Tomb of Dracula #10 (1973, First Blade)
In July 1973, a new character burst onto page 24 of Tomb of Dracula #10 with a wooden stake in each hand and an attitude that made every vampire in the Marvel Universe nervous. Blade, the Vampire Slayer, created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan, was a departure from the horror comic's usual cast of frightened civilians and aristocratic monsters. He was a fighter. He was cool. And decades later, he would become the character that proved comic book movies could work, launching a franchise that paved the way for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Tomb of Dracula Series
Tomb of Dracula was Marvel Comics' flagship horror title during the early 1970s, a period when the Comics Code Authority relaxed its restrictions on horror content. The series ran for 70 issues from 1972 to 1979, with Marv Wolfman writing and Gene Colan providing artwork for the majority of the run. The creative consistency produced one of the most acclaimed sustained runs in Bronze Age comics.
The series followed Dracula himself as a complex antagonist, with a rotating cast of vampire hunters pursuing him across decades and continents. The book was darker, more literary, and more adult in tone than typical Marvel fare. Into this sophisticated horror narrative walked Blade.
Blade's First Appearance
Blade appears in issue #10, titled "His Name is...Blade!" The character arrives fully formed: a half-human, half-vampire "daywalker" whose mother was bitten by a vampire during childbirth. Blade is immune to vampire bites and possesses enhanced strength and senses. Armed with wooden stakes and a no-nonsense attitude, he immediately establishes himself as one of the most capable vampire hunters in the Marvel Universe.
Marv Wolfman has said that Blade was inspired by a combination of Jim Brown and other Black action film stars of the early 1970s blaxploitation era. The character's design by Gene Colan features a distinctive look with a leather jacket, dark glasses, and an arsenal of wooden stakes that became his trademark.
What makes this first appearance particularly significant is how complete the character concept was from the start. Blade did not need years of development to find his voice. He arrived ready.
Publication Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| Series | Tomb of Dracula (Vol. 1) |
| Issue Number | #10 |
| Cover Date | July 1973 |
| Story Title | "His Name is...Blade!" |
| Writer | Marv Wolfman |
| Artist | Gene Colan |
| Inker | Jack Abel |
| Cover Artist | Gil Kane |
| Cover Price | $0.20 |
| Page Count | Standard |
| Key Event | First appearance of Blade |
Why This Issue Exploded in Value
Blade's collectible significance received a massive boost from the film franchise. The 1998 Blade movie starring Wesley Snipes was a critical and commercial success, grossing $131 million worldwide. More importantly, it demonstrated that a lesser-known Marvel character could carry a blockbuster film. Film historians and Marvel executives have credited Blade with proving the viability of the Marvel movie model that would eventually produce the MCU.
The announcement of Blade's inclusion in the MCU, with Mahershala Ali cast in the role, sent prices into the stratosphere. While the MCU film's development has been prolonged, the association with the franchise's future keeps collector interest elevated.
Condition Guide and Value Table
| Grade | Condition | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| CGC 9.8 (NM/MT) | Near perfect | $15,000 - $25,000 |
| CGC 9.6 (NM+) | Minor imperfections | $6,000 - $12,000 |
| CGC 9.4 (NM) | Slight wear | $3,500 - $6,000 |
| CGC 9.2 (NM-) | Light handling | $2,500 - $4,000 |
| CGC 8.0 (VF) | Light wear | $1,000 - $2,000 |
| CGC 6.0 (FN) | Average used | $500 - $900 |
| CGC 4.0 (VG) | Significant wear | $250 - $500 |
| CGC 2.0 (Good) | Heavy wear | $120 - $250 |
| Raw (ungraded, VF+) | Nice ungraded copy | $800 - $1,500 |
Condition Grades Explained
Near Mint/Mint (9.8): The practical ceiling. White pages are essential at this grade. No visible defects without magnification. Staples are clean and aligned.
Near Mint+ (9.6): Extremely high grade with only the most trivial flaws. A single light stress mark or minor color break might be present.
Very Fine (8.0): A sharp, attractive copy with minor wear. Light spine stress, minor corner blunting, and slight cover sheen loss are typical at this grade.
Fine (6.0): Moderate wear throughout. Spine may show minor rolling or stress lines. Corners are blunted. Cover retains good color and gloss.
Very Good (4.0): Substantial wear. Cover may show creasing. Spine stress is evident. Still a complete, readable copy.
Market Trends and Investment Outlook
Tomb of Dracula #10 has been one of the strongest-performing Bronze Age keys over the past decade:
MCU connection: The announced Blade film, despite production delays, maintains strong speculation interest. A successful film release would likely trigger another price spike.
Wesley Snipes legacy: The original Blade trilogy retains a devoted fan base that sustains baseline demand regardless of MCU developments.
Bronze Age popularity: The Bronze Age (roughly 1970-1985) has emerged as the hottest segment of vintage comic collecting. Key first appearances from this era have seen dramatic appreciation.
Cultural significance: Blade's role in launching the modern superhero film genre gives the character historical importance beyond his in-universe significance.
Diversity in collecting: As the comic collecting community becomes more diverse, demand for key first appearances of Black superhero characters has grown substantially.
What to Watch Out For
Marvel Value Stamps: Many Bronze Age Marvel comics had "Marvel Value Stamps" on interior pages that collectors would cut out. A missing value stamp reduces the grade and value. Check the interior carefully.
Brittleness: 1970s comics were printed on newsprint that degrades over time. Brittle pages that crack or chip during handling reduce value significantly.
Color-breaking cover wear: The dark cover of issue #10 makes wear particularly visible. Spine stress and edge wear that breaks the color are common condition issues.
Restoration: Professional restoration (color touch, tear repair, pressing) should be disclosed. CGC labels restored books with a purple label rather than the standard blue universal label. Restored books sell at significant discounts.
Why Tomb of Dracula #10 Belongs in a Serious Collection
This comic exists at the intersection of horror, superhero, and cultural history. Blade's first appearance captures a moment when Marvel was expanding its creative boundaries, when Black characters were gaining prominence in mainstream comics, and when the seeds of a multi-billion-dollar film franchise were being planted in a 20-cent horror comic.
The Wolfman/Colan creative team produced some of the finest work in Bronze Age comics, and issue #10 represents a high point in their collaboration. The character they created in these pages would go on to change the entertainment industry in ways no one could have predicted in 1973.
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