Marvel has not had a crossover event over the past few years has had us excited, now with the Blood Hunt event we finally have something to sink our teeth into…yes, pun intended. The skies have gone dark, the sun hiding its face from the carnage to come. The children of the night, the vampires, have risen from the dark and hidden places of the world as one to drown the Marvel Universe in blood.

Blood Hunt is being hailed as Marvel Comics’ bloodiest event ever. The dark and ominous atmosphere created by writer Jed MacKay (Moon Knight, Magic The Gathering) sets the stage for an intense and thrilling storyline that finally has our attention. MacKay is joined by artist Pepe Larraz (X-Men, Big Game) to eerily capture the gritty and violent event of vampires and superheroes colliding, this comic is a visually feast for the eyes.

As long time fans of epic Marvel crossover events, we have been hoping for more from events over the past number of years. However, recently we feel like they either didn’t have the hook or the stamina to put their events in the pantheon of historical crossovers at Marvel. With Blood Hunt, it was refreshing to read an initial book that brings together a diverse group of comic book characters across the Marvel Universe and face them up against a foe as dark as vampires. It will be exciting to see how these stories intertwine for the next issues and beyond.

In addition to what hopes to be a stellar continuing storyline in the Blood Hunt crossover, the artwork is gritty and intense. The ability to show more brutal scenes and tell darker tales in the main Marvel storyline gets this reader excited even more.

Marvel took a risk in releasing two comics with the same story, but with different maturity levels and it seems like it will pay off. They give readers the ability to read a comic that is more typical of the main Marvel Universe as well as one that we may have seen in the past under the Max Comics imprint from the early 2000s. However, the difference being that Max released one version of the book intended for mature audiences.

The ending of Blood Hunt #1 has a twist the surprised us, but also left us eager to see where it goes from here. The character involved in the twist adds a layer that I am not as excited to see, more so hoping said character was on the light side. It was a bold move and as excited we are for this crossover event we hope it pays off in the end.

Those holding off on crossover events over the past few years should give Blood Hunt a go. The storyline is setting up to be brutal, the artwork is fantastic and we’re sure more twists are waiting around the corner. Sink your teeth into (we did it again) this crossover event with Blood Hunt #1.

Blood Hunt #1 hit local comic shops on May 1, 2024 from Marvel Comics in both normal and red band editions.