Blade (New Line franchise character)
Blade is a fictional character and the protagonist of a series of films, a television series, and comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was originally created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan.
In the New Line Cinema film franchise, Blade is portrayed as a Dhampir – a human-vampire hybrid – born with all the strengths of a vampire but none of their weaknesses to sunlight or other traditional vampire vulnerabilities. His birth occurred when his mother was attacked by a vampire while pregnant. He is driven by a desire to avenge his mother's death and protect humanity from the vampire threat.
Wesley Snipes portrayed Blade in the initial film trilogy: Blade (1998), Blade II (2002), and Blade: Trinity (2004). These films established Blade's fighting prowess, his use of advanced weaponry, and his grim, determined personality. The franchise, known for its action-horror blend, helped popularize the character and solidified his place in popular culture.
A short-lived television series, Blade: The Series (2006), starred Sticky Fingaz as Blade, further exploring the character's world and his ongoing battle against vampires. This series took place after the film trilogy.
Blade's key attributes within the New Line franchise are:
- Dhampir Physiology: Granting him enhanced strength, speed, agility, stamina, and senses compared to normal humans.
- Immunity to Vampire Vulnerabilities: He is immune to sunlight, garlic, silver, and other traditional vampire weaknesses.
- Master Martial Artist: Highly skilled in various forms of combat, including martial arts and swordsmanship.
- Weaponry Expert: Proficient in the use of firearms, swords (particularly his signature katana), and other specialized vampire-hunting tools.
- Grim Determination: Possesses a relentless dedication to his mission of eradicating vampires.
The New Line Cinema portrayal of Blade is distinct from his comic book origins in several aspects, most notably in its visual representation and specific narrative details, but maintains the core concept of a human-vampire hybrid fighting the undead. The franchise has had a lasting impact on action-horror cinema and the depiction of vampire lore.