DF Interview: Tim Seeley adds family angst to new Blade book with daughter, Fallon

By Byron Brewer

Once he was the surprise breakout star of Tomb of Dracula in the day when that mag reigned supreme as king of Marvel Comics’ growing monster line.

Then came actor Wesley Snipes and a few movies based on the character, and the “daywalker” began to change and take on added dimension in the comic pages reflecting the on-screen character.

An all-new, all-different Blade is coming, in a solo book yet (kind of), with the All-New, All-Different Marvel initiative. But something new has been added: a daughter!

Dynamic Forces spoke with writer-to-be Tim Seeley to get the 411. Here is what the scribe told us.

Dynamic Forces: Tim, were you a fan of the superb Wolfman/Colan/Palmer Tomb of Dracula series? Before Snipes, Blade was a vital part of this comic’s life.

Tim Seeley: I didn't read it as a kid actually, as it was slightly before my time. But, I have gone back and read that stuff since, and I think it's all some pretty amazing comics. I think the feel of that stuff is a good starting point for a modern Blade series for sure.

DF: Tell us your take on the vampire slayer. Does it come mostly from the comics, the movies, a combination? To you, who is Blade?

Tim Seeley: It's a combination of both, really, plus a little of my own version. The movie version as similar to the Nightstalkers take, and then all the subsequent comic book takes on Blade post-movies incorporated the Snipes portrayal. To me, Blade is a man who had dedicated his unusually long life to one mission, so much so that the mission has become who he is. Now, like a lot of people who've accomplished their goal, he's looking at himself wondering what else there is to him.

DF: I find the concept of Blade’s daughter, Fallon Grey, and her duping an “anti-Peter Parker” fascinating. More please on who this young lady is, in your perception? Any Buffy in there? (smiles)

Tim Seeley: I'm sure readers will find some Buffy in there, though it's not intentional on my part. Katie, Logan and I thought it would be interesting to play around with another common type of teenager ... the over achiever. Her life will parallel Blade's in a lot of interesting ways.

DF: A lot of father/son focus in Marvel always. Besides Ant-Man, you do not see a lot of father-daughter focus. How will this element impact your stories?

Tim Seeley: I think the book is all about fathers and daughters, and how his absence has made her into what she is. She's at a point now where she doesn’t need him, except for the monster stabbing part, so they'll have a tense relationship. Blade is also not as patient or as a nice a guy as Ant-Man, so it'll be fun.

DF: Must-ask inquiry: Fallon GREY? No link to Jean and the Phoenix legacy, I take it?

Tim Seeley: Ha, no. And now I kind of regret naming her that. On the other hand, maybe we'll come up with a reason to tie it to Jean someday. Everything else ties to her, right?

DF: Tell us about that evil brewing in the forests of Oregon, as you can.

Tim Seeley: Well, that's part of the mystery behind the story, but basically the town of Corvus is just a weird, creepy place. Haunted even. And as Fallon finds out more about the people hunting for her, she'll find out why.

DF: Why is artist Logan Faerber right for this book?

Tim Seeley: Well, he's going to make a Blade comic that looks nothing like any Blade comic before it. I think that's important, especially since so much of what has come before with Blade has been that sorta "Vampire The Masquerade" "Tribal tatoo" look ... and that was all and well and good for the ‘90s, but it's 2015, and we want to show readers a whole new world of creepiness and heroism!

DF: Can we finally and definitively nail down exactly what Blade’s powers are here?

Tim Seeley: He's a Daywalker. A unique type of vampire that can walk in the sunlight. He's fast, he's strong, he's tough ... but he can't fly or turn into a bat. Not unless he gets bitten by a werebat or something. Which, I mean, could happen.

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Tim Seeley for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Blade #1 hits stores October 28^th!

For more news and up-to-date announcements, join us here at Dynamic Forces, www.dynamicforces.com/htmlfiles/, “LIKE” us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/dynamicforcesinc, and follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/dynamicforces.

Don't forget to grab your copy of DEADPOOL VS. THANOS #1 SIGNED BY TIM SEELEY!

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