Anthony Bergamini
When it comes to comic book films, the consensus on the internet is quite clear: fans want to see their favorite heroes adapted into live action in a way that mirrors the source material as closely as possible… or so they say. Oftentimes, costume leaks or reveals are met with frustration and distain from fans because of how removed they are from the comics. Other times, characters from the comics are mischaracterized or left completely out of stories, leaving a comic book community puzzled. Regardless of the final product, this kind of loathing seems to have permeated the fanbase ever since comic book films started taking themselves seriously, with many people still complaining that the late Gene Hackman had hair in Superman (1978). Regardless of all this discourse, there is no arguing that a final product may annihilate all preconceived notions, especially as they pertain to costume design and comic book accuracy. There is no better example of this than Blade (1998), a film that often gets overlooked in Marvel’s history (well, not so much now that Wesley Snipes has reprised his role in Deadpool & Wolverine). Blade defied the odds of a modern comic book audience, committing almost every sin that drive the vocal minority of comic book fans insane, and it was awesome.
Right off the bat, Blade presents itself as a straight up bloody action movie. The film opens with a pregnant woman being assaulted by a vampire (later revealed to be Deacon Frost), who suddenly gives birth and then dies. As traumatic and quick as this all happens, the film quickly transitions to that baby grown up, now going by Blade, entering a secret night club. This is revealed to not just be any nightclub, but instead it is a vampire nightclub, where they fill the fire sprinklers with blood (which somehow does not clog them) and dance in the bloody rain. Blade of course is a vampire hunter and killer, who has arrived to enact swift justice on these fine folks, slaughtering many of them in one of the most 90s action scenes of all time.
I know what you are thinking… what in the world does this violent and bloody opening have to do with comic book fans who demand one-to-one accuracy with the source material. Well, Blade in the comics was not this wise cracking, unrealistically ripped half-vampire man who hunted vampires with passion. Instead, Blade was an almost stereotypical vampire hunter who had an immunity to vampirism. It was actually the success of this film that led to Marvel deciding to make the hero more like his film counterpart. So… get that, angry fans! You love a character who was directly changed because of the films.
But back to the film, yes, the film opens with a fight scene that sets the stage for the hero. Blade turns out to be on a quest to kill all vampires, pairing up with his mentor, Abraham Whistler. Together, with the new assistance of a scientist, Karen Jenson, who he saved in the film’s initial battle, Blade and Whistler slowly uncover the villains plot which sees Deacon Frost attempting to resurrect a “blood god.” If this all doesn’t sound insane then you have become desensitized to movies, especially 90s films that have no business being so good.
The other aspect of Blade that makes it so great over twenty-five years later is how it perfectly captures the tone of what will make Marvel so successful with their cinematic universe. Blade is never afraid to crack a joke or make light of a situation, despite the personal and sometimes mature story. It is this blend of humor and seriousness that Marvel really capitalized on years later, with many forgetting that it all started here. While Marvel was no stranger to producing TV shows and films regarding their characters prior, they often resulted in the biggest regard that anyone can hold a comic book film to, they were very campy.
Doubling back on the discussion of why Blade works, despite it being so dramatically different from what was happening to the character in the comics at the time (or in any decade prior), it is hard to overlook the fact that so many comic book films that were adapted to the big or small screen were overloaded with camp. Blade takes all that camp that can potentially arise from his less-cool comic counterpart and turns it into something that doesn’t feel childish. Blade never minces its words, opting to blend its comic book style of action with a more violent and mature story, creating something that feels somewhat timeless in its approach.
Blade is proof that sometimes it is not the best move to directly adapt a story from a comic book. At times, it can be frustrating as a comic book fan to see a beloved character horribly mischaracterized (I am looking at you Zack Snyder), but there is no doubt that it can sometimes be necessary in creating something of genuine substance. Yes, New Line Cinema could have adapted another Marvel property that may have bene closer to its comic roots; however, there is no doubt that Blade made a D-List character skyrocket in popularity, to the point where his appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine made audiences scream in theaters.
