Blade’s new “Red Band” journey continues in issue #2, taking him deep into a conflict zone where vampires, magic, and human warfare collide. After rejecting the Spellguard’s manipulation in the first issue, Blade arrives in Southeast Asia to hunt Pontious Van Helsing on his own terms. But he isn’t the only one looking for a fight. Here is a page-by-page breakdown of “Blade: Red Band #2” full story, explaining exactly what happens in this gritty second chapter.
Previously in Blade:
A quick recap isn’t enough—here’s the full story breakdown of Issue #1 that leads directly into this chapter.
The Prologue
The issue picks up with Blade’s internal monologue. He refuses to dwell on his past trauma—being possessed by Varnae or nearly killed by his daughter. Instead, he focuses on the “present moment.”
- Location: Mowloon City, Southeast Asia.
- The Setting: A place barely on the map, forgotten by superheroes, where war is constant. Blade arrives not as a pawn of the Spellguard, but as a man determined to stop evil on his own schedule.+1
The Ambush
- Blade is immediately confronted by armed locals who don’t take kindly to “new men” in their territory. They threaten him with guns, but Blade warns them, “New men die fast here”.
- The confrontation turns violent instantly. Blade dispatches the attackers with brutal efficiency (“I haven’t even broken a sweat”). He notes that they are far from home and too stupid to notice the danger they are in.
- The Arrival: Just as the dust settles, a new figure enters the fray—a woman named Elena (though she isn’t named immediately). She calls Blade out, revealing she knew Damien (the Spellguard agent from issue #1) would send someone, but she didn’t expect a vampire.
Meeting Elena
- The Standoff: Elena holds a massive gun and makes it clear she doesn’t trust Blade. She knows Damien, implying she has her own history with the Spellguard.
- The Action: Their introduction is cut short by more attackers. Elena proves she’s a capable warrior, using heavy weaponry to blast enemies (“Dyin’ time’s here!”).
- The Safehouse: Elena leads Blade to her hideout. She clarifies she isn’t a vampire—she just has a metal arm and cybernetic enhancements (“wetware”). She explains she needs to eat and dislikes hanging around dead bodies.
The Dinner Table
- In her apartment, Elena offers Blade raw meat, assuming that as a vampire, he’d want blood. Blade declines, clarifying he is not a full vampire and isn’t hungry.
- Elena reveals her backstory and motivation. She hates vampires, magic, and the Spellguard. She explains that she isn’t working for Damien; in fact, she refused to kill Pontious for him, which is why she thought Blade was a hitman sent to kill her.
- The Target: She confirms that Pontious Van Helsing is in Mowloon City. He is using the local war as cover to build a “flock”.
- Pontious’s Strategy: Elena paints a chilling picture of Pontious’s methods. He preys on the victims of war—children and the injured—promising to take their pain away if they drink his blood and become like him. He offers hope to the hopeless, turning them into fanatic slaves.
The Alliance
- The Agreement: Realizing they have a common enemy, they decide to team up. Blade wants Pontious dead; Elena wants to stop a madman from rising to power.
- Leaving the Safehouse: Elena suddenly hands Blade a device to hold. It turns out to be a detonator. She blows up her own apartment to “scrub their trail,” stating casually, “It’s just stuff. I can get more stuff”.
- The Drive: They get into her car to head toward the “war zone” where Pontious is operating. Blade takes the wheel, while Elena rides shotgun, ready to “kill things out of the window”.
- The Destination: As they drive into the chaos, Blade asks where they are headed. Elena replies, “Toward Hell.” Blade, in classic fashion, responds, “I’m familiar”.
