5 Must-See Blade Comic Storylines for the Big Screen

The Marvel Universe boasts a vast roster of superheroes, including Tony Stark/Iron Man, Bruce Banner/Hulk, The Fantastic Four, Wolverine, X-Men, and the Avengers. Despite his darker storyline compared to his peers, Eric Brooks/Blade is an underrated yet stylish and skillful hero with his leather wardrobe, high-powered weaponry, and martial arts prowess. In the realm of Marvel Comics, Blade takes on the role of top vigilante, similar to Batman in DC Comics.

Blade's popularity soared with Wesley Snipes' portrayal of the half-man, half-vampire in the Blade film trilogy. Now, Mahershala Ali, a two-time Oscar winner, will take on the Daywalker in a Blade film that's set to be part of Phase Five of the MCU. Below are potential comic book storylines that Ali's Blade feature could explore.

Blade Vol. 1: Undead Again by Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin

The 2007 Blade comic book, written by Guggenheim and illustrated by Chaykin, features a plethora of popular characters who come across the vampire hunter. The likes of Wolverine, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, Dracula, and even Santa Claus make appearances. Additionally, the comic delves deeper into Blade's origin story, revealing his heritage in Latveria and providing background information on his biological father.

With Mahershala Ali set to portray Blade in the upcoming feature film, there is an opportunity to establish a new beginning for the character. Rather than starting with his mother's death and his search for her killer, Ali's version can explore Blade's relationship with his father and expand on the significance of Latveria. Not only is it Blade's inheritance, but it's also a fictional location where Doctor Doom serves as an ambassador with diplomatic immunity. The potential for Doctor Doom to clash with Blade in the MCU could add a much darker dynamic to the character.

Blade Vs. The Avengers by Mark Millar and Steve Dillon

In this thrilling comic book written by Millar and illustrated by Dillon in 2011, Blade, the vampire hunter, finds himself in a dangerous situation as the Avengers turn into blood-craving monsters. The Avengers depicted in this story are not the typical superheroes but a group of gritty, black-ops operatives who handle dirty missions. Blade is left with no choice but to fight against his favorite heroes until he discovers a cure for their condition. The likes of Captain America, Hulk, and Daredevil become rogue vampires, and S.H.I.E.L.D. collaborates with Blade to find a solution to this catastrophic problem.

Blade's world of vampires and supernatural enemies presents an exciting and violent addition to the MCU. The upcoming comic book storyline could serve as an opportunity for the Avengers (old and new) to come together and face a global threat, similar to the epic battle against Thanos. With Blade at the forefront, the Avengers would be exposed to a new realm of danger, potentially turning the vampire hunter into a leading figure and mentor for the group.

Blade: Undead By Daylight by Marv Wolfman, Christopher Golden, Gil Kane, and Gene Colan

This graphic novel, published in 2015 by Wolfman and Golden, features the "Tomb of Dracula" comics from the 1970s. The storyline follows Blade, who fights against the notorious Count Dracula as he attempts to kill passengers aboard a cruise ship. Quincy Harker and Rachel Van Helsing join Blade in a nod to classic characters from Bram Stoker's Dracula. The "Tomb of Dracula" comics serve as Blade's origin story and depict the beginning of his ongoing battles against Dracula. The MCU could explore Blade's backstory and future battles against Dracula, potentially making up for the disappointment of Blade: Trinity. Combining traditional and modern perspectives on vampirism, Blade's arsenal of advanced weaponry, along with ancient texts, would be a thrilling addition to the MCU.

X-Men: Curse of the Mutants by Victor Gischler and Paco Medina

In 2011, Gischler and Medina created an X-Men comic book storyline featuring Blade. In this story, Blade finally defeats Dracula and partners with the X-Men to track down Dracula's son, Xarus, and his army of vampires in San Francisco. Xarus unleashes a virus in Union Square, infecting many civilians, and presents the X-Men and Blade with a choice: join him as vampires or face death.

This storyline has potential for an MCU film, where Blade and the X-Men could join forces and potentially add the Avengers to create a larger team of superheroes. The film could incorporate elements of supernatural horror (vampires) and sci-fi (mutants exploring their powers), similar to the Doctor Strange movies. With R-rated action similar to Logan and Deadpool, a Blade and X-Men film has the potential to be a thrilling addition to the MCU.

Wolverine Vs. Blade by Marc Guggenheim and Dave Wilkins

Blade and Wolverine are two of the most iconic characters in the Marvel universe. In this thrilling 2019 comic book, written by Guggenheim and illustrated by Wilkins, they come together in a battle that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Blade, a half-human, half-vampire hybrid, possesses all the strength of the undead without any of their weaknesses. Meanwhile, Wolverine, a mutant with razor-sharp adamantium claws and incredible healing abilities, is a force to be reckoned with. Get ready for an epic showdown between these two legendary killers and hunters.

It would certainly be a daunting task to adapt this comic into a film for the MCU, given that Hugh Jackman has essentially retired from his iconic role as Wolverine (although he has agreed to return in a different iteration of the character for Deadpool 3). Nevertheless, if the MCU were to feature Wolverine (played by Jackman or another actor) going up against Mahershala Ali's Blade, it would be a truly epic spectacle and a dream come true for fans of Marvel and R-rated action movies alike.