Blade Returns With a New Samurai Aesthetic, a New Sword, and a New Purpose

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Blade: Red Band #1

Shamed for the part he played in the Blood Hunt saga, Blade has isolated himself far from civilization, but now, the fallen hero is on a path of recovery. After having become Varnae’s puppet, Marvel’s Daywalker has a long way to go toward redemption; however, in his self-exile, Blade has forged a new path to walk as he faces his uncertain future in the Marvel Universe.

Blade: Red Band #1– written by Bryan Hill, with art by C.F. Villa – follows the character on his mental, physical, and spiritual journey to recover his self-identity and atone for the eldritch horrors he unwillingly released as part of Blood Hunt. In his isolation, he explores what exactly he’s supposed to be.

Blade knows he’s a vampire, but now he must relearn what it means to be a hunter. As he works to forge a new sense of self, he also forges something else, a new sword; once the two are complete, then the real work can begin.

Blade’s New Sword Mirrors His Journey Back To Being A Premiere Marvel Hero

Blade: Red Band #1– Written by Bryan Hill; Art By C.F. Villa; Color By Javier Tartaglia; Lettering By Clayton Vowles

While alone, Blade remains in silence. He still holds rage in his heart for Varnae but especially himself. Panel by panel, he strips pieces of his identity away until all that is left is silence, loneliness, and survival.But when he is nothing, all he can do left is rebuild. With what money he has, Blade purchases dozens of thick metal slabs, slugging them into a furnace not touched in decades; night by night, he plunges his old katana into the flaming crucible, breaking it to rebuild it. With each dip into the inferno, Blade renews himself, alongside his weapon.

As nights go by, his sword grows stronger, hardened after nights of molding. Likewise, each night, , Blade grows beating out his weakness until only the hunter remains. Nothing is more quintessential to Blade’s character than his blade. Like a ronin, without a home and free from a master, all that remains is the strength of the warrior and his weapon. As Blade pulls his katana from the furnace one final time, a timely trial presents itself. Blade is approached by an eyeless man, summoning the vampire-hunter to serve a new master. However, Blade lethally refuses to lose his freedom.

Blade’s New Ronin Lifestyle Is A Strong First Step In The Right Direction

Blade Is Back & Bloodier Than Ever

The eyeless cult that summoned Blade, tells him of a new vampiric threat who has turned toward dark magic to regain their power. At the head of the vampire hive:Pontious Van Helsing, descendant of Abraham Van Helsing. As Blade refuses to serve the cult, they launch a magical attack, but their assault proves fruitless. His reforged katana deflects the spells, as Blade unleashes a furious stream of cuts, fully severing his opponents, limb by limb. The vampire-hunter displays his decades of mastery of swordsmanship and the strength of his rediscovered will.

With the measly cult lethally disarmed, he excitedly sets his sights on Van Helsing. It’s refreshing to see that Marvel isn’t wasting time putting Blade back in action. Truly, Blade has become a true samurai with no master:a ronin. Fortunately, most of Blade’s road to recovery happened off-page, only showing the metaphorical highlights of his final steps. Blade still has a long way until he can finally redeem himself in his own eyes, but the Daywalker’s future is looking bright.

Blade: Red Band #1is available now from Marvel Comics.