As we get closer to the month of July, we couldn’t be happier to inform you that this month commemorates the 48th anniversary of Blade. Blade debuted as a supporting character in the eleventh issue of the comic book The Tomb of Dracula, created by writer Marvin Arthur Wolfman and latepencillerGene Colan.
His character grew so popular with the audience that he was soon cast in his own plots. Blade’s mother was transformed into a vampire just seconds before his birth, bestowing upon him the extraordinary gift of longevity and resistance to vampire fangs.
Blade is considered as the most feared vampire hunter, having dedicated most of his life to hunting vampires and ridding the world of these blood sucking creatures. As a result, one can only imagine how formidable the other worldly villains he has to fight are in the first place. In today’s video, we’ll go through ten of the most terrifying and bloodthirsty Blade villains, along with their back stories.
Deacon Frost
This Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan supervillain needs no introduction. Deacon Frost is well-known as the vampire responsible for Blade’s mother’s death and Hannibal King’s vampirism. Frost originally appeared in the thirteenth issue of the American horror comic book series The Tomb of Dracula in 1973, and has been Blade’s arch-nemesis ever since.
Allegedly a scientist on the lookout for immortality, Frost had takena young woman hostage in order to inject her with the blood of a recently slayed vampire. However, the victim’s fiancé broke into the lab and in the consequential brawl, Frost was inadvertentlyinoculated with the blood.
That’s how he not only became a vampire but was also gifted with the unique talent of producing a doppelganger through the ones that he turned. With the new ability to generate an endless number of doppelgangers by biting each doppelganger and having them all under his control, Frost desired to be the Lord of Vampires, a position that was held by Dracula at the time.
Apart from these, Frost also possessed exceptional attributes such as superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, and regenerative healing skills along with the fact that he can shapeshift into a bat, wolf and even mist.
It was also Frost who turned Hannibal King into a bloodsucking monster. So, while Blade and King initially did not trust each other at all, the duo in due course joined hands to fight against Frost, demolishing him in his underground hideaway by stabbing him twice and leaving his body to be consumed by an explosion.
After many years, Blade came across another vampire who called himself Deacon Frost. Frost, who was a tall, white-haired, late middle-aged man with red eyes and an 1860s western European taste of fashion, looked nothing like the current one.
Later, it was discovered that the latter was a doppelganger with a Southern sartorial sense and dialect. When the doppelganger attempted to call a supreme demon, it was eventually consumed. The outstandingly vicious Deacon Frost was essayed by Stephen Dorff in the 1998 Wesley Snipes starring superhero horror film.
Morbius
Morbius initially appeared as an opponent to Spider Man in the 101st issue of The Amazing Spider-Man, created by American comic book writer and editor Roy Thomas and originally conceived by the late pencilerGil.
It should come as no surprise that he quickly evolved into a menacing, gritty, and horrifically flawed antihero, not just in his own series but also in other works. Finally, Morbius, the most well-known vampire in Marvel Comics and a fan favourite, has been Blade’s most intriguing adversary.
A young man with a rare blood condition, Morbius was created in an experiment to try and cure his disease. His true identity goes back to Michael Morbius, a former award-winning biochemist, who was permeated with pseudo-vampiric superhuman attributes and bodily traits after undergoing an unsuccessful biochemical experiment that was supposed to cure his disease.
In constant conflict with his pseudo-vampiric persona, his unquenchable thirst for human blood, and his consequent efforts to treat his dreadfulform, Morbius, the Living Vampire is quite the ruthless and terrifying vigilante.
Few people are aware that Morbius in the alternate DVD ending was played by Stephen Norrington, the director of the 1998 film Blade. Dr. Karen Jenson Morbius was also scheduled to feature as the major villain in the second edition of the Blade film franchise, but Marvel apparently refused to let filmmaker Guillermo del Toro utilise the character.
Morbius has also appeared in various media adaptations outside the world of comics, which ranges from animated shows to video games. Fans of the character will even get to see Jared Leto portray him in the upcoming live-action film adaptation that is set for a January 2022 release. We are keeping our fingers crossed!
Dracula
The one and only Dracula deserves credit for unquestionably being the most powerful Blade villain. The character, created by novelist Bram Stoker, is by far the most well-known and well-known vampire to have appeared in Marvel Comics.
While it is true that Dracula is not the first-born vampire, there is no doubting that he is in leadership of the undead legion and has been a continuous thorn in Blade’s side.
Boasting superhuman skills such as strength, speed, senses, reflexes, durability, and agility, he can dodge a bullet and even catch an arrow while it’s mid-air.The character also hasshapeshifting capabilities and often uses this power to conceal his true demonic self.
History goes back to Dracula also known as Drake being born in Ancient Sumeria. The origin of Drake turning into a vampire still remains a mystery but he is without a doubt the first vampire from whom the rest of the vampire race has originated.
Drake has gone by many identities over the millennia, but with the rise of a more modern society, Drake was banished and went into slumber in the desert to escape the dishonoured world. Drake is only reawakened after hundreds of years by a group of vampires led by Danica Talos, with the express intention of reforming the vampire race as Daywalkers and, of course, killing Blade.
One can only imagine the brutal fight that took place amongst Drake and Blade, which ultimately ends with the latter piercing the former with an arrow that contained a special serum. The serum in contact with Drake’s untainted bloodlets out a virus, which slays all of the vampires in the immediate territory.
Imagine Drake, mortally wounded, praising Blade for being the only one who could defeat him. That is, in fact, what occurs. Drake even claims that the vampire kind will continue to exist because of him.
The patriarch of the vampire race and the predominant antagonist in Blade: Trinity is portrayed by the British-Australian actor Dominic Purcell.
Reaper Strain Vampires
Meet the Reapers, a new type of vampire that is far tougher and deadlier than regular vampires. These gigantic abominations are capable of not only transforming other vampires into reapers, but also of annihilating all species.
Contrasting to the normal vampires that look almost as same as humans, the appearance of a Reaper is quite feral. They look more similar to a ghoul from the mythologies; their nails and teeth are visibly lengthier, their skin tone is gray and they hardly have hair.
There’s also a thin scar extending from the lower lip till the base of the neck. When the Reapers feed, their tongue changes into a proboscis-like organ form, which is apparently linked to the esophagus for feeding purpose.
At the tip of the tongue, it splits into six distinct directions, revealing thorn-like tiny fangs as well as two pointed, barb-like inner tongues. This tongue is responsible for injecting the reaper virus into the circulation of those they feed on. In addition, their back shoulder blade is transformed into a gill-like organ that opens during the feeding process to release some sort of trigger pheromone that attracts other reapers to the scent of the prey.
When it comes to the physical abilities of these Reapers, they are way stronger than the otherwise normal vampires. Their level of intelligence deteriorates to the extent that they become absolutely savage and evenlose the ability to talk.
Despite of this, they are smart enough to trap their preys as seen in the fight in the city sewers. But if you are still wondering what it that truly makes these creatures eerie is, it has to be the fact that they can walk on the walls the way spiders do.
There is also one key Reaper feature that should not be overlooked. It is their regenerative healing ability that demonstrates that even if a Reaper is shot, wounded, or has its neck snapped, the creature will battle as if nothing has occurred. In the second installment of the Blade film franchise, keep an eye out for the Reapers.
Draconis
Created by Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin, the malicious character of Draconis tends to be perhaps one of the few ones who have managed to kill Blade in the comic book series.
History dates back to the period when the vampires of London plotted the construction of Draconis in order to rid the world of Blade once and for all in the future. Draconis used to work as an acolyte at a church when he was a young lad.
He was visited by a vampire who promised him the gift of power and immortality, and because he believed him, the young Draconis was soon transformed into a vampire in a profane ritual. The boy was chosen because of his steadfast destiny, which enhanced his vampiric abilities over time.
The young boy soon grew up to become a ‘holy vampire’, one who was strong enough to be invulnerable in terms of the cross, holy water and even sunlight. Dracon is even went to the extent ofdevouring other vampires to grow more powerful.
Blade, who had learnt about Draconis while killing a female vampire, was already back in London, extremely tied up with his killing spree. This is precisely when Draconis was informed about Blade and the former was beyond exhilarated at the thought of being able to do what he was actuallymade for – kill Blade.
It is during the fight between Blade and Draconis, when the latter had pulled out Blade’s stake and staked the Daywalker. Thinking Blade to be dead, Draconis left and even threw a party for the London vampires to celebrate the Daywalker’s death.
It was a rude awakening for him when he had two unexpected visitors, one dressed as Hannibal King and the other as Blade. Blade, of course, did not die as a result of an amulet he possessed at the time.
So believe us when we say that killing Draconis was no easy task; not only did King shoot him with a shotgun, but Blade also had to suck Draconis’ blood before ripping off his head. Keep an eye out for Draconis, who has always been one of the most terrifying and bloodthirsty Blade Villains.
Varnae
Varnae is not only referred to as the Lord of Vampires and the first vampire to ever walk the planet, but he is also one of Blade’s most powerful villains. Varnae initially debuted in the second issue of Dracula Lives, created by Steve Perry and Steve Bissette.
Varnae was an ancientAtlantian sorcerer who used the power of the DarkholdGrimoire to become the first vampire just before the famous city sank. Do not be fooled by the death of Varnae; while it’s true that he can only be destroyed by being exposed to sunlight, or say a wooden pole staked right across the heart, he can easily be brought back to life with the help of the DarkholdGrimoire.
Stronger than literally every other vampireand capable of moving at incredible speeds in spite of his colossal size, Varnae is one of a kind. Thanks to his telepathic skills he is able to not only hypnotize humans but also enslave them at the same time.
Varnae held the usual vampire abilities, but let us not forget that as the first vampire, all of his abilities were enhanced by the ability to control or possess any vampire.
Varnae, who has always used vessels to reside his essence and has used the grimoire to restore his life each time he has met his end, has always used the grimoire to restore his life. No surprise, he attempted to employ Blade as one of his vessels, and it goes without telling who won that battle. There are no rewards for guessing who Blade is.
Blackout
Blackout was created by Howard Mackie and Javier Saltares. At his most powerful, Blackout can lift up to 2 tonnes and travel at speeds well exceeding the natural limits of the best human athlete. Blackout’s physique is also stronger, more resistant to physical traumas, and capable of withstanding massive pressures.
Regardless of how he looks with those enhanced metal teeth and nails, Blackout is not really a vampire. He is a Lilin, which happens to be more of a race of demons that was created by Lilith, the Mother of Demons.
It eventually turns out that he is not only a distant relative of Lilith but also her grandson. It is during the final battle of the Midnight Sons and Lilin in Greenland when Blackout gets slayed by Blade with a sword that gets impaled right through his heart while he was protecting Lilith.
The fact that Blackout has been exceedingly vehement with barely any remorse on display, especially post his rebirth, is precisely what makes his character extremely eerie. His sadistic approach towards killing his prey makes him all the more savage.
Lilith
Meet Lilith, one of the most well-known antagonists to ever face Blade. Dracula’s firstborn daughter is revered as both a sorcerer and a goddess. Lilith has superhuman strength, stamina, and durability thanks to her Mesopotamian Gods and magical powers acquired from her succubus transformation.
She can slay her foes with ease and even conjure protective shields that hide vampires from sunlight. It goes without saying that she is way more commanding and stronger than any of her children; her physical strength intensifies with the number of demons that she gives birth to.
Lilith can give birth to immeasurable races that vary from humans and mutants to mystical beasts. She is also capable of reviving any of her fallen children in a number of ways, though the eeriest remainsdevouring them. That’s not all; she is even capable of reviving herself into a much younger and a stronger body from the last.
Created byMarv Wolfman and the talented late Gene Colan, Lilith as the daughter of Dracula made her first appearance in the first issue of Giant-Size Chillers Featuring The Curse of Dracula in1974.Lilith as the demon sorceress,has been the brainchild of Howard Mackie and Andrew Kubert andfirst appeared in the 28th issue of Ghost Rider in1992.
Xarus
Xarus is not just Dracula’s son, but also a prominent council member of the vampires that served under him. Xarus, a talented swordsman and magician, has the capacity, like most other vampires, to turn someone into a vampire just by biting them. He is incredibly powerful, capable of lifting up to 4 tonnes with ease.
Xarus is a superhuman with superhuman speed, stamina, agility, regenerative healing abilities, and immortality. He also has claws and fangs. The character can easily captivate others simply by gazing at them. He has control over his victim’s psyche as well as the ability to shapeshift.
Having highlighted his powers and abilities, it’s important to let the viewers know how villainous this fictitious character actually is. Having grown tired of his father’s sovereignty, he simply stages a coup, kills him and becomes the leader mergingall the vampire factions around the world.
You will be quite happy to know how he is defeated at the hands of Blade. The Vampire-hunter severs his right arm and leg before finally decapitating him. Though that didn’t really stop Xarus. His head continued to remain responsive even after being detached. So, you can imagine the horror! Created by Victor Gischler and Giuseppe Camuncoli, Xarus made his first appearance in the first issue of Death of Dracula back in 2010.
Baron Blood
Lord John Falsworth was the younger of two sons of Lord William Falsworth, a member of the British aristocracy who was one of the wealthiest in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. When their father died, John was enraged to learn that his older brother had inherited not only the title but also the majority of the wealth.
As fate would have it, Falsworth set his sights on Dracula’s castle in Romania, even planning to take control of Dracula for the sole purpose of amassing vast sums of money and power. However, he was eventually hypnotised by Dracula’s hypnotic powers and turned into a bloodsucking monster himself. As Baron Blood, he returned to his homeland.
This fictional character, besides being one of the oldest villains in Marvel Comics, also happens to be one of the greatest foes of Blade. Not only was this notorious villain a vampire lord, he was also regarded as one of the most sadistic ones. He along with his clan of vampires took a special interest in tormenting his victims first before draining them of their plasma.
Fans of Blade are simply going to love how Blade not only engages with the Baron in a duel but also brings his downfall and detains him in the Digital Identity Securement Kit putting an end to the terror of this vampire once and for all.