History Comicbook / Blade

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[[caption-width-right:350:The cover to ''Blade'' vol 2 #3.]]

A VampireHunter who debuted in ''ComicBook/TheTombOfDracula'' #10 (July, 1973). Blade grudgingly ended up working with the vampire detective Hannibal King against their common enemy, Deacon Frost and eventually joined up with the other surviving hunters in the book and ComicBook/{{Dracula|MarvelComics}}, to defeat [[RoboticPsychopath Doctor Sun]]. From there, Blade made occasional appearances in similarly themed Marvel comics such as ''ComicBook/DoctorStrange'', ''ComicBook/GhostRider'' and ''ComicBook/{{Morbius}}'' or in books like ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' whenever writers remembered him and had an excuse to use a vampire hunter. King became his best friend while Dracula remains one of his most hated foes.

Blade made regular appearances again during the ''ComicBook/MidnightSons'' story arc in the 1990s, which led to the character being featured on the then running [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries Spider-Man cartoon]], which gave Blade new powers. ''That'' led to a mildly successful [[Film/BladeTrilogy trilogy of movies]] based off the cartoon, best known for building enough confidence for Marvel to launch films of better named properties like ''Film/XMen1'' and ''Film/SpiderMan1.'' Attempts to reproduce that success for Blade in the comics failed but the adaptations did permanently change how the character would be used.

Initially he was tainted but mostly human, having a few of the vampire perks with drawbacks so few and negligible they were rarely mentioned at all. He's since gained more of the undead's strengths but has to deal with the issue of blood thirst. Mentally, his detachment from other people was traditionally presented as troubling and something he'd have to overcome. Now it's kind of accepted as who he is. After Marvel's ''ComicBook/CivilWar2006'' crossover event, the character has also been prone to show up in stories dealing with government organizations, such as the Vanguard in ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents'' and [=MI13=] that followed in the wake of ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion2008''.

Initially he was tainted but mostly human, having a few of the vampire perks with drawbacks so few and negligible they were rarely mentioned at all. He's since gained more of the undead's strengths but has to deal with the issue of blood thirst. Mentally, his detachment from other people was traditionally presented as troubling and something he'd have to overcome. Now it's kind of accepted as who he is. After Marvel's ''ComicBook/CivilWar2006'' crossover event, the character has also been prone to show up in stories dealing with government organizations, such as the Vanguard in ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents'' and [=MI13=] that followed in the wake of ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion''.

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The Creator/MarvelComics character of Blade has had several self-titled comic books:

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[[folder:Blade comic series]]
* ''ComicBook/BladeTheVampireHunter'' (1994) was a ten-issue ongoing series written by Ian Edginton.
* ''Blade'' Vol 1 (1998) was a one-shot written by Christopher Golden, with art by Gene Colan. It concerned Blade fighting against Deacon Frost, who was trying to take over as Lord of the Vampires from Dracula. It also includes Hannibal King, Safron Caulder, and Brother Voodoo.
* ''Blade'' Vol 2 (1998–1999) was a three-issue mini-series written by Don [=McGregor=], with art by Brian Hagen. It concerns Dominique Levant, a woman living in New Orleans who hires Blade to do a job. Things get complicated with the addition of Morbius the Living Vampire.
* ''ComicBook/{{Blade|2002}}'' Vol 3 (2002) was a six-issue Creator/MarvelMAX mini-series written by Christopher Hinz, with art by Steve Pugh. It concerns the Tryk, a new kind of vampiric creature that Blade encounters. The Tryk are fearless of vampires and actively hunt them, as well as the Seven, the AncientConspiracy that keeps the Tryk's numbers low.
* ''ComicBook/{{Blade|2006}}'' Vol 4 (2006–2007) was a twelve-issue series written by Marc Guggenheim, with art by Howard Chaykin. It follows a more case of the week structure, but it has the recurring antagonist of Lucas Cross, Blade's long-lost father, who is attempting to use his son to fulfill a prophecy.
* ''Wolverine vs. Blade'' (2019) is a one-shot featuring the titular heroes.
* ''ComicBook/BloodlineDaughterOfBlade'' (2023) is a five-issue limited series centered on Brielle, Blade's daughter, who's starting to come to terms with her heritage and powers.
* ''Blade: Vampire Nation'' (2022) is a one-shot exploring Blade's new role as sheriff of Dracula's titular vampire nation.
* ''ComicBook/{{Blade|2023}}'' Vol 5 (2023-) is an upcoming ongoing series, launching in July 2023.
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A VampireHunter who debuted in ''ComicBook/TheTombOfDracula'' #10 (July, 1973). Blade grudgingly ended up working with the vampire detective Hannibal King against their common enemy, Deacon Frost and eventually joined up with the other surviving hunters in the book and {{Dracula}}, to defeat [[RoboticPsychopath Doctor Sun]]. From there, Blade made occasional appearances in similarly themed Marvel comics such as ''ComicBook/DoctorStrange'', ''ComicBook/GhostRider'' and ''ComicBook/{{Morbius}}'' or in books like ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' whenever writers remembered him and had an excuse to use a vampire hunter. King became his best friend while Dracula remains one of his most hated foes.

Initially he was tainted but mostly human, having a few of the vampire perks with drawbacks so few and negligible they were rarely mentioned at all. He's since gained more of the undead's strengths but has to deal with the issue of blood thirst. Mentally, his detachment from other people was traditionally presented as troubling and something he'd have to overcome. Now it's kind of accepted as who he is. After Marvel's ''ComicBook/CivilWar2006'' crossover event the character has also been prone to show up in stories dealing with government organizations, such as the Vanguard in ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents'' and [=MI13=] that followed in the wake of ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion''.

Initially he was tainted but mostly human, having a few of the vampire perks with drawbacks so few and negligible they were rarely mentioned at all. He's since gained more of the undead's strengths but has to deal with the issue of blood thirst. Mentally, his detachment from other people was traditionally presented as troubling and something he'd have to overcome. Now it's kind of accepted as who he is. After Marvel's ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' crossover event the character has also been prone to show up in stories dealing with government organizations, such as the Vanguard in ''ComicBook/MarvelComicsPresents'' and [=MI13=] that followed in the wake of ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion''.

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