabited by criminals and individuals seeking anonymity. Now, he lives self-sufficiently, catching and consuming fish for sustenance. When he visits town, he trades with merchants for steel. Although we’re unsure about Blade’s intentions for the steel, he has begun shaping some of it while also enduring the intense heat as he works on it.

What happened to Blade in Marvel’s Blood Hunt?

The six-issue series titled “Blood Hunt,” penned by Jed MacKay and illustrated by Pepe Larraz, was a significant event. Additional tie-ins and miniseries were also developed from “Blood Hunt.” This storyline had profound effects on the Marvel Universe, primarily due to Blade being controlled by the first vampire, Varnae. Some of Blade’s initial villainous acts included transforming Doctor Strange, Black Panther, and Miles Morales into vampires, enveloping the Earth in the Darkforce Dimension to dim the sun for uninhibited vampire activities, and unleashing the formidable super-vampire group known as the Bloodcoven.

In the middle of the story Blood Hunt, readers learned that Blade was being possessed, much to the relief of his fans who were worried he might betray his allies in the Avengers. The heroes managed to secure victory, but not without some lasting repercussions. Doctor Doom managed to subdue the Darkforce Dimension following the transfer of Doctor Strange’s powers as Sorcerer Supreme. However, instead of passing the mantle back, Doctor Doom decided to keep it for himself, setting up 2025’s “One World Under Doom” publishing project.

In the end, Doctor Strange and Black Panther managed to break free from their vampire-like conditions, leaving only Miles Morales still afflicted with the vampirism. Additionally, it’s now established that vampires are immune to sunlight.

What is Blade: Red Band #1 about?

For quite some time, BLADE has been the deadliest vampire slayer across the Marvel Universe. Wielding an array of wooden stakes, silver bullets, and sharp bat-like weapons, few have experienced revenge as intensely as BLADE does, tasting both blood and vengeance. However, following the traumatic events of BLOOD HUNT, one may question what remains of Marvel’s most notorious vampire. Did any vampiric essence within Blade survive? Has any part of the man endured? Uncover the answers as we delve into the gripping start of a fresh, blood-soaked chapter in Blade’s story!

Here’s the first look at “Blade: Red Band #1″! You can grab a copy starting this coming Wednesday, October 9th.