Retro-Read: Nightstalkers #1-18

[GreatLakesAvengers]

My latest endeavor is to catch up on the recent adventures of Blade. Kicking off this wonderful plan, I've started with Nightstalkers and just finished all 18 issues.

This series was just riddled with problems.

1. The plotline was distracted by three storylines in its short run: Rise of the Midnight Sons, Midnight Massacre and Siege of Darkness.

2. It was consumed by loads of guest stars including Ghost Rider, Blaze, Dr. Strange, Morbius, and the Punisher.

3. There was very little characterization of the 'Stalkers. I know a lot of people complain about today's decompressed stories but, a lot of early 90s comics, like this one, suffer from too much action! action! action! without any care for developing the characters.

Now, the last few issues did seem to rectify a lot of these problems and seemed to be heading in a better direction. Turns out they were basically just a set up for Blade's first ongoing series. (Which I'll be reading through shortly.)

[PunisherFan]

I only got the last isse where everyone but Blade died.... but then Hannibal was in Blade recently so I have no idea how he came back. Who was the other Nightstalker?

[drwho]

I only got the last isse where everyone but Blade died.... but then Hannibal was in Blade recently so I have no idea how he came back. Who was the other Nightstalker?

I really think Marc got Hannibal all wrong. I dont know how he goes from being very religious to that version we saw in the last blade series. Just one of the most notable flaws of that title. He didn't even seem like the same character.

[Taskmaster]

My latest endeavor is to catch up on the recent adventures of Blade. Kicking off this wonderful plan, I've started with Nightstalkers and just finished all 18 issues.

This series was just riddled with problems.

1. The plotline was distracted by two storylines in its short run: Rise of the Midnight Sons and Siege of Darkness.

2. It was consumed by loads of guest stars including Ghost Rider, Blaze, Dr. Strange, Morbius, and the Punisher.

3. There was very little characterization of the 'Stalkers. I know a lot of people complain about today's decompressed stories but, a lot of early 90s comics, like this one, suffer from too much action! action! action! without any care for developing the characters.

Now, the last few issues did seem to rectify a lot of these problems and seemed to be heading in a better direction. Turns out they were basically just a set up for Blade's first ongoing series. (Which I'll be reading through shortly.)

The series did have some major flaws up until the end, especially the interruptions by Rise of the Midnight Sons, Midnight Massacre, Siege of Darkness and the horrible Punisher story, but I really liked his solo series

[GreatLakesAvengers]

Totally forgot to mention the Midnight Massacre crossover.

The third partner, besides Blade and Hannibal King, was Francis Drake - a descendent of Dracula.

I'll be reading through all the Blade series, so I'll let you know how Hannibal King comes back ... if they even cover it in between the first series and his latest.

[drwho]

To be honest I dont think it is addressed in any of the series. they retcon it in a one shot. Trying to look for the cover. Blade: Crescent City Blues is the name of it.

[Taskmaster]

To be honest I dont think it is addressed in any of the series. they retcon it in a one shot. Trying to look for the cover. Blade: Crescent City Blues is the name of it.

Yeah, It's kind of hinted at what happened toward the end of the Blade series, but Hannibal doesn't show up again until Crescent City Blues and just makes an offhand comment on why him and Drake are back (Drake hasn't been "seen" since his death in Nightstalkers still). For the official story on what happened you gotta read the handbooks which basically state that a major story involving Blade, Bible John, Hannibal King, Frank Drake and Dracula (amongst others) took place off panel

[drwho]

Supposedly the original idea for Dracula's return was gonna be when the super laser blew up it merged hannibal and Drake together. If I recall they even tried to show emphasis on this plot by giving Dracula 2 different eye colors.

[GreatLakesAvengers]

That original plot would make a lot of sense. I'm currently reading the first solo Blade series and they keep hinting at the return of Hannibal and Drake in the letters pages. I'll be finishing off the series by today or tomorrow.

[matthewaos]

Wow!!!!!!! I have one issue of that book! It seemed cool, but not something exiting. Wow, retro-read indeed!!!

[GreatLakesAvengers]

Blade #8: Bible John (was this character translated into Whistler in the movies?) has a vision that both Frank and Hannibal are alive. ALIVE!

or ... at least that's what he's screaming in his hospital bed. He's an escaped loony ... so, who knows if he's on track or not.

[PunisherFan]

Totally forgot to mention the Midnight Massacre crossover.

The third partner, besides Blade and Hannibal King, was Francis Drake - a descendent of Dracula.

I'll be reading through all the Blade series, so I'll let you know how Hannibal King comes back ... if they even cover it in between the first series and his latest.

so did Drake ever come back? Dracula?

[drwho]

so did Drake ever come back? Dracula?

They put out a one shot explaining that Drake was alive still and was in the hospital. So they just decided to make Dracula Dracula.