"Blood Hunt" is an American comic book crossover storyline written by Jed MacKay with art by Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia, published in 2024 by Marvel Comics. The event involves the rise of the Vampire Nation, which is united by a single vision for the first time in millennia.
Blood Hunt #1 was dedicated in memory of Paul Neary, with various other issues and tie-ins being dedicated in memory of Jeffrey Veregge, Don Perlin and Ray Chan.
Publication history At the New York Comic Convention in October 2023, Marvel Comics teased "Blood Hunt" as the next major crossover event that will command its own main limited series, as well as tie-in issues and spinoff limited series.
Blood Hunt is announced as a five-issue limited series written by the current Avengers scribe Jed MacKay debuting in May 2024. The series is a culmination of a building story about the vampire apocalypse involving the Avengers, Blade, Bloodline, Spider-Man, Morbius, Hunter's Moon, Tigra, Doctor Strange, and Clea.
Plot Lead-Up As Spider-Man fights a villain named Doctor Dark who has Darkforce abilities, he witnesses Doctor Dark suddenly vomit Darkforce energy, which rises into the sky. Meanwhile, Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman notice numerous dimensional breaches, including a breach in the Darkforce dimension. In Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, Daredevil senses the change caused by the Darkforce and springs into action against the attacking vampire forces, saving as many civilians as he can. In an alley, Blade's daughter Bloodline fights a group of vampires. She kills some of them until Dracula appears. He states that the world is ending and advises her to come with him to save it.Free Comic Book Day 2024: Blood Hunt/X-Men #1
Main plot The Darkforce dimension empties onto Earth, blocking out the Sun and allowing vampires to attack worldwide. As the Avengers are fighting off vampires, Blade contacts them and says he has information and to meet up at the Avengers' base, the Impossible City. The Avengers are ambushed by Bloodstorm One, Megrim, Cruel, Unusual, Damascene, and Smoke Eater, who manage to overwhelm them. Thor and Scarlet Witch are incapacitated, with Black Panther sacrificing himself to have the rest of the remaining Avengers evacuated. Blade tells Strange and Clea that the vampires have become organized under the Structure, which caused the Darkforce users to blot out the sun, the global uprising, and the Avengers being attacked by the Bloodcoven, a group of vampires who feed on superhuman blood. When Strange asks if Dracula is the leader of the Structure, Blade stabs Strange and states that he is the leader.
At the Impossible City, Thor and Scarlet Witch have been restrained while Black Panther has been turned into a vampire. As Bloodline and Dracula prepare to fight the Bloodcoven, they are greeted with the remaining Avengers (Captain Marvel, Captain America, Iron Man, and Vision). Vision overpowers the Bloodcoven with solar energy, forcing them to retreat. After arriving at the Sanctum Sanctorum, Dracula, Bloodline, and the Avengers meet with Strange, Hunter's Moon, Miles Morales, and Tigra. Bloodline expresses relief about meeting with Miles again, while telling him that she cannot find her father. Just as she says this, Miles suddenly turns into a vampire.
At the Sanctum Sanctorum, a vampiric Miles begins to attack only for Vision to subdue him and Doctor Strange's astral form and Clea to restore his mind to normal. Dracula informs Bloodline that Blade is the new lord of the vampires and that she must be the one to strike him down and stop him. When Bloodline runs off, Dracula and Miles Morales go after her. Tigra and Hunter's Moon state that the Midnight Mission will put together an army that cannot be killed or turned, but that they need one more to join their party. The Avengers plan to face off against Blade and the Bloodcoven, but realize they need to draw him out. Captain America broadcasts a speech worldwide, stating that they have fought worse opponents that tried to take over Earth before and won and that the world should tell the vampires that they cannot have it. After the broadcast, Captain America states to Iron Man that it was the same speech he gave to the Impossible City and hoped that Black Panther would recognize it.Blood Hunt #3
At the Temple of the First Blasphemy, Black Panther meets up with Blade and the Bloodcoven. When Black Panther asks if the man he is speaking with is actually Eric Brooks, it is revealed that Blade is possessed by Varnae. Back in Doomstadt, Doom informs Strange and Clea about Varnae and how Marie Laveau had failed to make Blade the host of Varnae the first time, but now has succeeded the second time around. Doom reveals that he has a plan to get rid of the Darkforce covering Earth in exchange for Strange giving up his title of Sorcerer Supreme. At the Temple of the First Blasphemy, the Varnae-possessed Blade tells Black Panther that he has the power of a god and the living Darkhold in his possession, which he needs to complete his ritual. Black Panther reveals to Varnae that the heart-shaped herb has been healing his vampiric infection bit by bit as he frees Thor. The rest of the Avengers show up as Varnae dares them to face the Unliving Darkforce.Blood Hunt #4
Thor remembers the last time he fought Varnae as he fights him without Mjolnir, which is still in orbit. In Latveria, Doom and the Strange Academy students begin casting a spell to eliminate the Darkforce. Bloodline and Miles attack Blade, allowing Scarlet Witch to free him from Varnae's possession. Doctor Strange expects Doom to follow his oath of returning the Sorcerer Supreme mantle to him, but he refuses. While still a vampire, Miles finds himself unfazed by the sun. Dracula states that the sun has lost its effect on the vampires and that they have a new dawn ahead of them.Blood Hunt #5
Main characters by series Series Characters Blood Hunt Vengeance of the Moon Knight (vol. 2) The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 6) The Avengers (vol. 9) Doctor Strange (vol. 6) Venom (vol. 5) Fantastic Four (vol. 7) Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) Blood Hunters Dracula: Blood Hunt Strange Academy: Blood Hunt The Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt Union Jack the Ripper: Blood Hunt Black Panther: Blood Hunt Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt Wolverine: Blood Hunt Hulk: Blood Hunt Werewolf by Night: Blood Hunt X-Men: Blood Hunt – Jubilee X-Men: Blood Hunt – Magik X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke X-Men: Blood Hunt – Laura Kinney The Wolverine
Issues involved Prelude issues Title Issues Writer Artist Colorist Release date Free Comic Book Day 2024: Blood Hunt/X-Men 1 Jed MacKay Sara Pichelli May 4, 2024
Main series Title Issues Writer Artist Colorist Debut date Conclusion date Blood Hunt 1–5 Jed MacKay Pepe Larraz Marte Gracia May 1, 2024 July 24, 2024
Tie-in issues Limited series Title Issues Writer(s) Artist(s) Colorist Debut date Conclusion date Blood Hunters 1–4 Mark RussellChristos GageErica Schultz Bob QuinnJavier GarrónBernard Chang rowspan="8" July 17, 2024 Dracula: Blood Hunt 1–3 Danny Lore Vincenzo Carratù July 3, 2024 Strange Academy: Blood Hunt Daniel José Older Luigi Zagaria July 24, 2024 The Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt Justina Ireland Marcelo Ferreira July 17, 2024 Union Jack the Ripper: Blood Hunt Cheryl Lynn Eaton Farid Karami July 10, 2024 Black Panther: Blood Hunt Cavan Scott Kev Walker July 3, 2024 Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt Bryan Hill Germán Peralta July 24, 2024 Wolverine: Blood Hunt 1–4 Tom Waltz Juan José Ryp July 24, 2024
One-shots Title Writer Artist Colorist Release date Hulk: Blood Hunt Phillip Kennedy Johnson Danny Earls rowspan="6" Werewolf by Night: Blood Hunt Jason Loo Adam Gorham X-Men: Blood Hunt – Jubilee Preeti Chhibber Enid Balám X-Men: Blood Hunt – Magik Ashley Allen Jesús Hervás X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke Steve Foxe Lynne Yoshii X-Men: Blood Hunt – Laura Kinney The Wolverine Stephanie Phillips Robert Gill
Series tie-ins Title Issues Writer(s) Artist(s) Colorist Debut date Conclusion date Vengeance of the Moon Knight (vol. 2) 5–7 Jed MacKay Alessandro Cappuccio rowspan="7" July 24, 2024 The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 6) 49 Zeb Wells John Romita Jr. The Avengers (vol. 9) 14–16 Jed MacKay C.F. Villa July 10, 2024 Doctor Strange (vol. 6) 15–17 Pasqual Ferry July 3, 2024 Venom (vol. 5) 33–34 Al Ewing Juan Ferreyra June 5, 2024 Fantastic Four (vol. 7) 21–22 Ryan North Ivan Fiorelli July 24, 2024 Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) Cody Ziglar Travel Foreman July 3, 2024
Collected editions TitleIssues collectedFormatWritersArtistsPages ReleasedISBNMain seriesBlood HuntBlood Hunt #1-5TPBJed MacKayPepe Larraz, Sara Pichelli152Pepe Larraz cover: Blood Hunt: Red BandBlood Hunt: Red Band #1-5OHCJed MacKayPepe Larraz, Sara Pichelli160Pepe Larraz cover: Tie-insAmazing Spider-Man: Blood HuntAmazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1-3; Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #49; Miles Morales Spider-Man (2023) #21-22TPBJustina Ireland, Zeb Wells, Cody ZiglarMarcelo Ferreira, John Romita Jr, Travel Foreman144Marcelo Ferreira cover: Avengers by Jed Mackay Vol. 3: Blood HuntAvengers (2023) #12-16TPBJed MackayFrancesco Mortarino, C.F. Villa120Joshua Cassara cover: Blood Hunt: Marvel UniverseBlack Panther: Blood Hunt #1-3; Strange Academy: Blood Hunt #1-3, Hulk: Blood HuntTPBCheryl Lynn Eaton, Daniel José Older, Phillip Kennedy JohnsonFarid Karami, Luigi Zagaria, Danny Earls192Andrea Sorrentino cover: Blood Hunters: Once More Into DarknessBlood Hunters (vol. 1) #1-4TPBMark RussellBob Quinn160Greg Land cover: Blood HuntersBlood Hunters (vol. 2) #1-5TPBErica SchultzRobert Gill120Ema Lupacchino cover: Doctor Strange by Jed Mackay Vol. 3: Blood HuntDoctor Strange (2023) #11-18TPBJed MackayDanilo S. Beyruth, Pasqual Ferry176Alex Ross cover: Dracula: Blood HuntDracula: Blood Hunt #1-3; Union Jack The Ripper: Blood Hunt #1-3TPBDanny Lore, Cavan ScottVincenzo Carratu, Kev Walker160Rod Reis cover: Midnight Sons: Blood HuntMidnight Sons: Blood Hunt #1-3; Werewolf by Night: Blood HuntTPBBryan Hill, Jason LooGerman Peralta, Adam Gorham112Ken Lashley cover: Miles Morales by Cody Ziglar Vol. 5: Blood HuntMiles Morales: Spider-Man (2022) #21-24; Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual (2024)TPBCody Ziglar, Curtis BaxterBrent Peeples, David Baldeón, Travel Foreman144Federico Vicentini cover: X-Men: Blood HuntX-Men: Blood Hunt - Jubilee (2024); X-Men: Blood Hunt - Magik; X-Men: Blood Hunt - Psylocke; X-Men: Blood Hunt - Laura Kinney The Wolverine; Wolverine: Blood Hunt #1-4TPBPreeti Chhibber, Ashley Allen, Steve Foxe, Stephanie Phillips, Tom WaltzEnid Balam, Jesús Hervás, Lynne Yoshii, Robert Gill, Juan Jose Ryp184Rod Reis cover:
Reception Blood Hunt received generally positive reviews from critics. According to ComicBookRoundup, the core miniseries received an average score of 7.9 out of 10 across 49 different reviews.
Aftermath Six months after the events of Blood Hunt and seizing the mantle of the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Doom emerges from Latveria and declares himself Emperor of the World, leading into the events of One World Under Doom.
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