With Blade, Marvel has built a successful movie franchise that, unfortunately, wasn’t adapted as well to the small screen and didn’t build the audience Spike TV was hoping for. Maybe it’ll do better on DVD.
Despite Blade’s high profile in other media, Marvel hasn’t been able to capitalize on that success in comics. If The Philadelphia Inquirer’s review of the latest Blade comic is any indication, though, maybe this time they will:
“Blade No. 1,” released last week, was a strong premiere issue. One need look no further than its credits to realize why. Writer Marc Guggenheim, still kicking butt on “Wolverine,” brings the same quality to “Blade.” In fact, Guggenheim’s plan for the book is what enticed comics legend Howard Chaykin to draw the series. Chaykin’s art here ranks with the best of his career.
If there is one complaint, it is that Guggenheim may be trying to move too fast and pack in too much in each issue. In No. 1, we get a vampiric Spider-Man, Dracula and a grade-school classroom full of kids-turned-vampires - all in the first five pages! Toss in a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier full of vampires and a series of flashbacks and there isn’t a lot of room for depth.
Related: The Comics Reporter reviews Blade #1
