Marvel is going full-throttle with Brielle Brooks. Better known as Bloodline, she has only been in the Marvel-616 continuity since this past spring, and already she has her own solo comic, Bloodline: Daughter of Blade, slated for February. That has speculators curious if she was created specifically for the MCU.
These days, virtually the entire comic book market is driven by the live-action cinema.
Ever since Kevin Feige was put in charge of not just Marvel Studios but lord and master of all things Marvel, including the comics, every storyline, and every new character could be tailor-made for either a movie or a streaming series. Given the company’s push toward a more kid-friendly overall MCU product with an uptick in teenage characters gracing the screens, introducing Blade’s young daughter raises eyebrows for good reason.
Marvel’s synopsis for the five-issue limited series only adds to the MCU appeal. "IT’S IN HER BLOOD…Brielle Brooks is a good kid, no matter what her teachers say—it's not her fault she's developing vampiric superpowers, and the undead want to brawl! And as if problems at school aren’t enough, Bri’s got a wild ride ahead of her. She's about to discover she’s the daughter of the infamous vampire hunter and Daywalker known as BLADE!"
Judging by the description, particularly the line about her being “a good kid, no matter what her teachers say,” the title will be aimed at a younger audience. In fact, it has a Percy Jackson and the Olympians quality to it, which would firmly plant it in the middle-grades/young adult reading category. Those series don’t tend to be the bigger sellers, but that may not be the real play here.
Since Bloodline’s debut, there have been rumors that she’s been cast for the much-maligned Blade movie. Reports of 14-year-old Milan Ray, best known for her role in the updated The Wonder Years television show, being added to the reboot only furthered those theories. It doesn’t stop there. Some theorists have pondered if Blade will pass the torch to Brielle both in the comics and in the MCU. Given how quickly she’s been elevated into the spotlight, it stands to reason that Marvel has fast-tracked her to stardom ahead of a possible live-action debut. That will put a premium on these two comics.
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: AVENGERS/X-MEN/ETERNALS: JUDGMENT DAY #1
In May, Marvel introduced Brielle as part of the A.X.E. crossover event. Although this was a free comic, it’s far removed from that label these days. Since September, the graded 9.8 has consistently hit the $90-$100+ range, though prices have been closer to $75 and below three out of the last four sales.
The real prize is the Peach Momoko variant. If you happen to have a near-mint 9.8 in your collection, you are in luck. In the spring, this was a $500-$600 comic, which is impressive in itself. Starting last month, the price ballooned to $900 and beyond, selling for as much as $1,500 on September 24.
CRYPT OF SHADOWS #1
As you piece together your Bloodline collection, make sure you put Crypt of Shadows #1 on the list. This marked Brielle’s first cover appearance alongside some recent additions to the MCU, namely Moon Knight and Man-Thing. There are also the first appearances of ghost hunters Ravenette and Vince to further entice speculators. With this issue being so new, there are no records of any graded copies having been sold online. On the bright side, the raw copies are selling for around $10 on eBay.
BLOODLINE ON DISNEY PLUS?
While I wouldn’t put it past Marvel to hand Blade’s vampire-hunting badge to Brielle in the comics, I’m not so sure that’s the case for the MCU…at least not yet. We have yet to see Mahershala Ali in the role, and I don’t imagine he will be a one-and-done actor.
Instead, I picture Bloodline getting a Ms. Marvel-caliber Disney Plus show with Brielle navigating freshman year of high school with hunting vampires at night. Eventually, she could be ushered into the title role of Marvel’s premiere Daywalker, but that won’t be in the near future.
