Day or night, there is no stopping Blade, the Vampire Hunter. – Black Hollywood Live

BLACK SUPERHERO ALMANAC: BLADE

Black Hollywood Lives Black Superhero Almanac covers all the great superheroes since the beginning of superhero comics. Our goal is for fans to remember and get to know these fantastic and powerful warrior creations. With any luck Hollywood will get to know them, too, so we can see more on screen. Until then we have the Black Superhero Almanac.

Originally Introduced as a supporting character, Eric Brooks, later known as Blade, made his debut in Marvel Comics The Tomb of Dracula #10. Fans of that storyline might remember a very different looking version of the Daywalker.

Credit: Marvel Comics

Gene Colan, the artist behind Blade, said he based the characters features on a composite of black actors including NFL football star Jim Brown. Initially sporting a 1970s style afro hair, and wielded teak bladed knives.

Credit: Sport/Getty Images

Born in a whorehouse in the Soho neighborhood of London, England in 1929, to parents Lucas and Tyra Cross. His father, Lucas Cross, a member of the secret society the Order of Tyrana, sent his pregnant wife to England before he was taken prisoner. There she took the name Vanessa Brooks and found shelter with brothel owner Madame Vanity.

Credit: Marvel Comics

Sadly things went from bad to worse, because Vannessa was beginning to experience severe labor complications. In need of help, they summoned a doctor who ended up being the

vampire Deacon Frost, who would end up feasting during Erics birth, and killing his mom.

Credit: Marvel Comics

However, this inadvertently passed along certain vampire enzymes to the infant. The enzymes entered Blades bloodstream, tainting him with a vampires kiss, but not being fully converted.He became half-human, half-vampire, which gave him a very prolonged lifespan, and the ability to sense supernatural creatures.

Credit: Marvel Comics

Roaming the streets of London, one night, as a young kid, Eric saw an old man being attacked by three vampires, and ended up saving him. Jamal Afari, the old man, ended up finding out about Erics past, and decided to train him in both music and combat to become the Vampire slayer we see today. Unfortunately, down the line, Blade would end up being the one to kill his mentor Jamal Afari, after Dracula himself turned Afari into a Vampire.

Credit: Marvel Comics

Although Blades storyline starts in Europe, he is seen teaming up with some of Marvels biggest heroes. During the Nightstalkers storyline Doctor Strange actually arranges the reformation of Borderline, Inc, also known as The Nightstalker, which included Blade, Hannibal King, and Frank Drake. This group would go on to team with the likes of Ghost Rider, Blaze, and Morbius.

Credit: Marvel Comics

Later, in the Daywalker storyline, Blade follows Morbius to New York. While there, Blade teams with Spider-Man to take on Morbius, but ends up being bit by the Living Vampire. Little did Morbius know, that bite would unexpectedly grant Blade many vampire strengths, while eliminating any weaknesses inherent to a vampire. The most notably the weakness being sunlight, is what made way for the nickname Daywalker.

Credit: Marvel Comics

Blade would go on to fight alongside many others from the Marvel Universe, gaining himself a gun hand, to replace his missing one, during the Civil War storyline. Assisting the X-Men in capturing a vampire specimen for the X-Club, during the Curse of the Mutants (IMG_009_CurseMutants)

Credit: Marvel Comics

Blades character has resonated well with the fans, it was only right Wesley Snipes portrayal of the Vampire Hunter in live action that made Blade a household name, eventually becoming an iconic trilogy of films. And now, almost 21 years after the first movie came out, the MCU has finally announced that Blade will be introduced in the MCU, played by Mahershala Ali.

Credit: Disney/ Marvel Entertainment

Credit: Getty Images

If youre a fan of Blade, other Black Superheroes, and Black Hollywood Live Black Superhero Almanac , pass this on to a friend. And if I left out anything on Blade, or if there are other Black Superheroes you wanted spotlighted, let me know in the comments below. Im Jeff Williams for Black Superhero Almanac. Videos on AfterBuzz TV. Articles here on Black Hollywood Live

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Day or night, there is no stopping Blade, the Vampire Hunter. - Black Hollywood Live

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero