Vampire stories are often about a team of skilled experts joining forces to take out a horrific threat. Bram Stoker's Dracula is about that, in a way. The Blade 2 film followed that formula, as did Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, in its own fashion. This limited series from Marvel embraces that formula by the numbers, and while the setup is rather conventional and even cliched, it's effective as well. The art is appropriately dark and effective, though the design for the title character casts off Marvel's previous incarnations for a more contemporary -- and unfortunately generic -- goth look.
Blade hunts an unusual young woman through the streets of New York. She has the stench of the undead on her, but she doesn't fit the vampire mold either. All is not as it seems, as Blade soon discovers she is a part of another effort to protect mankind and to rid the world of the threat of vampires. A descendant in the Van Helsing bloodline has gathered his own team of warriors to that end, but Blade sees only their inexperience. Their mission is vital, though, as the lord of the vampires is about to undergo a ritual that will give him power over the entire world, spelling the beginning of the end for humanity.
Tolagson's dark, Vertigo leanings make him a good match for the subject matter here. His work reminds me of John (Pride & Joy, Hellblazer) Higgins's work, that of Phil (Monolith) Winslade and even cover artist Bill Siewkiewicz. This isn't a super-hero comic, and the artist does well distinguishing among the characters without the benefit of colorful costumes. The artist brings an edgy quality to the characters that's in keeping with the overall tone of the story. The colors are appropriately dark, and the use of two inkers doesn't seem to hurt the storytelling, as there aren't jarring shifts from page to page.
The introduction of Van Helsing's new team is effective, and the characters are without a doubt thoroughly cool. Though I expect this book will appeal more to a younger, teen demographic than to someone such as myself, I did appreciate that the vampire hunters are both physically and intellectually accomplished.
As cool as the characters are, though, there's nothing remotely grounded to be found in any of them, or in any of the plot's circumstances. The plot is a generic one, and it's too bad there's not something more down to earth with which the reader can connect. This series is shaping up to be a solid action/horror story, but little else. 6/10
