Joining the ranks of other Marvel anime series is Blade, bringing us the story of half-vampire Eric Brooks, otherwise known as—you guessed it—Blade.
The Blade Anime unsurprisingly brought to mind the first Blade movie starring Wesley Snipes, since that is my only connection to the character prior to watching this series. So with nothing other than that to compare it to, I have to say this was entertaining, though I did not enjoy it quite as much as I liked the Wolverine series. I thought it moved a bit more slowly, and I’ve just always liked Wolverine more than most Marvel characters.
A brief synopsis is that Blade seeks revenge on Deacon Frost, the murderer of his mother while she was still pregnant with him. Much of Blade’s history is told through flashbacks, and we see his mother’s brutal death, his subsequent birth, and the loving relationship between him and his aunt. But tragedy follows wherever he turns, and his only solace is to hunt the creatures of the night.
His battles against the vampires are dazzling to watch. He uses special sword techniques that throw them off balance long enough for him to strike, and his speed and agility are remarkable. The vampire blood that flows through his veins provides him with preternatural skills, but he is immune to the devastating effects of sunlight, unlike his fanged brethren.
As with the Wolverine Anime DVD, this series also has three featurettes included in the two-disc set:
The Marvel Anime Universe: Blade Re-Awakened, which explores the process that went into developing this new take on the vampire-hunter.
Blade: The Vampire-Slayer, comparing Marvel’s Blade with traditional vampire stories
Special Talk Session: Marvel Anime’s Blade and Wolverine, an interview with series creators.
If you’re a fan of Blade, then you just may love this series. I can only go so far to say I liked it, but it was worth watching once, at least.