When I first heard about this new series, I had no idea that it was also part of a an ongoing project of anime produced by Marvel based on X-Men and Iron Man. So out of the three of them, I chose Blade because I'm a huge fan of the character; having first seen him in the stellar "Spider-Man: The Animated Series" and then on the big screen with the equally impressive first "Blade" film.
I didn't know what to think. I thought it going to be a lazy cash-in on a once-obscure superhero, but it turned out to be much more than I expected. It's got all the great elements of the films and comics, and then some. What I like more about this series is that, unlike the films, the writers actually take the time to explore Blade's past. Blade is much more developed in this series; something even the films, save for the first two, the third film failed to do. In this series, Blade comes across as a tortured and much more sympathetic hero, making him a much more rounded character. And the supporting cast is equally impressive, especially the spunky, street-wise Makoto, who really grew on me as things went on. She and Blade are like kindred spirits; both have lost a loved on in the past, but push forward for the greater good which makes them heroes.
But no superhero epic would be complete without villains and this one's got a lot of bite(no pun intended)with a vast assortment of baddies for our heroes to encounter, including the big bad boy himself, Deacon Frost. Needless to say, the Deacon Frost in this series, is equally brutal and sadistically evil as his film and comic book counterpart at the same time. But surprisingly, his back-story makes him a sympathetic character as well, despite his evil nature. But Frost has bigger and nastier plans for humanity and it's up to Blade, Makoto, and several allies(including some surprises that will make fans giddy with excitement)to stop him at all costs.
What follows is a deliciously delightful dessert of action, suspense, thriller and horror with a side of dark humor, thrown in for good measure. The action scenes are really impressive, but my only complaint is that it's a little too tame in places, making it seem "PG-13" like despite the fact that Blade is a gruesome and bloody superhero. At least in Blood+(another equally impressive series)the vampire slaying is shown very vividly. Blade on the other hand, plays it safe; presumably to reach a wider audience. I like my vampire slaying shown in full force, not in quick-cut motion, which may turn some people off. Also, the techniques that Blade shows off when killing his enemies, becomes a little repetitive after a while, but it's the well-written stories and plot that makes up for it.
While not as bloody as the films and other vampire-slaying epics like Blood+, Marvel Anime: Blade, is a worthy addition to fans of the character. This series has won over any skepticism I had before viewing this series, and I enjoyed the ride. Great characters, great stories, great art, simply great series. A second and third viewing is not out of the question.
