REVIEW: ‘Blood Hunters’ Issue #2

Blood Hunters #2 is published by Marvel Comics and features three stories by various creators. “End of the Well” is written by Kaare Andrews, art by Alex Lins, and colors by KJ Díaz. “We Drink to Forget We Drink” is written by Ann Nocenti, art by David Baldeón and colors by Java Tartaglia. “Once More into The Darkness Part 2” is written by Erica Schultz, art by Bernard Chang, and colors by Marcelo Maiolo.

In Blood Hunters #2, letters are by Joe Caramagna. This is part of the Blood Hunt. Across the Marvel Universe, the heroes try to repel the overwhelming vampire invasion. The three stories bring very different possibilities from the same concept in Blood Hunters #2. But all three show escalations within the vampiric invasion. In “End of The Well,” Bruce Banner has been held captive down a well alongside other humans. But when he tries to escape, he discovers that the monsters have used his blood for their gain.

The visceral, violent horror story is in tune with the wider event and the ongoing Hulk series. A flashback runs concurrently through that story, detailing a part of Bruce’s childhood. It is distressing and upsetting, turning the tone of the comic pitch black.

“We Drink to Forget We Drink” Sees Kate Bishop team up with Dante Malik, a seemingly friendly vampire. Interestingly, due to the enemies attacking, a general distrust of vampires has started infecting the heroes. An initial fight scene sets up a major plotline of the story: collecting silver to create arrow tips for Kate. But after that is a suspenseful showdown where Hawkeye and Lucky are stuck in a location with someone whose allegiances are unknown.

“Once More Into the Darkness Part 2” continues the team-up of Elsa Bloodstone and Dagger. This final part of Blood Hunters #2 is filled with surprises. Heroes turn up and transform into vampires, and the ending is also shocking. It routinely takes the tale into unexpected territories but keeps them all warped around a familiar theme. Similar to the story before it, the idea of friendly vampires being dangerous is paramount to the opening of the chapter.

The creators of Blood Hunters #2 write the characters superbly. While Banner is the heart and soul of the first story, Hulk is scarily silent. The Green Giant’s savage cunning is menacing, able to solve problems in his unique way. The quiet also conflicts with the vampires’ snarling arrogance, which is filled with greed and contempt for humans. The narration and dialogue of the younger Bruce are deflating and cut deeper into the character’s devastating life.

Kate Bishop is flirtatious and sarcastic but also skeptical and investigative. Dante Malik appears relatively new or certainly obscure, so it is strange that he is presented without much introduction. He is explored further as the issue progresses, but the lack of familiarity is disconcerting. But as a character, Dante is interesting, with a willingness to help and hints of a darker side.

The difference between Dagger and Elsa Bloodstone creates friction. Elsa is ruthless and blase about murdering vampires, while Dagger is still searching for their humanity. Elsa’s British upbringing affects her speech, with Schultz frequently using Cockney rhyming slang and other colloquialisms. As humorous and playful as it is, coming from a fellow Brit, that dialogue does get tiresome as it continues.

The art is sensational, with a multitude of styles on display. In “End of The Well,” the story is rough and ruthless. In both his older and younger forms, Bruce is weedy and thin, helpless and weak. The vampires are monstrous, with some extreme designs for the unique types created for this issue. Hulk’s rugged visage, with longer hair than in other stories, makes him look rougher and more intense.

“We Drink to Forget We Drink” is chaotic in the first half. Bats and vampires fly everywhere, with Hawkeye and Lucky zooming through the swarms and sending arrows off. It’s a story featuring terrific transformations. The characters can go from smiling and being comfortable to dangerous and dubious of one another.

In the final story, “Once More into the Darkness Part 2,” Dagger and Bloodstone share similarities. They are of the same height, both have their hair up in ponytails, and each of them goes in with stakes and daggers. It makes for an exciting sight when they fight alongside one another.

They also have an attitude towards each other early in the tale, their attitudes radiating off the page. Dagger is serene and severe, while Elsa is built for killing. Some of the other characters that appear, transformed into vampires, have been entirely redesigned by Chang. They are fearsome and ferocious, and all humanity has disappeared.

The colors have unique identities throughout Blood Hunters #2. Hulk’s story is dark and gruesome, with the only elevation in tone coming from an orange hue in the flashback and the dark green of Hulk’s skin. The red blood is dark and murky, not doing anything to lighten the room.

In Kate Bishop’s story, the sky and the background are clad in purple, her signature color. It’s a gorgeous shade and fits the sickly night sky that covers the whole planet. Finally, a story containing Dagger must contain a brilliant bright light. That aspect shines on the faces of characters with a powerful intensity, trying valiantly to push away the darkness. The lettering is seamless across the whole book.

Blood Hunters #2 collectively sinks deeper into the darkness. Throughout the issue, the scenarios are getting bleaker. The vampires are finding ways to collect power and transform heroes. Allies are shrinking, and characters are being cut off. Even figures like Hulk, among the most mighty in the Marvel Universe, are being caught off guard and struggling.

His story, in particular, is devoid of hope and happiness, and the others struggle to break the onslaught of bloodsuckers. The only two that could be argued to make progress are Kate and Dagger, with Elsa’s humor also making headway. But they are but few and struggle to push back the darkness. Across Blood Hunters #2 is a fantastic variety of art, dialogue, and plotlines.

Blood Hunters #2 is available where comics are sold.