Nightstalkers (comics)
Nightstalkers | |
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Abigail Whistler |
Nightstalkers is an American comic book series published by
The Nightstalkers appeared in Blade: Trinity.
Publication history
The team of vampire-hunters Blade and Frank Drake and vampiric private detective Hannibal King first reunited in Ghost Rider (vol. 3) #28 (cover dated August 1992).[2] They subsequently starred in their own series, Nightstalkers, which ran 18 issues (November 1992–April 1994). It incorporated story threads from previous Marvel Comics supernatural series, primarily The Tomb of Dracula (April 1972–August 1979) where the three protagonists had first appeared.
The series' initial creative team was writer D. G. Chichester, penciller Ron Garney and inker Tom Palmer, reprising his role from The Tomb of Dracula. After 11 issues, Steven Grant took over scripting, with Frank Lovece wrapping up the fates of some of the 1970s series' characters in the last three issues. Artists included Mark Pacella, Kirk Van Wormer and Andrew Wildman.[3]
Fictional team history
Before being formally gathered by
After Strange manipulates the trio into forming the Nightstalkers, the team fights many emerging supernatural enemies. These include
The Tomb of Dracula threads
In the final arc (#16–18, Feb.-April 1994), King's house, including Borderline's office, is destroyed by a
In a final battle, Varnae, a previous Lord of Vampires who had already returned, takes psychic control of King and directs him to kill his comrades. King stakes himself instead. Drake attempts to sacrifice his own life to kill Varnae, engineering an Exorcist-powered explosion. Blade, in self-defense, has already staked Taj Nital, his old comrade from The Tomb of Dracula (who had been turned vampiric between the two series). Blade survives and attends his teammates' funeral but encounters King again in the subsequent series Blade. There he learns King's plunge into a metal pole (rather than silver or wood) had fortuitously not killed him and that he had escaped the explosion. King also informs Blade that Drake was left scarred and crippled in both body and mind.
In other media
A revised version of the Nightstalkers was depicted in the 2004 film . In the film, Blade was not a Nightstalker himself but allied with them, albeit reluctantly, as they were younger and, in his eyes, less experienced. In contrast to the more mature and reserved Hannibal King depicted in the comics, Reynolds' revision of the character was in keeping with his history of humorous, extroverted characters. Abigail Whistler was the leader of the group. Unlike in the comic, there were several lesser members who, being unsuited for physical action, stayed at headquarters in supporting roles.
References
- ^ Nightstalkers #1, p. 14. Blade has a business card with Borderline Investigations' address on it upon being released from prison.
- ^ Ghost Rider (vol. 3) #28 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Nightstalkers at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Christiansen, Jeff (ed.). "Lillith". The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
- ^ Christiansen, ed., "D.O.A. (Department of Occult Armaments)"
- ^ Nightstalkers #18 at the Grand Comics Database