Blade #1

Its a promising opening to a new series. Rarely is a single issue this balanced between creative personnel. Everyone working on the project seems to have an equal impact on the story. Hill is delivering a script that really is a blueprint for action for someone with a very precise idea of how to deliver it to the page in a way that allows for the colorist to come in and bring it all to life. If every issue is going to be like this, the current incarnation of Blade should be a fun one. Read Full Review

If youre looking for an escape the way old 80s and 90s action movies used to do, Blade #1 is just for you. Its short, sweet, and powerful. The premise is easy to follow and ANYONE can dive right in with almost no background. Hill provides an entry-level comic for any comic fan to enjoy while delivering a safe place to get lost from the real world without any underlying themes or melodramatic undertones hidden within the pages. There are no politics or worldviews. Just hard-nosed action and extremely graphic illustrations. If youre looking for something new to sink your teeth into, Blade #1 is exactly what youre looking for. You need to check it out! Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless! Read Full Review

Blade #1 is a horror book that features creepy monsters and terrible villains. Lucky for us we have a reliable hero to save us. Read Full Review

Blade #1 is the jolt of life the Daywalker needed. It firmly breaks him out of the "vampire hunting" box and sets him on a bloody new mission. With this title as well as Bloodline: Daughter of Blade, it's looking like Eric Brooks may finally get the same recognition in comics that he has in other media. To which I say: it's about damn time. Read Full Review

Blade #1 is a new start that defies any expectations. The first half of the comic almost leans in on tropes and cliches, using a similar starting scene to what the Blade movie contains. Read Full Review

Casagrande delivers beautiful art throughout the issue. I was a huge fan of her art in the Black Widow series and this first issue brings that same visually compelling and dynamic style to every action filled and scary moment. Read Full Review

Only time will tell if this iteration of Blade has the legs to define its hero in comics, but Blade #1 certainly has enough juice to suggest it might. Read Full Review

"Blade #1 delivers an exciting premise with some incredible art. A fantastic kickoff to a new supernatural adventure. Read Full Review

Blade #1 does exactly what it needs to do for a new series starring Marvel's resident monster hunter. The story is simple-yet-effective, Blade is in top action form as a killer, and the new villain presents as an intimidating threat. Read Full Review

I love the art in this first issue. In each panel, when there is action, you can see the action literally come off the page. I like how the action keeps going until it concludes. Im really hoping that Blade finds himself again, and he feels fulfilled going on in his future. Read Full Review

Blade #1 gets the job done for what you expect from the first issue of a new series. Blade is shown as a badass while the long-term mission statement for the series is established. This all comes together to create a strong debut issue by Bryan Hill and Elena Casagrande that leaves you looking forward to what they have planned for Blade moving forward. Read Full Review

It always feels right and long awaited to see Blade make a return. In Blade #1 readers will discover a great first start to what has potential to be a great story. The nightmarish world that surrounds his day to day life is fascinating for readers to experience. This creative team makes a triumphant first issue giving an audience just a taste of what is to come for this new fresh story. Read Full Review

It's the beginning of a new arc for one of Marvel's most well-known yet underutilized heroes. And the creative team looks to be tapping into some of the things that make Blade, Blade (vampires and werewolves, guns and swords, etc.) while presenting new enemies and allies to take the character in potentially new directions. The first issue grabs the reader's attention and is something both Blade fans and action comic fans should be on the lookout for. Read Full Review

This isn't a particularly deep comic, but it's a fun ride and filled with the brand of badass action that Blade is known for in other mediums. Read Full Review

Casagrandes work is especially worth checking out, continuing a great run that she started on Black Widow, very much following suit with that comics energetic art but taking much more of a horror-influenced approach here. (Jordie Bellaires gauzy, moody colors are just the cherry on top of whats already an eye-popping package.) If youre a fan of the character or even just looking to brush up on your knowledge of him before his upcoming movie if/when that ever actually comes out then Blade #1 is not the worst place to start. Read Full Review

Blade #1 has some serious pacing issues that diminish a lot of what's going on here. It does feature a great characterization of Blade that is nearly worth the price of admission. Read Full Review

Pantheon36

Jul 22, 2023

I came to this book based on the strength of Elena Casagrande's art and I'm glad I did. This issue clearly takes stylistic inspiration from the movie, but it's not a rehash. If this series fulfills the promise of this first issue it should be something special. This is one of the strongest first issues I've read in a while. Hill and Casagrande use the movies as a tonal springboard and as a means of subverting expectations, while also building on the flawed character Balde has always been in the comics. The art is innovative and propulsive. The story is tight and surprising. Great comics come when the story/art whole is greater than the sum of the parts. That's the case here. Here's hoping after 25 years they've found a way to realiz e Blade's movie potential on the page. more

Texas VII

Jul 20, 2023

I really enjoyed this first issue, it gave me nostalgia of Wesley Snipes Blade. Plenty of action and I found myself loving the art. It is a quick read, but it didn’t diminish my experience at all. I’m excited to see the story fleshed out

ResearchReader

Jul 21, 2023

Well this is a mostly refreshing, but absolutely explosive first issue. First the story is awesome. Byan Hill blows it out of the water with the issue. He gets full marks. Without spoiling everything, we learn that Blade messes up, like ends the world level mess up. Which is honestly nice. Seeing heroes make mistakes makes them relatable and allows them for some redemption. So love the hook. Also the revel of the female antagonist was close to epic. Flaying ones own skin with the only thing that can kill them and clocking their flayed body in shadows is... well like it is memorable. That is stuff you talk about at your LCS. One big downside, which I can see why people would rate it much lower. The colourist was a disaster. Eve rything is like someone went- yeah this page will be red, just red. Or blue, all blue. I feel with the right software I could have done the same levelling of colouring and I have no experience in this field. It really kills some of the hype of the issue with such poor use of colours (not the artists fault, the colourist is different). So depending on your tolerance for the colour, rating will likely vary. more

CrazyforRAMU

Dec 07, 2024

This comic is like an action movie. That simile isn't necessarily positive or negative--but it's all positive here. Bryan Hill excels at this kind of cinematic scripting, and when he has the support of a powerhouse artist like Elene Casagrande, the results are formidable. The one drawback to this immensely stylish approach is that it doesn't reveal much depth--but that doesn't mean the depth isn't there. This is a great start; let's see how it evolves.

Jawsh

Jul 21, 2023

Love the design of this new villain. Let's see where this goes!

Screaming Enigma

Jul 24, 2023

This was a fast first issue for this series, but it definitely does a good job of establishing mystery and intrigue for what's to come. This is my first book from Hill, so I wasn't really sure what to expect here. As for Casagrande, I first saw her art in Kelly Thompson's great run on Black Widow, so I was really glad to see her here. Her art is, once again, fantastic and one of the best parts of this book. Going back to the story itself, I like the new characters that are established and I'm interested to see where things go from here. Adana is already a crazy villain solely based on the fact that Blade cut off her head and she caught it in her hand.

Moolissuh

Dec 12, 2023

Interesting plot, though it was slow to grab my attention.

K-23

Jan 03, 2024

Great start and I'm really hoping the quality here continues. I'm hoping Hill has refined his craft as I've seen potential in some of his previous stuff but he struggled with jarring dialogue and dragged out plot lines.

2birdsstoned815

Jul 20, 2023

BOOORRRRIINNGGGG

Speed

Aug 16, 2023

Great start to a new Blade series. I haven’t previously read any of the Blade comics, but I will say it has the cool factor of the first Blade movie. It has an interesting premise and great artwork. It feels dark and vibrant at the same time.