Dustin Gebel
Marvel has revealed the first wave of tie-in stories to the upcoming summer event, Blood Hunt. In a surprise announcement, British hero Union Jack is getting a three issue miniseries from writer Cavan Scott and artist Kev Walker this May. In Union Jack the Ripper: Blood Hunt, the titular hero will become a vampire hunter with an arsenal that’d make the Punisher look twice, battling a new villain named the Hunger.
In the press release, Cavan Scott described the inspiration for the series, stating:
“It’s going to be more brutal than anything we’ve seen from Union Jack as his methods shift to match the ferocity of an empowered enemy. Working with Kev Walker on this book is a dream, as we both embrace our love of horror in every panel. But it’s not going to just be a gorefest for all involved. The miniseries will be asking some big, heartfelt questions appropriate for a character who wears his country’s flag on his chest. What does that mean when everything you believe in is turned on its head, when everything you’ve always taken for granted shifts beneath your feet?”
Alongside the interior art from Walker, Ryan Brown illustrated the cover for issue one, which can be seen below.
Kev Walker explained their connect to the title in the press release, stating:
“There’s a couple of firsts here for me,” Walker added. “I haven’t done anything this dark, either emotionally or figuratively, before. Most of the horror I’ve done before (Marvel Zombies 3 and Marvel Zombies 4) has come with large doses of humour in the mix. Any humour here is definitely black. It’s also the first time I’ve actually had the chance to draw something set in my part of the world. Since I live in the North of England (the opposite side of the Pennines, but near enough), it actually feels more personal. This story is also pretty blunt and brutal, like something I might have drawn at the beginning of my career in comics, so it’ll be interesting to see if I’ve mellowed over the last 35 years.”
UNION JACK THE RIPPER: BLOOD HUNT #1 (OF 3)
Written by CAVAN SCOTT
Art by KEV WALKER
Cover by RYAN BROWN
On Sale 5/15