Tomb of Dracula (Vol. 2)

(Marvel, 2004-2005)
™ and © Marvel Entertainment Group

“Something big is going down … Something that’s got the vamp community whipped into a frenzy.” So says Blade the vampire killer, who first appeared in Tomb of Dracula #10 (1st series) as a jive-talker with a big ’fro. He’s the star here, but his pseudo-ethnic slang is gone, and he’s now totally bald (unlike the movie version of Blade, who does retain some hair). Remaining the same is Blade’s swagger, his toughness, and his hatred of the undead, especially of the main man himself: Dracula.

The “something big” in question spurs Noah Van Helsing to form a team of vampire slayers that makes the “Scooby Gang” from Buffy look like a bunch of ill-prepared girlie men in comparison. Much of the story merely sets things up (Dracula himself barely appears), but some intriguing new characters are introduced, the art is stylish and exciting (think Kelley Jones crossed with Phil Hester), and the sense of impending war is darkly delicious.

— Brett Weiss

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