Recap: His Name is Blade

Hello everyone. Halloween is coming; and now it’s time to do a recap I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. The first episode of the Blade anime. The last of the Marvel anime I haven’t recapped yet. While it is quite good; as with the previous Marvel anime I have done, there is material as I discovered when I watched it.

While I am unfamiliar with the comic book series; the films, especially the first two, are quite enjoyable, and it turns out that Blade is quite popular in Japan; as are vampires. They have been there for decades; and I am pleased that they have been given lots of representation in anime and manga. One I am following, Seraph of the End; is being turned into an anime by the same folks behind the massive smash Attack on Titan. So, let’s open up “His Name is Blade!”

We open on Blade sitting in his home; and it turns out he is a “day-walker,” a man who possesses both vampire and human qualities since birth; since his parents were killed by vampires. Typical superhero stuff, to be frank; but the films, as well as this anime have a cinematic quality to them that make it much easier to take on their own merits (note: I am generally a casual reader of regular comics, but if a story interests me; you bet I’ll pick it up.) 

Who's the private dick that cuts up vampires real sick? BLADE! Damn right!

From its opening moments; it is already quite clear that this is a better use of Blade than Blade Trinity was. 

The theme song is a sort of j-metal horror-core tune; perfect for the season and for an anime about vampires.

In short order, we get our title under a red moonlit sky.

Can you dig it?

Naturally, we pan down to a nightclub in Yokohama, Japan.

In Blade’s native London, it turns out he was born under a blood moon shortly before the death of his parents. 

His mother is cornered in an alley by a vampire. 

Back in the present, Blade senses something in the nightclub and decides it’s time to punch in.

A man stumbles out drunk as all can be. 

Despite his slurred claims, he’s in no condition to drive; or even stand up all that much. Just as well; since this was a last gasp of G4’s nerd appeal before Esquire took it over and gave fashions that were definitely not sunglasses and 20 pounds of black leather.

I think maybe we should call for a pizza! We can ride home in the delivery boy's car!

He then hits on a young woman from the club.

You mind if I take off my shirt? It's kind of chafing me.

Then, it turns out the woman is a vampire; and the man tries to run away. 

What a terrible night to have a curse!

Blade rescues the man, and it turns out some of the guards are vampires as well.

He confronts one of them about the club belonging to Existence, an entire faction of evil vampires. The way he looks as he’s cornered just calls for my standard loser horns.

Now that Blade has the information he needs; he’s going to go about the club in a fashion that’s worthy of a U2 AMV.

The vampire guard still makes a scared face as he wonders what Blade will do; but it turns out he has bigger fish to fry. So, let’s once again put on this tune from The Raspberries with the possibility of me seeing lots of people young and old going as Star Lord.

Then, the vampire that killed Blade’s parents arrives in a limousine. So, here is yet another villain in these Marvel anime that pride themselves on theatrically flaunting their affluence. 

We then see a fellow vampire hunter named Makoto in disguise. I must say, she looks different after the last fighting tournament she entered. 

The club’s interior has even more of a paranormal vibe to it; as if it were Day of the Dead night.

The way the guests are dressed, it almost feels like it’s a club built around an industrial metal motif. Perfect for vampires.

There’s even a cage for dancers, both employed, and not. 

Makoto then addresses some of the guests for information.

Also, one amusing screen cap I took was of how Dark Souls was being brought stateside; and it is a series well-known for its difficulty, and it’s another reminder of how the gaming market has long outlasted one of its key outlets.

You are dead, Existence!

Then, Makoto manages to get into a private room with one of the owners of the club. 

The man then remarks about the expense of his cologne. I also notice the X-Play bumper at the bottom; and I miss that show too.

It's the same kind Adam Sessler wore when he reviewed Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis!

Then, as he tries to make a move on Makoto, she knows who she’s looking for.

A fight ensues on the dance floor; and the man is a werewolf who calls the humans ugly.

Who are you calling ugly, you Darkstalkers reject?!

Makoto’s partner tries shooting him, but to no avail. If only there were some metal that had some ill effect on lycan beasts! 

Blade then enters the space; ready to take out the trash.

Blade then opts to engage the werewolf. His live actor survived federal prison and The Expendables 3. He can survive this!

He draws his sword in a manner worthy of a fighter of his stature.

FSHING!

He then totally eviscerates that werewolf! If only he could do that to the Cullens.

Blade wins! BRUTALITY!

One of the things I found amusing is this instance of E*Trade product placement on the cargo containers. This is intentionally creepy, unlike those badly photoshopped babies.

The vampire owner of the club then makes a smirk worthy of a Jim Jarmusch film.

Love is the drug!

Oddly, now that Makoto is outside the club; she is now suffering from dull surprise even though she wasn’t before. Still better than Abigail Whistler though.

Dull surprise!

The vampire then gets jumped by Blade. 

Gravity is trying to bring me down!

It turns out he’s the one Blade is looking for!

Four! That's 4 puncture wounds I put in your mother! Ha ha ha!

Yet, Makoto’s father is attacking Blade instead of working with him.

What is a man? A miserable pile of secrets. But enough talk, have at you!

Despite Blade’s best efforts, he loses the fight. Still a better fight than the PS2 game in Blade II!

The vampire then says they will meet again. Marvel says they want 12 episodes! That’s when we’ll fight! 

Then, two hoods appear that look like they’re rejects from Vampire Knight.

Amoeba!

It turns out Makoto’s father was bitten and is taken out by Blade. It’s a general superhero rule: there must be at least one parent dead; and at least one no-win situation. This is how it ends, and it’s a pretty good story.

“His Name is Blade” is an enjoyable, if flawed entry in the Marvel anime canon. While not quite as good as the Iron Man, X-Men, or Wolverine anime in terms of storytelling; it does have enough slick animation and gothic atmosphere to offset some occasional silly scenes. Next time is also something I’ve been wanting to do for almost a year. Next time: I recap an episode of Kamisama Dolls!