Marvel's top vampire hunter is returning for a new ongoing Blade series.
Announced exclusively by Polygon, Blade launches in the summer of 2023 from writer Bryan Hill and artist Elena Casagrande. The new ongoing series will find Eric Brooks struggling to deal with the supernatural underworld after he accidentally awakens an ancient evil. The synopsis for the series' first issue reads, "Marvel’s slickest vampire hunter returns in a brand new ongoing by Bryan Hill (Killmonger) and Elena Casagrande (Black Widow)! True evil is patient. And a dark, ancient power has been simmering quietly for centuries…and when Blade himself is the one to unknowingly unleash it, Marvel’s entire supernatural underworld will come out of hiding to demand he handle it. Or pay a pound of flesh for his mistakes. Bloodbaths, blackmail and Blade – you won’t want to miss the explosive first issue of this new volume!"
"Blade is a treasured character for me," Hill said of the series. "Here, we have an opportunity to explore his history, reveal new aspects of his world and create a story that’s brutal, sexy, and bold as it travels into the world of monsters and magic."
Casagrande added, "I think that the first goal of drawing a fight scene is to let it be powerful and fluid at the same time. I see fighting like dancing, so my first thought is always about choreography and then the movements that I need to make strong. Obviously every character needs a different choreography, a different way to fight — it’s fun to personalize it — and with Blade, I’m happy to have the chance to use the swords and showcase his strength."
Blade's Recent Adventures in Marvel Comics
In current Marvel continuity, Blade is a member of the Earth's Mightiest Heroes in the Jason Aaron-written Avengers series, which is concluding in April 2023, and also joined the Midnight Suns for a five-issue miniseries from Ethan Sacks, Luigi Zagaria and Alberto Foche that concluded in 2023. He also recently starred in a Blade: Vampire Nation one-shot (by Mark Russell, Dave Wachter, Dee Cunniffee, Mico Suayan and VC's Cory Petit) released in Nov. 2022 that saw him become the sheriff of a nation of vampires Dracula established in Chernobyl.
Eric also finally just met his daughter, Brielle Brooks (a character who debuted in 2022's Free Comic Book Day: Avengers/X-Men #1) at the end of Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #2 by Danny Lore, Karen S. Darboe, Cris Peter and VC's Joe Sabino. The story continues with Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #3 on April 12, 2023.
Blade #1 releases in July 2023 from Marvel.
Source: Polygon