REVIEW: ‘Blade: Red Band’ Issue #1

Blade: Red Band #1 is published by Marvel Comics. It is written by Bryan Edward Hill, with art by C.F. Villa, colors by Java Tartaglia, and letters by Clayton Cowles. After the events of Blood Hunt, Blade tries to hide away from the world. But more monsters in the world need to be kept in line.

What’s impressive about the first issue of this new series is how streamlined and accessible it is. There is a lot of history and backstory following a significant event in which Blade was one of the central characters. Yet Blade: Red Band #1 starts calmly and slowly. Blade has tucked himself away, punishing himself for his crimes before a stranger approaches him. While these events result from Blood Hunt, the storyline is fresh and requires little previous knowledge.

Blade: Red Band #1 has horror, magic, and dark humor stemming from Blade’s reluctance to play ball with the newcomers. Hill defies expectations and refuses to give Blade a new master. This leads to a phenomenal fight scene that is as fast-paced as it gets. It’s incredibly violent and bloodthirsty, energising the end of the comic and cementing Blade’s return to action. It is not an issue of surprising reveal, but how Blade approaches the information he’s given is a slight surprise.

Even though Blade has been through an extreme ordeal, his personality has not been altered much. The most significant change is the destructive punishment he has directed towards himself. Blade’s healing factor means that the harm isn’t lasting but still looks painful and alarming. The dialogue and narration are enjoyable, as the vampire hunter is blunt and honest.

Blade only wants to know information, not feelings or true intentions. He will resort to more physical means if he isn’t happy. The other character that comes to see Blade is much more talkative. Damien is a supernatural, intriguing figure who is well-spoken and polite. He is just a middle manager for something much bigger and more powerful, barely opening the door for one of the big mysteries within the series.

The art is tremendous. A slight change in Blade suggests how long he has isolated himself from the outside world. His hair is bushier and more voluminous, a big step away from the neater and more refined figure readers may be used to. Damien is a friendly, smiling character, and the many details in his design make him unnerving. He can be both disarming and worrying at the same time.

The second half of Blade: Red Band #1 intensifies horror and action. Villa never shies away from showing the bloody battle and gruesome imagery. Blade moves inhumanly, cutting through his nemesis and leaving a bloody trail in his wake. The Red Band subtitle signifies even more brutality than what might be expected. Within the badass fight scene, there is a sadness surrounding the victim of a heinous act.

The colors are melancholy yet vibrant and visible. The shadows are not pitch black, with various shades and personalities within each panel. When the battle begins, bright red blood is spilled everywhere, but there are also instances of purple magic complicating matters. The lettering is provided by Cowles, one of the best in the business. It is effortless to read.

Blade: Red Band #1 draws fresh blood. After Blood Hunt provided a full stop to the previous Blade series, this new chapter shed much of the burden and complications. It’s a straightforward book packed with horror and hardcore. Blade is rarely vulnerable, which is only seen briefly at the start of the issue, but it highlights that all is not well with the hunter. But that does not prevent him from slaughtering his way through monsters. If anything, it has made him more lethal.

Blade: Red Band #1 is available where comics are sold.