The first issue of Marvel Comics' latest event series, Blood Hunt, hit stands today. However, it wasn't what we expected from a comic that's mostly promised to pit Earth's Mightiest Heroes against a seemingly endless vampire hoard.
It begins with the world's Darkforce users being turned into portals which have blocked out the sun across the globe. With that, vampires emerge from the shadows, feeding on humans and turning countless others.
The Avengers attempt to fend them off and, after he asks Miles Morales/Spider-Man for a favour, Blade reaches out to them with the promise of information capable of helping turn the tide. However, when his truck is teleported to their base, a group of ultra-vampires known as the Bloodcoven emerge instead.
They make short work of the team, either incapacitating or killing them. Black Panther and Thor both die, though the latter buys Captain America, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, and The Vision the time they need to escape.
Back in New York, Doctor Strange has discovered a spell which will kill every vampire on Earth. It means eliminating some of his friends, but it's a sacrifice he's willing to make if it saves the planet.
Blade shows up and recaps what's happened, including the fact a vampire cult known as "The Structure" has enacted a plan which will allow them to finally make the world their own.
With that, Blade reveals that he's their leader and proceeds to stab the Sorcerer Supreme with one of his trusty swords! Yes, the Daywalker is Blood Hunt's big bad, a twist that none of us saw coming which has established him as one of the Marvel Universe's greatest villains.
Check out some of Blood Hunt #1's biggest moments below.
THE BLOODIEST MARVEL EVENT EVER! The skies have gone dark, the sun hiding its face from the carnage to come. The children of the night, the vampires, have risen from the dark and hidden places of the world as one to drown the Marvel Universe in blood. Earth's final night has fallen - can even the heroes of this doomed world stem the tide of blood that is to come? Join the AVENGERS, BLADE, BLOODLINE, SPIDER-MAN, HUNTER'S MOON, TIGRA, DOCTOR STRANGE and CLEA as the dance of death begins in BLOOD HUNT #1!
BLOOD HUNT #1
Written by JED MACKAY
Art and Cover by PEPE LARRAZ
Colors by MARTE GRACIA
Letters by VC’s CORY PETIT
On Sale 5/1