Blade #3 - Comic Review

 

The new Blade series has been packing things into its issues to the point where it feels hard to believe that this is only the third issue, with the new story having already given us a ton of stuff up to this point. It's unusual then that this issue doesn't do a whole lot, split over just three scenes, yet manages to move the plot forward in significant ways, furthers the threat of the villain, gives us some fun development and interactions for the heroes, and tosses in some action too.

The issue begins with our big bad, the Adana travelling to Romania, where she is attacked by a group of magic users who are trying to stop her evil plans. Despite being attacked from all sides, the demonic entity is able to kill all of them with a single snap of her fingers in a scene that's gruesome and horrific, but kind of cool at the same time. In one scene she's gone from a threat to a serious threat, as she's just shown the reader that magic isn't much good against her, and she can kill foes without breaking a sweat. Even the mention of the Sorcerer Supreme does little to make you think that there could be an easy solution to this problem.

Speaking of easy solutions, however, Blade finds himself at the mercy of Lord Daido, a crime boss who's more than human. With the criminals tentacle-like tongue wrapped around his throat, trying to take control of him, it looks like there's little hope of Blade escaping. But not only does the part-vampire hero escape, he blows he monster to pieces without much effort. It's great that the two opening scenes of the book are building both the antagonist and protagonist this way, showing them to be ruthless killers, able to dispatch their foes without much effort. It's building to what's sure to be an intense final conflict between the two of them, though one that Blade doesn't feel equipped for yet.

And this is the main focus of the final segment of the book, Blade looking for a weapon that will actually allow him to kill Adana. He, Rotha, and Tulip head to a restaurant to grab some food and trade information. After finally convincing Tulip to help them out, she gives them information on the one weapon that should be able to kill the apocalypse bringing evil; the sword used by the angel Lucifer. However, the sword is in the possession of a reclusive arms dealer that no one has seen in five years, who lives on a high speed train that's constantly travelling the world. Looks like the team are having to do a train heist.

However, before they're even able to plan their next move their meal is interrupted by Rotha's old friends, who are here to kill them all. Whilst Blade jumps into battle, ready to take them all down, the fight is stopped when Doctor Strange arrives on the scene, ready to deal with the coming apocalypse. 

This issue of Blade is a ton of fun to read, and it's one of those books that ends way too soon. The character interactions and the relationships that are forming are really good, and the way that Rotha and Blade seem to be building a working relationship is really nice to see. The two of them have a fun back and forth, and there are some good moments that display that here. With it looking like the team are going to have to do a big high-speed train heist, there's promise of more action to come, but there's also the promise of some more fun moments like this issue too as Blade and his new sidekick settle into a nice rhythm.

The book also looks fantastic thanks to great art by Elena Casagrande, Valentina Pinti, and KJ Diaz, who do a wonderful job at bringing things to life. The art is full of energy, and the action moments are really well done, but the art also sells the horror well too. The opening scene with Adana taking out the magic users is staged brilliantly, and is suitably horrific in its execution. And the moment when Blade's weapon blows Lord Daido into a cloud of gore is so wonderfully shocking and disgustingly created that it's jawdroppingly good.

This series is proving to be a great one, with a story that's interesting and is offering more than the expected Blade vs vampires story. It's given us some great moments so far, and looks set to keep delivering the unexpected and unusual.

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