Blood Hunters #1 Review

 

Writers: Mark Russell, Christos Gage & Erica Schultz

Artists: Bob Quinn, Javier Garrón & Bernard Chang

Colorists: Matt Milla, Morry Hollowell & Marcelo Maiolo

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Greg Land & Frank D’Armata; Declan Shalvey

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 8, 2024

 

Day becomes night as Darkforce energy invites vampires to dine on our world. How can three superheroes prevent New York City from becoming their bloody smorgasbord? Let's grab our garlic, stakes, and symbols of our beliefs, leap into Blood Hunters #1, and find out!

 

The City That Never Weeps

Story

Mayor Cage may have nixed Fisk's Powers Act, but Hawkeye is on the lam in Blood Hunters #1. For some reason, people think he assassinated a UN ambassador. But when two police officers see through his disguise and try to arrest him for such trifles, the skies turn dark, and they find more important things to do. Mostly, they do a lot of yelling and screaming as vampires crash the diner. Hawkeye goes all Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but after defending his fellow patrons, he realizes his job isn't over. This neighborhood needs protection, and not from Tombstone's heavies.

 

In The City That Never Weeps, Hawkeye enlists a puppet therapist, a Spanish-speaking priest, and a burly Union worker to stamp out the Darkforce invasion. Writer Mark Russell's story reminds us how much like-minded people can accomplish when working together toward a goal. Russell uses the same low-key, playful dialogue and storytelling that made his recent Traveling To Mars series a joy to read. As the story nears its completion, and Hawkeye heads off for Shawarma, Russell also reminds us how important it is to heed government advisories during a vampire invasion and pack plenty of "light-to-medium-strength wooden stakes.”

 

Art

Bob Quinn ups the fun factor with Hawkeye marveling that the police recognize him with a mustache. While the police disappear amid the chaos, the young therapist wears a Save The Bees T-shirt and screams at his undead pursuer. But he joins Hawkeye on the roof of a restaurant to view the body-strewn street and vampires chasing citizens on the sidewalks. Later, he fights alongside Hawkeye in Blood Hunters #1, impaling vampires with his wooden puppet. Matt Milla sets the action under turquoise-streaked darkness, with streets and buildings muted, allowing people and vehicles to stand out. Interiors are more vibrant and help golden-haired Hawkeye glow with his purple outfit, bow, and arrows.

 

Joe Caramagna fires large uppercase lettering in white dialogue balloons and lavender narrative boxes while filling the air with loud hisses, screams, and crashes, the sounds of arrows leaving bows and plunging into bodies, and an intriguing but almost anticlimactic Ploof.

 

 

 

Blood Relations

Story

John waits for his father, J Jonah Jameson, to take him to lunch. But JJJ hurries past him to the balcony. John realizes the day is dark as the driver or assistant shouts a warning. A vampire bat crashes through a concrete wall. JJJ sees John transforming and begs him to let Spider-Man handle this, but John turns into Man-Wolf and takes the vampire for a ride off their roof.

 

Christos Gage peppers this action-packed story about a father and son protecting their city with MCU dialogue and complex character dynamics. Gage pokes fun at authority figures such as news and talk show personalities with JJJ's bluster, while John, even in werewolf form, proves the voice of reason. Yet JJJ is surprisingly proactive. He is the first to notice the darkening sky. JJJ quickly calls Spider-Man for assistance. He formulates plans to protect New York City. He quickly reduces a wood and cloth patio chair into stakes and a carrier bag to become J Jonah Jameson the Vampire Hunter! Take that, Abraham Lincoln!

 

Gage’s contribution to Blood Hunters #1 reminds us how families can weaken and empower their members, how we often yearn for authoritarian leadership, and

how beliefs can give us superpowers.

 

Art

His son may transform into Man-Wolf, but JJJ burns with frenetic energy in Blood Relations. John conserves his strength and remains calm and composed even in werewolf form. JJJ’s expression constantly changes as each new thought and feeling rocks his world. And despite all the money he's accumulated and the power he wields, he can only enjoy the view of his city from his high-rise apartment patio through cage-like iron bars.

 

Javier Garrón’s vampire-bat evokes Barry Windsor-Smith’s portrayal of Conan The Barbarian’s flying foes. Garrón also conveys John's amazement as he watches the Avengers battle a horde of vampire bats while he's just tackled one. In addition to the vampire-bat, other vampires menace father and son. Vampirism transformed them, yet their supernatural power accentuates their individuality.

 

Morry Hollowell brightens the darkened day with purple, maroon, orange, and yellow in Blood Hunters #1, pairs a silhouette with red to capture a violent moment, and pokes fun at JJJ’s fashion sense with flood-ready slacks and by making him carry a pink bag with white spots. Joe Caramagna hurls large-size uppercase black words into dialogue balloons, scares up crashes and impacts, and emphasizes that the humane way to kill vampires is a wooden stake.

 

 

 

Once More Into The Darkness: Part 1

Story

Darkforce energy consumed her partner. Without Cloak by her side, Dagger defends her adoptive home in New York City. Vampirism alters but doesn’t overpower villains in Erica Schultz's story, as drug dealers find a new way to prey on the citizens of NY’s Theater District.

 

Dagger's thoughts guide us through her battle against bloodthirsty drug dealers. Once More Into The Darkness: Part 1 is aptly named, as Dagger sympathizes with those she fights. Like a vampire, she has known insatiable craving. As more friends get drawn into dangerous situations, Dagger struggles to protect them from themselves.

 

Art

Bernard Chang brings big-screen appeal to Once Into The Darkness: Part 1. Dagger moves swiftly and athletically as she bounds, whirls, and flings psionic light daggers at her fanged opponents. Whether thin or muscular, the vampires show exceptional poise and definition, and their demonic features are haunting. Marcelo Maiolo brings a moody atmosphere to Blood Hunters #1 by contrasting cool browns and blues with bright yellows, oranges, pinks, and reds, giving this final story a film noir quality. Joe Caramagna breathes big uppercase letters into more narrative boxes than dialogue balloons, while the Shunk of psionic daggers gives Dagger hope before dispelling it with an immense heartrending scream.

 

Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Hawkeye soothes New Yorkers’ fright through spirituality, Man-Wolf forces J Jonah Jameson to confront his Spider-Man fixation, and Dagger battles the overwhelming power of addiction in Blood Hunters #1.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

To preview art for all three stories in Blood Hunters #1 see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.