Union Jack the Ripper: Blood Hunt #1

Creative Team

Writer: Cavan Scott; Penciler: Kev Walker; Inkers: Craig Yeung &  Belardino Brabo; Colorists: Java Tartaglia & Dee Cunniffee; Cover Artist: Ryan Brown; Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham; Variant Cover Artists Philip Tan & Brian Reber; Design: Jay Bowen.

Union Jack the Ripper from Marvel Comics

Marvel’s Blood Hunt is in full chaos across multiple comic books. Vampires have been in the Marvel universe hiding in the shadows for decades. Not any more. Currently the world is faced with a connection to the darkforce dimension, which led to a complete sun black out, and an apocalypse level amount of vampires. Joey Chapman has taken over the mantle of Union Jack following the war hero, James Montgomery Falsworth. Now as the world is up against an army of vampires, Joey has become: Union Jack the Ripper. 

Check out another Marvel Comics review.  

The Story for Issue #1

This story kicks off with a group of people just struggling to get to safety. We see fire, explosions, and a city falling apart. Then suddenly a monster lingering in the shadows makes a grand and gruesome entrance. As Union Jack the Ripper shows up without a minute to spare, he’s met with relief and confusion. He’s not the hero so many imagined, but he’s definitely the hero they just might need. As this group of survivors cling to an injured Union Jack for safety, they learn he’s got a big secret. A secret that makes him even more confusing, and even less trustworthy.  

The Art

The first page comes across as exactly what one would expect from comic book art. Explosions, expressions on our characters faces, detailed buildings, etc. Then the vampires show up, and the parental advisory on the front of the book makes complete sense. These bloodthirsty monsters are done in a way that literally made me turn my head. They’re the level of creepy that can give one nightmares.

The color contrast in the scenes where blood is spattering creates a scene that is eerie yet beautiful, and makes the vampires all that more creepy. Art that has the ability to create a visceral feeling like this just adds an extra level of engagement to an already amazing story. 

Union Jack the Ripper: Blood Hunt #1  9/10

If you’re expecting a howling commando type of story, that is not what you’re going to get. This is more Deadpool antihero meets Supernatural, but with more blood. Vampires are taking over the Marvel universe is many different Blood Hunt stories right now, and this is a must grab book if you’re a sucker (pun intended) for vamps and supes.

While Union Jack the Ripper can be enjoyed on its own, if you need more Blood Hunt in your comic book pile, the last page provides a check list that kicked off on Free Comic Book Day with Spidey referring to the darkforce, as the dorkforce.   

Lauren is half of the podcast: Hops GEEK News. It’s a weekly podcast that discusses all things geek pop culture, while enjoying a craft beer of the week. They also interview many different people from the comic book world and beyond.