Marvel introduces Blade’s daughter, just in time for his MCU debut

It’s been almost eight years since Marvel first announced a book starring the daughter of Blade, the day-walking vampire hunter — and this week, writer Danny Lore and artist Karen S. Darboe finally put her on the page.

The delay is what? The delay was caused by the fact that superhero comics had already been several years in progress. These conversations grew when Marvel revealed that a Black superheroine would be being assigned to an all-white and all-male creative team. That book’s writer, Tim Seeley, voluntarily stepped away, with hopes that Marvel would cultivate new talent for the book soon, especially after the success of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze’s Black Panther.

And though I love Seeley’s work, Lore and Darboe were worth the wait, with a first issue that feels very fresh and very classic Marvel at the same time.

Is there anything else happening inside our favourite comics’ pages? We’ll tell you. Welcome to Monday Funnies, Polygon’s weekly list of the books that our comics editor enjoyed this past week. It’s part society pages of superhero lives, part reading recommendations, part “look at this cool art.” There may be some spoilers. It may not provide enough context. There will still be some great comics. This is the latest edition.

Bloodline: #1 Daughter of Blade

Image: Danny Lore, Karen S. Darboe/Marvel Comics

It sounds flippant to say that Brielle Brooks’ story so far recalls Buffy the Vampire Slayer — but it’s hard to imagine how a story about a teenage girl discovering her new anti-vampire superpowers could avoid it. Also, Buffy the Vampire Slayer objectively did some things right, and there’s no reason we can’t borrow them. Brielle, for example, balances hunting and friends when she confronts a fellow teenager slayer. Happens to be the new kid at school, or gets advice from a baseline human mentor (in this case, her mom, Safron Caulder, a throwback to Blade’s 1970s adventures in The Tomb of Dracula).

Darboe’s art and Cris Peter’s colors give the whole book more of a YA graphic novel feel than a standard Marvel comic — another great marriage of content to form. If the MCU really is on a casting search for Blade’s daughter for his upcoming movie, they could do worse than what Bloodline’s creative team is laying out here.

DC Power Celebration #1.

Image: Morgan Hampton, Valentine De Landro/DC Comics

It’s a little thing, but the reconciliation between Cyborg’s rather serious comics incarnation with his more boisterous (but just as beloved) animated one is no small feat. Morgan Hampton (writer) and Valentine De Landro (artist) reframe his cartoon catchphrase in a humorous family reference to a classic Black sitcom that they both enjoyed.

And look, sad origin stories for minor character details are extremely played out, but this isn’t sad! He may have lost his mother, but he cherishes the memories they shared. It’s nice! It’s just nice!

Legends Reborn on Lazarus Planet #1

Image: Greg Pak, Minkyu Jung/DC Comics

DC’s Wildstorm characters have been more in the news this week than they’ve been since… maybe ever. Definitely at least since the ’90s. City Boy only counts as a Wildstorm character in a loose sense, I think — he made his debut in DC’s Wildstorm anniversary book, but, I mean, he’s still bopping around the DC Universe with Nightwing and such.

DC hasn’t said where this delinquent teen with a heart of gold and the ability to talk to cities themselves will show up next, but the company has promised more City Boy later this year, and I’m for it. Minkyu Jung, the artist and writer of this comic strip do a fantastic job connecting a vagabond teen to other classic DC superheroes. They don’t make anyone seem like they are a fool. Also, the ability to talk directly to the essence of the city you’re in and ask it to do things for you is a great superpower — if I can’t have more stories about Jack Hawksmoor, I’ll sure as heck take City Boy. Also, also, A little dog made from garbage is his pet!