Midnight Sons vs Blade Promises True Horror "Influenced by Everything from John Carpenter to Junji Ito"

Summary The writer of Marvel's upcoming Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt miniseries promises true horror influences, as Bryan Hill noted that he drew inspiration from sources including John Carpenter and Junji Ito to craft Marvel's vampire crossover event.

Blade, Ghost Rider, and Victoria Montesi will return to action in the three-issue Midnight Sons series – though they won't necessarily all be on the same side of the Marvel Universe's bloodiest conflict yet, at least to start.

Marvel has roots long-established in the horror genre, with iconic characters like Blade and Ghost Rider just scratching the surface of the publisher's penchant for the scary and the supernatural.

Warning: Contains potential spoilers for Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt #1!

As Blade and the Midnight Sons reunite for Blood Hunt, writer Bryan Hill promised true horror influences for the Marvel miniseries. In an interview with CBR, Hill named the legendary director Carpenter and acclaimed manga extraordinaire Junji Ito as influences for the upcoming three-issue run, tying into the massive vampire crossover event. Marvel Comics is fully embracing the horror genre that has inspired many of their iconic characters.

Along with new information from Hill, CBR also shared an exclusive preview for the miniseries’ first issue, introducing Blade, Ghost Rider, and Victoria Montesi. Combining superhero action and intrigue with monstrous thrills, Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt #1 teases some of the team’s iconic characters before their official reunion.

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Blade approaches a fiery chapel and swiftly takes down a team of soldiers with his dual swords, while Ghost Rider uses his penance stare and Victoria Montesi prepares for a cave exploration. The strong horror tone carries over from Hill’s recent Blade run, but with more characters and monsters to build upon.

Related Midnight Suns Art Shows the Epic Reason Wolverine DOES Belong on the Team While he isn't deeply connected to the supernatural, some epic variant covers prove why Wolverine belongs on the mystical team the Midnight Suns.

Marvel Writer Explains Horror Influences In Blood Hunt And Beyond

Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt #1 – Written By Bryan Hill, Art By Germán Peralta

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Characters like Blade, Ghost Rider, Dracula, and others that have appeared in the Midnight Sons lineup are just scratching the surface of the publisher’s penchant for the genre.

Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt writer Hill promises that the miniseries will take inspiration from “everything from John Carpenter to Junji Ito.” Marvel has been inspired by many classic horror stories over the years, but the Carpenter and Ito references signal that the series' creators intend to borrow from multiple horror sub-genres, that the latest Midnight Sons story can tap into for the upcoming Blood Hunt tie-in. While both horror giants have dipped into vampire stories, their most iconic works collectively feature a wide variety of frights, including slasher violence, body horror, cosmic dread, and other supernatural entities.

Marvel has deep roots in the horror genre, and has even referenced Junji Ito’s work in a recent X-Men comic. Characters like Blade, Ghost Rider, Dracula, and others that have appeared in the Midnight Sons lineup are just scratching the surface of the publisher’s penchant for the genre. Even characters that aren’t explicitly related to horror properties have taken inspiration from horror. Doctor Strange and the mystical side of Marvel has always leaned into supernatural thrills, and the Incredible Hulk’s monstrous transformations are inspired by classic literature like Frankenstein and the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

The "Midnight Sons" team name changed to "Midnight Suns" in a recent series and video game, but reverts to the original in their latest miniseries.

The Midnight Sons Return to Fight A Founding Member

And Kill All Vampires

The upcoming Midnight Sons miniseries takes inspiration from horror masterminds like John Carpenter, Junji Ito, and more, meaning that there will be a variety of thrills and chills sure to shake up the supernatural side of Marvel Comics.

The Midnight Sons, including Victoria Montesi, as well as Ghost Riders Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch, will initially reunite to battle Blade during Blood Hunt. The group first formed in Ghost Rider (1990) #31 – by Howard Mackie, Andy and Joe Kubert, and Gregory Wright – to fight occultic villain Lilith. Marvel’s first major out lesbian character, Vicki Montesi is an important inclusion in the event, as her family’s Montesi Formula is an incantation that can kill all vampires, putting Blade in danger.

Blade has been an Avenger in their latest run, so a violent run-in with one of his first teams during Blood Hunt could change the character’s status quo going forward. The upcoming Midnight Sons miniseries takes inspiration from horror masterminds like John Carpenter, Junji Ito, and more, meaning that there will be a variety of thrills and chills sure to shake up the supernatural side of Marvel Comics. As Blade and the Midnight Sons come together in summer 2024’s bloody vampire event, Marvel will embrace the horror genre in all-new and exciting ways.

Source: CBR

Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt #1 (of 3) will be available May 29, 2024 from Marvel Comics.

Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt #1 (2024) Release Date: May 29, 2024 Writer: Bryan Hill Artist: Germán Peralta Cover Artist: Ken Lashley Variant Covers: Declan Shalvey; Dave Wachter THE RETURN OF THE MIDNIGHT SONS! The original Midnight Sons reunite to deal with the vampire threat unleashed in BLOOD HUNT! But first they must defeat one of their own: Blade!