MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Marc Guggenheim
ART: Dave Wilkins
COLORS: Dave Wilkins
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Darren Shan
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Dave Wilkins
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Matteo Scalera with Moreno Dinisio; Gabriele Dell'Otto
44pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (September 2019)
Rated “Mature”
Blade created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan; Wolverine created by Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and John Romita
I like Wolverine, and I love Blade, so...
Blade is a Marvel Comics character created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan. He first appeared in the comic book, The Tomb of Dracula #10 (cover dated: July 1973), as a supporting character. Blade is Eric Brooks, who was born half-vampire and half-human, after a vampire attacked and killed his mother. Possessing a vampire's speed, strength, and healing, Eric became Blade the vampire hunter and killer.
Wolverine is also a Marvel Comics character. He was created by Roy Thomas and Len Wein and artist John Romita and made his full-length debut in The Incredible Hulk #181 (cover-dated November 1974), after making a cameo appearance at the end of The Incredible Hulk #180. A member of the X-Men, Wolverine is a mutant who possesses animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, a powerful healing factor, and three retractable claws in the back of each hand.
Wolverine and Blade meet in the new one-shot comic book, Wolverine vs. Blade Special #1. It is written by Marc Guggenheim; painted by Dave Wilkins; and lettered by Travis Lanham. This special pits two of Marvel's deadliest hunters ever to have stalked the night against each, Wolverine and Blade... with a horde of vampires circling them.
Wolverine vs. Blade Special #1 opens some unknown numbers of years in the past. Wolverine and Blade are battling vampires in Wolverine's stomping grounds, the island-city of Madripoor. The bloodsuckers, which belong to a vampire cult known as “The Creed,” have congregated at a temple where they practice ritual sacrifice of humans.
Six months later, Wolverine is in New York City hunting Dragoness, a mutant who has lately been killing humans and other mutants, and Wolverine is shocked to discover that Dragoness is no longer what she was known to be. Meanwhile, in Von Stadt, Germany, Blade is battling the vampire, Count Von Stadt, when the vampire displays a shocking power not usually associated with vampires. WTF?! These different missions are connected, but will Wolverine and Blade kill each other before they become allies?
Although I am always down for a Blade comic book, I was cynical about the Wolverine vs. Blade Special. After all, Marc Guggenheim apparently starting wrote this special over a decade ago around the time he wrote the short-lived, 12-issue, Blade ongoing series (2006-2007) and the “Logan Dies” story arc in Wolverine (2003) #57 to #61 (which was published in 2007). I read recently that Marvel even cut three-pages from this story which was also drawn ages ago.
However, I am happy to say that Wolverine vs. Blade Special #1 is a fun read. It is not great, but I wish there was more of it – say 48 pages instead of the 40 pages presented here. Guggenheim writes this somewhat in the spirit of those Blade stories that Marv Wolfman and Chris Claremont wrote for Marvel Preview and Vampires Tales in the mid-1970s, which were badass and gory. Guggenheim apparently takes delight in his two stars killing vampires in the most gruesome and brutal manner.
Artist Dave Wilkins' art and graphical storytelling seems a little outdated, like those Radical Comics titles from the 2000s. However, he draws a snazzy, sleek, and gleaming Blade and some righteously monstrous vampires. His Wolverine is a little stiff – too much muscle and brawn and an awkward-looking costume. Still, what Wilkins does best – Blade and vampires – is graphical striking, and in general, my eyes think of some of the art here as candy.
Travis Lanham's precision lettering and murderous sound effects push Wolverine vs. Blade Special #1 over the top; it is like hearing a raucous audio track. Hey, this comic book is not great, but it is better than you would think. Who knew Wolverine and Blade were two great comic book tastes that could taste quite good together?
7 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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