It may not surprise fans that Blade’s favorite vampire novel is Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, but it offers unique insight into both his character and his current Avengers role as the Sheriff of the Vampire Nation. In 1999’s Blade #2, published under the Strange Tales banner, Blade reveals that I Am Legend is his favorite book, and his reason for liking it eerily presages his current role in the Marvel Universe. The story is written by Don McGregor, illustrated by Brian Hagan, inked by Sandu Florea, colored by Steve Oliff and lettered by John Costanza.
In 1998, Blade had the distinction of starring in the first Marvel film adaptation that was a success with audiences; previous attempts were low-budget, direct-to-video flops. Blade’s success inspired Marvel to give the daywalker his own title, leading to 1999’s solo book. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled after only three issues, ending on a cliffhanger that was never resolved. The series attempted to humanize Blade in a way that had not been done yet, showing a more vulnerable side of the vampire hunter—leading to discussions about not only his life but also his views on popular culture, including vampire novels.
Dominque Levant has come to Blade, asking for his help in dispatching a vampire. Dominque tries to get to know Blade, and she asks for his opinions on popular vampire novels. Blade confesses he prefers police procedural novels, but if Dominque wants a good vampire novel, then to look no further than Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend. Blade refers to it as the best vampire novel written, and it “catches the experience perfectly.”
Blade’s love for the novel not only makes perfect sense, it also offers insight into his future. First published in 1954, I Am Legend is one of the most influential vampire novels ever outside of Dracula; in addition to influencing the vampire genre, the novel also inspired the survival horror genre as well. The novel is the story of one man, Robert Neville, who survives a plague that turns the majority of humanity into vampire-like creatures. Neville must learn to navigate this hostile new world, trying to survive while staying one step ahead of the vampires. As the blood-suckers evolve and tighten their hold on Neville, he must find new ways to kill them.
When Blade said the novel perfectly captured "the experience,” it is referring to his career to that point, traveling the world and killing vampires. Yet it also foreshadows Blade’s current arc as the Sheriff of the Vampire Nation. In that role, Blade serves an official representative of the United Nations, watching over Dracula’s new Vampire Nation and keeping it in line. Before this role, Blade largely worked in a world of humans and super heroes; he still hunted vampires but had allies such as Captain America and Wolverine. But he has none of these as the Sheriff; if the Vampire Nation gets out of hand and forces Blade to act, he will be the sole human fighting armies of vampires—much like I Am Legend’s Robert Neville.
In 1999, when this story was published, Blade was a minor Marvel character, and no one could have foreseen him becoming an Avenger and the Sheriff of the Vampire Nation, yet oddly enough his favorite novel foreshadowed the role nearly 20 years prior.