Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsBlade lives
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2007
Blade is an ultra rarity in the comic world. The only time he's ever really worked in comics is when Marv Wolfman created him in the 70's for the original Tomb of Dracula, yet the character has translated to a trilogy of films (ranging from excellent to average) with Wesley Snipes in the title role, and since then, a number of new Blade comics have been started; all of which winding up getting cancelled. Things appear to be different this time around, with promising screenwriter Marc Guggenheim (Wolverine) at the helm and Howard Chaykin (American Century, Bite Club) providing the artwork. Make no mistake that there's nothing bad at all about this new take on Blade, which finds the seemingly invincible vampire hunter doing what he does best, while flashbacks to his past are shown intermediately as well. As a whole, Guggenheim's story works, but the breakneck pace of his storytelling makes it easy to get lost in the action. There's appearances from Spider-Man, Dr. Doom, Wolverine, Morbius the Living Vampire, and even Dracula himself to boot as Blade runs afoul of vamps, body jumping demons, and even S.H.I.E.L.D. as well in the midst of the Civil War. Howard Chaykin's artwork however is the definite lowpoint of Undead Again, as the veteran writer/artist appears to be on somewhat of a downward slide, but hopefully, this isn't the case considering the body of work he has under his belt. All in all, there's nothing really special about this first TPB of the new Blade series, but considering what's come before it, this new take is quite refreshing.