Warning: contains preview pages for Death of Doctor Strange: Blade #1!
1998’s Blade film opened with a memorable “blood rave” scene, involving massive amounts of gore raining down on partying vampires, and now this disgusting scene has entered comics canon. In Death of Doctor Strange: Blade #1, on sale in print and digital December 8, Dracula’s Vampire Nation celebrates the death of the Sorcerer Supreme, a sworn foe of vampires everywhere, in a grand and bloody fashion—much to Blade’s dismay.
Blade’s first feature film was a success at the box office, if not with critics. Followed by two sequels, a TV series, and a forthcoming MCU reboot, it helped kick open the door for today’s wave of superhero movies. At the time, however, the film was sold more as an action-horror mashup, since movies based on comics were then viewed as “toxic” by studios and audiences. The film certainly played up its horror-based aspects, opening with a memorable scene where a hapless human finds himself in the midst of a bloody vampire rave. After a few minutes of frenzied partying, Blade interrupts, slaughtering vampires left and right. The scene is peak blood and guts, showing viewers this was not going to be just another vampire movie; this one was going to be action-packed, with a character unlike any seen before. Now, this iconic scene gets a comic book counterpart in Death of Doctor Strange: Blade #1, written by Danny Lore, with art by Dylan Burnett, colors by Mike Spicer, and letters by Travis Lanham.
In a preview provided to AIPT by Marvel, Dracula’s vampire nation is celebrating the news of Doctor Strange’s death. Many years ago, Strange unleashed a spell that wiped out all of Earth’s vampires, including Dracula—and now with the Sorcerer Supreme gone, the vampires are having a celebration to behold, one complete with blood sprinklers, much like in the movie.. Decked out in costumes mocking Doctor Strange, the vampires taunt Blade, who is watching over the proceedings. Blade does not attack—he is merely watching the party as part of his role as the Sheriff of the Vampire Nation. He can only attack if there is a situation—and so far, everything is going relatively well, except for the taunting Blade is receiving. Finally, Dracula arrives at the party, referring to Blade as "help."
The preview ends there, leaving readers left wondering how much longer the party will go before Blade gets involved. The party the vampires are throwing is straight out of the “blood rave” scene that opened the first Blade movie, and now it is canon in the Marvel Universe. When Blade found the blood rave in the first movie, he immediately attacked, showcasing both his powers and fighting techniques and letting viewers know he means business. Here, Blade’s response is more restrained, thanks in large part to his role as the Vampire Nation’s Sherriff; Blade is now a government agent, bound by treaties and declarations—something his movie counterpart may not have approved of, but it speaks volumes to the character’s development.
Blade’s first film helped usher in the modern era of superhero movies, opening with a memorable, bloody scene, one that is now comics canon thanks to Death of Doctor Strange: Blade #1, and highlights the character’s growth and progression.
Source: AIPT
