Marvel introduces Blade’s daughter just in time for his MCU debut

It’s been nearly eight years since Marvel first announced a book starring the daughter of Blade, the day-walking vampire hunter — and this week writer Danny Lore and artist Karen S. Darboe finally got her on the page.

What caused the delay? Well, in 2015, superhero comics had a lot of conversations about character and creator diversity, conversations that intensified when Marvel announced the debut of a new black female superhero assigned to an all-white, all-male creative team. The author of this book, Tim Seeley, voluntarily resigned in hopes that Marvel would soon cultivate new talents for the bookespecially after the success of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze Black Panther.

And while I love Seeley’s work, Lore and Darboe were worth the wait, with a first edition that feels very fresh and very classic at the same time.

What else is happening on the pages of our favorite comics? We’ll tell you. Welcome to Monday Funnies, Polygon’s weekly list of books our comics editor has enjoyed over the past week. It’s part society pages about the lives of superheroes, part recommended reading, and part look at this cool art. There may be some spoilers. There may not be enough context. But there will be great comics. (And if you missed the last issue, read this.)

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Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #1

Image: Danny Lore, Karen S. Darboe/Marvel Comics

It sounds flippant to say that Brielle Brooks’ history goes back that far Buffy the vampire slayer — but it’s hard to imagine how a story about a young girl discovering her new anti-vampire superpowers could avoid it. Also, Buffy the vampire slayer objectively got some things right, and there’s no reason why we can’t borrow them. For example, when Brielle balances friends and the hunt, confronting another teenage hunter who is straight happens being the new kid in school, or seeking advice from a basic human mentor (in this case her mother, Safron Caulder, a flashback to Blade’s adventures in the 1970s Dracula’s tomb).

Darboe’s art and Cris Peter’s colors give the whole book a YA graphic novel feel rather than a standard Marvel comic – another great marriage of content and form. If the MCU is real on a casting search for Blade’s daughter For his upcoming movie, they could do worse than what family treeHere lies the creative team of .

Direct Current: A No. 1 Celebration

Image: Morgan Hampton, Valentine De Landro/DC Comics

It’s a small thing, but the reconciliation between Cyborg’s fairly serious comic book incarnation and his more boisterous (but just as beloved) animated one is no small feat. This short story from writer Morgan Hampton and artist Valentine De Landro phrases its cartoon catchphrase as a well-worn family reference to a (fictional) classic black sitcom they enjoyed together.

And look, sad origin stories for supporting character details are played out to the extreme, but that’s not sad! His mom may be gone, but he still keeps the moments they shared close! It’s nice! It is simply beautiful!

Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1

Image: Greg Pak, Minkyu Jung/DC Comics

DC’s Wildstorm characters have been in the news more this week than they’ve been in…maybe ever before. At least since the 90s. City Boy only counts as a Wildstorm character in a loose sense in my opinion – he made his debut in DC’s Wildstorm anniversary book, but I mean he’s still bouncing around the DC Universe with Nightwing and such.

DC hasn’t said where this delinquent teen with a heart of gold and the ability to talk to cities himself will pop up next, but the company has promised more City Boy later this year, and I’m all for it. In this short film, writer Greg Pak and artist Minkyu Jung do a great job introducing a hot teenage vagabond to some more classic DC superheroes without making anyone look like a chump. Also, the ability to speak directly to the essence of the town you’re in and ask it to do things for you is a great superpower – if I can’t have more Jack Hawksmoor stories, I certainly will Fall City take boy. And also, He has a small pet made out of garbage!