- Written by: Bryan Hill
- Art by: Valentina Pinti
- Colors by: KJ Díaz
- Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
- Cover art by: Elena Casagrande, KJ Díaz
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 20, 2024
Blade #9 finds Blade and his allies chasing down The Adana’s associates to find a way to draw her out. Ultimately, he learns the best bait is the most dangerous.
Is Blade #9 Good?
Yes, this is better. Bryan Hill’s take on the Daywalker has had its ups and downs, most likely due to editorial shenanigans, but Blade #9 appears to be getting Blade’s fight against unstoppable evil back on track, just in time to end the arc in the next issue. Oy!
When last we left Blade, he approached Satana Hellstrom with a deal that would get him into the Afterlife and find a way to stop The Adana. Blade’s quest ended in success but with an unexpected outcome when he found an ally willing to accompany him back to the land of the living in the form of Draven, the warrior Blade killed in issue #1. Draven was trained throughout life to stop The Adana’s resurrection, so there’s nobody better suited to help Blade, even if he’s technically dead.
Now, Blade captures a mid-level werewolf to find out where The Adana is hiding. Draven extracts the information from the werewolf’s mind, concluding the only way to draw The Adana out is with irresistible bait that keeps all the forces of Darkness focused on Blade… and away from The Adana. Blade visits Satana again for advice, and she proposes destroying the Archives of the Second World to violate an ancient pact and start an unholy crusade against Blade. When the deed is done, The Adana is forced to honor the pact and seek out Blade.
What’s great about Blade #9? Bryan Hill gets back in the saddle with a penultimate issue that gives Blade’s adventure direction, focus, purpose, and momentum. After several issues of trial & error for the Daywalker, this issue is a refreshing change of pace.
What’s not so great about Blade #9? Satana’s suggestion to destroy the Archive would make more sense to readers if we understood what it is, why it’s so important, and the rules governing its violation. Hill gives you just enough tidbits to know the Archive is important, but not why.
How’s the art? Valentina Pinti does a fine job coming up with unique supernatural character designs, which is the artistic strong point of this issue. Pinti comes up with cool-looking concepts, From werewolves to ghostly warriors to demonic librarians, and it looks great.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Bits and Pieces
Blade #9 does exactly what a penultimate issue should do – establish the stakes and set the stage for an impossible-to-win battle. Hill’s latest issue gives the arc badly-needed purpose and direction, and the art is solid.
Weird Science Marvel Comics 