General Information
Title: Blade #5
Author: Marc Guggenheim
Illustrator(s): Howard Chaykin on pencils and inks, with Edgar Delgado on colours
Original Publication Date: Cover dated March 2007.
Cover Price: $2.99 US, $3.75 Can
Past comic reviews can be found
here.
Premise
Blade gets recruited to bring in Wolverine.
High Point
"Is there some piece of paper you want me to sign?"
Low Point
It feels like the entire purpose of the issue is to sell the general public on the character of Blade. This doesn't feel like a
natural tie-in, but like a crossover with two of Marvel's biggest recent draws just to draw attention to a character whose comics keep
getting cancelled.
The Scores
This really doesn't feel original. Essentially, it's a sequel to a spin-off of the crossover
event. I give it 3 out of 6.
The artwork is by Howard Chaykin. I've never warmed to his stuff, thanks to his difficulty keeping things
on model and lack of subtle emotions. I give it 4 out of 6.
The story is minimal. One plot thread is wrapped up with a weak flashback, and another ends in a
manner inconsistent with what we've seen from Maria Hill in other titles. I give it 3 out of 6.
The characterization isn't consistent with what I know of Blade. Most of what I know of him was
from his old Tomb of Dracula appearances, but this reads more like the character from the (lousy) movie than the character from
the comics. Maybe there's a lot of history that I'm missing, but I'm thinking that Marvel shouldn't feel obligated to match a bad movie
that made a lot of money and kicked off a now dead franchise. I give it 3 out of 6.
The emotional response is, as you might have guessed by now, fairly poor. Of all of the
Civil War crossovers I've read and reviewed here, this one felt the most like a cash grab. I give it 2 out of 6.
The flow works thanks to the colourist. A black and white reproduction will be very difficult to follow,
should one ever come, as there are few (if any) cues in the text when switching between present and past. Even with the colour,
Chaykin's squarish style gives a blockish impression that makes the action feel stodgy. I give it 3 out of 6.
Overall, it's a weak entry in the Civil War. Given the strength of Guggenheim's writing with an
equally displeasing penciller in Wolverine, I'd guess that this title is generally better than this, but this issue is weak. I give it 3
out of 6.
In total, Blade #5 receives 21 out of 42.
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