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Bloodlines (comics)
Encyclopedia
"Bloodlines" was a 1993
comic book
story arc
published by DC Comics
. It was an intracompany crossover
that ran through DC's superhero annuals
and concluded with a two-issue 'Bloodbath' miniseries written by Dan Raspler
. The antagonists were a race of monstrous xenomorph
-like aliens, incorrectly described as "parasites
", who killed humans for their spinal fluid. A small fraction of the parasite's victims survived and become super-heroes via their ordeal. This plot device introduced a wave of "New Blood" super-heroes into the DC Universe. Seven DC Comics series were spun out of the event: Blood Pack, Razorsharp and the Psyba-Rats, Hitman, Anima, Loose Cannon, Argus and Gunfire.
form. These humanoid forms were based on the initial entities they first encountered, a squadron of L.E.G.I.O.N.
soldiers, most of whom perished. The bite of the Bloodlines Parasites was administered to the back of the neck by a mouth-within-a-mouth. This bite is intended to remove the spinal fluid for sustenance. This usually killed the victim for food, but occasionally awakened superhuman
powers in the recipient. This was also the means by which the creatures could reproduce.
Each of the annuals involved in the crossover used this plot device
to introduce a new super-powered character to the DC Universe
. The Bloodlines crossover event spanned 23 of DC's regular titles and wrapped up in the 2-part mini "Bloodbath". The alien parasites that came to Earth to gather spinal fluid sacrificed themselves to help birth a gigantic alien known as the Taker. Many long-term heroes were absorbed into the monster, only to be saved by the very heroes the parasites had created.
This series spun off into the Blood Pack mini-series. Gunfire
also had a short-lived series. Some of the heroes created by the aliens died in the 2005-2006's Infinite Crisis
event.
The only New Blood character to succeed as an independent property was Hitman
, who first appeared in 1993's Demon Annual and went on to star in his own sixty-issue ongoing series from 1996 to 2001 written by Garth Ennis
and drawn by John McCrea
.
In fact, of the few times New Blood characters made appearances after the Bloodlines event, a majority of the time they are killed off.
Faces of Evil: Prometheus and JLA/Hitman #1 are examples. The former featured a brief cameo of the remaining members of the Bloodpack, only to have a majority of the team killed or maimed by the titular villain; it was referenced in the Justice League of America tie-in to the Blackest Night crossover, where Doctor Light
mockingly mentions that most of the Blood Pack heroes had died and were quickly forgotten by the rest of the superhero community. Hitman/JLA #1, set before this, sees the Wally West Flash
mention the Bloodline heroes' long casualty list and state with irritation that most of them are incompetent and are constantly trying to 'team up' with the League, while Green Lantern Kyle Rayner
simply sums them up with: "Those guys are lame. I mean, they are really lame."
Hitman and Hitman/JLA both offered up sequels to Bloodlines. The first had the CIA trying to duplicate the power-giving effects of the parasites. The second, set chronologically earlier, had a separate breed of Bloodlines parasites. Hitman/JLA also had a scene showing the White House
taking the Bloodlines parasites as such a threat - "we can last perhaps a day with conventional forces, sir; one week after that that planet will look like Rwanda
" - they were willing to launch nuclear missiles at the Justice League to prevent the parasites reaching Earth again.
. The parasites premiered in Lobo annual vol. 2 #1 written by Alan Grant and drawn by Christian Alamy. The Parasites hail from the same dimension
as a powerful Shaman named Pax who gained his own powers due to being bitten by one of them and left for dead. The parasites escaped from their prison dimension. In the Lobo issue, they encountered a grouping of L.E.G.I.O.N. officers, whom they killed and took their alternate human forms from. They later ended up on Earth, while there they took to feeding on humans.
They feed using a secondary proboscis
-like jaw similar to the Xenomorphs from the Alien
movies. If the feeding process is performed on a human possessing the metagene
, the trauma
of feeding on that victim will usually activate their metagene granting them superpowers. Those so activated took to calling themselves "New Bloods"
), skeletal faces, and the aforementioned feeding proboscis. Each parasite, however had unique features and personalities based on the Seven Deadly Sins
.
Angon was red, had spiked shoulder plates, and was driven by anger. She was responsible for creating Edge, Ballistic
, Jamm, and Prism. Gemir was red with bat-like wings. He was motivated by greed and had flaming hair in his human form. He was responsible for Joe Public, Myriad
, Sparx
, Cardinal Sin, and Samaritan. Glonth was a light blue, rotund beast with a lion-like mane who was motivated by gluttony. He created Loose Cannon
, Hitman
, and Chimera. Pritor was the prideful blue parasite with butterfly wings. He created Lionheart and Geist. Lissik was the lustful pink/purple parasite with moth-like wings. She created Anima
, Nightblade, Hook, Terrorsmith, and Mongrel. Slodd was a slothful, off-white parasite with large patagium
beneath his arms. Venev was an envious, green, six-armed parasite responsible for creating Argus
, Razorsharp, Gunfire
and Ragnarok. All of the Parasites gave themselves over to feed the Taker.
A new group of parasitic aliens from the same universe infiltrated a space shuttle returning to earth. When the JLA sent Green Lantern to investigate, his ring's readings showed that these parasites had genetic similarities with the Bloodlines parasites. These aliens, however, were much smaller and permanently attached themselves to their human hosts. They controlled their hosts' minds, could communicate telepathically, and gave each non-superpowered host a superpower. These new parasites managed to take control, or incapacitate the entire Justice League on the moon. In order to stop them from reaching earth, Hitman
(who was invited to the JLA Watchtower so that his blood could be analyzed) had to kill or maim several of the astronaut hosts. While some members of the JLA felt that this was murder, others recognized that Hitman stopped the invasion the only way he could.
Batman and the Outsiders
Another parasite, alone, is found by the Outsiders
in a Gotham City
club, being held captive, and admission charged for those wishing to gain superpowers. Nonetheless, as the parasites only activate the metagene in a number of humans, most customers do not survive the ordeal. Although the ending of Batman and the Outsiders (Vol. 2) #10 had it flying off into the Gotham night with Batman on its back trying to bring it down, the story was interrupted with a Batman R.I.P.
crossover, leaving the parasite's story unresolved.
Some of the characters whose metagenes were activated by the parasites are Argus
, Loose Cannon
, Razorsharp, Terrorsmith, Hitman
and Gunfire
. If too much parasite venom was absorbed by the host's system it would cause hideous abnormalities, as seen with Terrorsmith. The mother alien known as the Taker, was destroyed with the help of all the human new bloods. Pax helped banish these aliens by sealing them up in the other-dimensional home of the Taker.
With corporate backing some of the New Bloods formed a superhero team known as the Blood Pack. The series was created by Charles Moore and Christopher Taylor. Many of the team's members were slain by Superboy-Prime
in the final issue of 2005-2006's Infinite Crisis
event, incinerated by his heat vision. During the events of Blackest Night, all the slain members are reanimated as a members of the Black Lantern Corps
and head for Earth Prime
to torment Superboy-Prime. He destroys them by using the black ring cycling through the power set of emotions resulting in a burst of colored energy that destroys Black Lanterns.
A new Blood Pack was introduced in Faces of Evil: Prometheus
, made up of surviving Bloodlines heroes. Led by Argus
, the team included Gunfire, Anima, and Hook. Hook was killed by an impostor Prometheus. Gunfire's hands were amputated and Anima was killed in an ensuing encounter with the real Prometheus.
1993 in comics
-January:* Doom Patrol #63: " The Empire of Chairs," Grant Morrison's final issue as Doom Patrol writer.-February:* Action Comics, with issue #686, suspends publication following "The Death of Superman."...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. It was an intracompany crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
that ran through DC's superhero annuals
Annual publication
An annual publication, more often called simply an annual, is a book or a magazine, comic book or comic strip published yearly. For example, a weekly or monthly publication may produce an Annual featuring similar materials to the regular publication....
and concluded with a two-issue 'Bloodbath' miniseries written by Dan Raspler
Dan Raspler
Dan Raspler is an editor and writer of comic books for DC Comics. In the late 1990s, he created the series Young Heroes in Love.-Awards:...
. The antagonists were a race of monstrous xenomorph
Xenomorph (Alien)
The Alien is a fictional endoparasitoid extraterrestrial species that is the primary antagonist of the Alien film series. The species made its debut in the 1979 film Alien, and reappeared in its sequels Aliens , Alien 3 , and Alien Resurrection , two crossovers Alien vs...
-like aliens, incorrectly described as "parasites
Parasitism
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Traditionally parasite referred to organisms with lifestages that needed more than one host . These are now called macroparasites...
", who killed humans for their spinal fluid. A small fraction of the parasite's victims survived and become super-heroes via their ordeal. This plot device introduced a wave of "New Blood" super-heroes into the DC Universe. Seven DC Comics series were spun out of the event: Blood Pack, Razorsharp and the Psyba-Rats, Hitman, Anima, Loose Cannon, Argus and Gunfire.
Publication history
The villains of the crossover were the formerly imprisoned survivors of a race of alien parasites named Angon, Gemir, Glonth, Lissik, Pritor, Venev, and Slodd that could shapeshift into humanoidHumanoid
A humanoid is something that has an appearance resembling a human being. The term first appeared in 1912 to refer to fossils which were morphologically similar to, but not identical with, those of the human skeleton. Although this usage was common in the sciences for much of the 20th century, it...
form. These humanoid forms were based on the initial entities they first encountered, a squadron of L.E.G.I.O.N.
L.E.G.I.O.N.
L.E.G.I.O.N., is a team of fictional extraterrestrial superheroes, a science fiction comic book published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Invasion! #1, and were created by Keith Giffen, Bill Mantlo and Todd McFarlane...
soldiers, most of whom perished. The bite of the Bloodlines Parasites was administered to the back of the neck by a mouth-within-a-mouth. This bite is intended to remove the spinal fluid for sustenance. This usually killed the victim for food, but occasionally awakened superhuman
Superhuman
Superhuman can mean an improved human, for example, by genetic modification, cybernetic implants, or as what humans might evolve into, in the near or distant future...
powers in the recipient. This was also the means by which the creatures could reproduce.
Each of the annuals involved in the crossover used this plot device
Plot device
A plot device is an object or character in a story whose sole purpose is to advance the plot of the story, or alternatively to overcome some difficulty in the plot....
to introduce a new super-powered character to the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. The Bloodlines crossover event spanned 23 of DC's regular titles and wrapped up in the 2-part mini "Bloodbath". The alien parasites that came to Earth to gather spinal fluid sacrificed themselves to help birth a gigantic alien known as the Taker. Many long-term heroes were absorbed into the monster, only to be saved by the very heroes the parasites had created.
This series spun off into the Blood Pack mini-series. Gunfire
Gunfire (comics)
Gunfire is a fictional DC Comics superhero and freelance anti-terrorist operative. He first appeared in Deathstroke Annual #3 October 1993, he was created by Len Wein and Steve Erwin.-Fictional character biography:...
also had a short-lived series. Some of the heroes created by the aliens died in the 2005-2006's Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
event.
The only New Blood character to succeed as an independent property was Hitman
Hitman (comics)
Hitman is a fictional character, a superpowered hitman in the DC Comics Universe. The character was created by Garth Ennis and John McCrea and first appeared in The Demon Annual #2 and then received his own series by Ennis and McCrea lasting 61 issues.-Background:Hitman chronicles the exploits of...
, who first appeared in 1993's Demon Annual and went on to star in his own sixty-issue ongoing series from 1996 to 2001 written by Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series Preacher with artist Steve Dillon and his successful nine-year run on Marvel Comics' Punisher franchise...
and drawn by John McCrea
John McCrea
John McCrea is a comic book artist best known for his collaborations with writer Garth Ennis.-Career:...
.
In fact, of the few times New Blood characters made appearances after the Bloodlines event, a majority of the time they are killed off.
Faces of Evil: Prometheus and JLA/Hitman #1 are examples. The former featured a brief cameo of the remaining members of the Bloodpack, only to have a majority of the team killed or maimed by the titular villain; it was referenced in the Justice League of America tie-in to the Blackest Night crossover, where Doctor Light
Doctor Light (Arthur Light)
Doctor Arthur Light is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the third individual to have adopted the persona of Doctor Light, after a Golden Age foe of Doctor Mid-Nite and Arthur's associate Jacob Finlay...
mockingly mentions that most of the Blood Pack heroes had died and were quickly forgotten by the rest of the superhero community. Hitman/JLA #1, set before this, sees the Wally West Flash
Flash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
mention the Bloodline heroes' long casualty list and state with irritation that most of them are incompetent and are constantly trying to 'team up' with the League, while Green Lantern Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in those starring the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which Rayner is a member. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks, Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern vol...
simply sums them up with: "Those guys are lame. I mean, they are really lame."
Hitman and Hitman/JLA both offered up sequels to Bloodlines. The first had the CIA trying to duplicate the power-giving effects of the parasites. The second, set chronologically earlier, had a separate breed of Bloodlines parasites. Hitman/JLA also had a scene showing the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
taking the Bloodlines parasites as such a threat - "we can last perhaps a day with conventional forces, sir; one week after that that planet will look like Rwanda
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
" - they were willing to launch nuclear missiles at the Justice League to prevent the parasites reaching Earth again.
Origins
The seven Bloodlines Parasites were created for the Bloodlines crossoverFictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
. The parasites premiered in Lobo annual vol. 2 #1 written by Alan Grant and drawn by Christian Alamy. The Parasites hail from the same dimension
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
as a powerful Shaman named Pax who gained his own powers due to being bitten by one of them and left for dead. The parasites escaped from their prison dimension. In the Lobo issue, they encountered a grouping of L.E.G.I.O.N. officers, whom they killed and took their alternate human forms from. They later ended up on Earth, while there they took to feeding on humans.
Feeding
The aliens feed by draining the spinal fluid of their prey after administering a small dose paralytic venomVenom
Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...
They feed using a secondary proboscis
Proboscis
A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In simpler terms, a proboscis is the straw-like mouth found in several varieties of species.-Etymology:...
-like jaw similar to the Xenomorphs from the Alien
Alien (franchise)
The Alien film series is a science fiction horror film franchise, focusing on Lieutenant Ellen Ripley and her battle with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as "the Alien"...
movies. If the feeding process is performed on a human possessing the metagene
Metahuman
Metahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both mutant and mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. Use of the term in reference to superheroes was coined in 1986 by author George R. R...
, the trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
of feeding on that victim will usually activate their metagene granting them superpowers. Those so activated took to calling themselves "New Bloods"
Biology
The eight aliens included the seven parasites. All parasites had a heavy exoskeletons, four digits on each limb (one of which is small and opposableThumb
The thumb is the first digit of the hand. When a person is standing in the medical anatomical position , the thumb is the lateral-most digit...
), skeletal faces, and the aforementioned feeding proboscis. Each parasite, however had unique features and personalities based on the Seven Deadly Sins
Seven deadly sins
The 7 Deadly Sins, also known as the Capital Vices or Cardinal Sins, is a classification of objectionable vices that have been used since early Christian times to educate and instruct followers concerning fallen humanity's tendency to sin...
.
Angon was red, had spiked shoulder plates, and was driven by anger. She was responsible for creating Edge, Ballistic
Ballistic (DC Comics)
Ballistic is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Batman Annual #17 , and was created by Doug Moench and Michael Manley.-Publication history:...
, Jamm, and Prism. Gemir was red with bat-like wings. He was motivated by greed and had flaming hair in his human form. He was responsible for Joe Public, Myriad
Myriad (DC Comics)
Myriad is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Superman Annual #5, , and was created by Dan Jurgens.-Fictional character biography:...
, Sparx
Sparx (comics)
Sparx, is a fictional superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Adventures of Superman Annual #5, , and was created by Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett and Ed Hannigan.-Fictional character biography:...
, Cardinal Sin, and Samaritan. Glonth was a light blue, rotund beast with a lion-like mane who was motivated by gluttony. He created Loose Cannon
Loose Cannon (comics)
Loose Cannon is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Action Comics Annual #5 during the Bloodlines crossover event, and was created by Jeph Loeb and Lee Moder.-Fictional character biography:...
, Hitman
Hitman (comics)
Hitman is a fictional character, a superpowered hitman in the DC Comics Universe. The character was created by Garth Ennis and John McCrea and first appeared in The Demon Annual #2 and then received his own series by Ennis and McCrea lasting 61 issues.-Background:Hitman chronicles the exploits of...
, and Chimera. Pritor was the prideful blue parasite with butterfly wings. He created Lionheart and Geist. Lissik was the lustful pink/purple parasite with moth-like wings. She created Anima
Anima (comics)
Anima is a fictional character from DC Comics, who starred in the comic book series of the same name. The character was created and written by science fiction and fantasy authors Elizabeth Hand and Paul Witcover....
, Nightblade, Hook, Terrorsmith, and Mongrel. Slodd was a slothful, off-white parasite with large patagium
Patagium
*In bats, the skin forming the surface of the wing. It is an extension of the skin of the abdomen that runs to the tip of each digit, uniting the forelimb with the body.*The patagium of a bat has four distinct parts:...
beneath his arms. Venev was an envious, green, six-armed parasite responsible for creating Argus
Argus (comics)
Argus is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared during the Bloodlines crossover event in Flash Annual v2, #6 , and was created by Mark Waid and Phil Hester.-Fictional character biography:...
, Razorsharp, Gunfire
Gunfire (comics)
Gunfire is a fictional DC Comics superhero and freelance anti-terrorist operative. He first appeared in Deathstroke Annual #3 October 1993, he was created by Len Wein and Steve Erwin.-Fictional character biography:...
and Ragnarok. All of the Parasites gave themselves over to feed the Taker.
Parasites return
JLAA new group of parasitic aliens from the same universe infiltrated a space shuttle returning to earth. When the JLA sent Green Lantern to investigate, his ring's readings showed that these parasites had genetic similarities with the Bloodlines parasites. These aliens, however, were much smaller and permanently attached themselves to their human hosts. They controlled their hosts' minds, could communicate telepathically, and gave each non-superpowered host a superpower. These new parasites managed to take control, or incapacitate the entire Justice League on the moon. In order to stop them from reaching earth, Hitman
Hitman (comics)
Hitman is a fictional character, a superpowered hitman in the DC Comics Universe. The character was created by Garth Ennis and John McCrea and first appeared in The Demon Annual #2 and then received his own series by Ennis and McCrea lasting 61 issues.-Background:Hitman chronicles the exploits of...
(who was invited to the JLA Watchtower so that his blood could be analyzed) had to kill or maim several of the astronaut hosts. While some members of the JLA felt that this was murder, others recognized that Hitman stopped the invasion the only way he could.
Batman and the Outsiders
Another parasite, alone, is found by the Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
in a Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
club, being held captive, and admission charged for those wishing to gain superpowers. Nonetheless, as the parasites only activate the metagene in a number of humans, most customers do not survive the ordeal. Although the ending of Batman and the Outsiders (Vol. 2) #10 had it flying off into the Gotham night with Batman on its back trying to bring it down, the story was interrupted with a Batman R.I.P.
Batman R.I.P.
Batman R.I.P. is a comic book story arc published in Batman #676-681 by DC Comics. Written by Grant Morrison, penciled by Tony Daniel, and with covers by Alex Ross, the story pits the superhero Batman against the Black Glove organization as they attempt to destroy everything for which he stands...
crossover, leaving the parasite's story unresolved.
New Bloods
Argus (comics)
Argus is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared during the Bloodlines crossover event in Flash Annual v2, #6 , and was created by Mark Waid and Phil Hester.-Fictional character biography:...
, Loose Cannon
Loose Cannon (comics)
Loose Cannon is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Action Comics Annual #5 during the Bloodlines crossover event, and was created by Jeph Loeb and Lee Moder.-Fictional character biography:...
, Razorsharp, Terrorsmith, Hitman
Hitman (comics)
Hitman is a fictional character, a superpowered hitman in the DC Comics Universe. The character was created by Garth Ennis and John McCrea and first appeared in The Demon Annual #2 and then received his own series by Ennis and McCrea lasting 61 issues.-Background:Hitman chronicles the exploits of...
and Gunfire
Gunfire (comics)
Gunfire is a fictional DC Comics superhero and freelance anti-terrorist operative. He first appeared in Deathstroke Annual #3 October 1993, he was created by Len Wein and Steve Erwin.-Fictional character biography:...
. If too much parasite venom was absorbed by the host's system it would cause hideous abnormalities, as seen with Terrorsmith. The mother alien known as the Taker, was destroyed with the help of all the human new bloods. Pax helped banish these aliens by sealing them up in the other-dimensional home of the Taker.
List of original New Bloods
The superhumans whose powers were awakened by the alien parasites were known collectively as "New Bloods", Individually, they were:- AnimaAnima (comics)Anima is a fictional character from DC Comics, who starred in the comic book series of the same name. The character was created and written by science fiction and fantasy authors Elizabeth Hand and Paul Witcover....
: "Animus-summoning grunge rocker" debuted in New Titans Annual #9 - ArgusArgus (comics)Argus is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared during the Bloodlines crossover event in Flash Annual v2, #6 , and was created by Mark Waid and Phil Hester.-Fictional character biography:...
: "shadow-melding undercover agent from Central CityCentral City (DC Comics)Central City is a fictional city that appears in stories published by DC Comics, and is the home of the Silver Age version of the Flash, Barry Allen. It first appeared in Showcase #4 in September-October 1956.-Location:...
" debuted in FlashFlash (comics)The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
Annual #6 - BallisticBallistic (DC Comics)Ballistic is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Batman Annual #17 , and was created by Doug Moench and Michael Manley.-Publication history:...
: "Korean-American hero an armed and dangerous vigilante" debuted in BatmanBatmanBatman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
Annual #17 - Cardinal Sin: "disillusioned priestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
" debuted in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #3 - Chimera: "illusion-creating heroine of IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
" debuted in Team Titans Annual #1 - Edge: "blade-hurling community hero" debuted in Superman: The Man of SteelSuperman: The Man of SteelSuperman: The Man of Steel is the title of a monthly American comic book series that ran 136 issues from 1991 to 2003. published by DC Comics, featuring Superman. As a consequence of introducing this series alongside its already existing titles, DC Comics was able to publish a new Superman comic...
Annual #2 - Geist: "ghostly night-hero, ironically only becomes visible in the dark." debuted in Detective ComicsDetective ComicsDetective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
Annual #6 - GunfireGunfire (comics)Gunfire is a fictional DC Comics superhero and freelance anti-terrorist operative. He first appeared in Deathstroke Annual #3 October 1993, he was created by Len Wein and Steve Erwin.-Fictional character biography:...
: "Able to explosively convert matter to energy." debuted in DeathstrokeDeathstrokeDeathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, and known by the Teen Titans as Slade, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometimes antihero in the DC Comics Universe. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2...
Annual #2 - HitmanHitman (comics)Hitman is a fictional character, a superpowered hitman in the DC Comics Universe. The character was created by Garth Ennis and John McCrea and first appeared in The Demon Annual #2 and then received his own series by Ennis and McCrea lasting 61 issues.-Background:Hitman chronicles the exploits of...
: "a hitman who gained the powers of telepathy and X-ray vision" debuted in Demon Annual #2 - Hook: "hook-handed former soldier" debuted in Green ArrowGreen ArrowGreen Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
Annual #6 - Jamm: "prodigious surfer-dude" debuted in Legion of Super-HeroesLegion of Super-HeroesThe Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
Annual #4 - Joe Public: "strength-siphoning patriot" debuted in Batman: Shadow of the Bat Annual #1
- Krag: "stone bodied hero, super strength" debuted in Justice League America Annual #7
- Layla, "tough-as-nails space explorer" debuted in Lobo Annual #1
- Lionheart: "armored high-tech knight, hero of Great Britain" debuted in Justice League International Annual #4
- Loose CannonLoose Cannon (comics)Loose Cannon is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Action Comics Annual #5 during the Bloodlines crossover event, and was created by Jeph Loeb and Lee Moder.-Fictional character biography:...
: "super-strong ex-cop, a mood ring version of the HulkHulk (comics)The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
whose color changes as he gets angrier", debuted in Action ComicsAction ComicsAction Comics is an American comic book series that introduced Superman, the first major superhero character as the term is popularly defined...
Annual #5 - Loria: "woman who could transform into living metal, super strong agent of the Quorum" debuted in Showcase '94 #12
- Mongrel: "darkforce-blasting African American-Vietnamese hero" debuted in HawkmanHawkmanHawkman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
Annual #1 - MyriadMyriad (DC Comics)Myriad is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Superman Annual #5, , and was created by Dan Jurgens.-Fictional character biography:...
: "personality-absorbing assassin" debuted in Superman Annual #5 - Nightblade: "Chinese-American regenerating martial artist, survived MongulMongulMongul is the name of two fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The first version of the character debuted in DC Comics Presents #27 and was created by writer Len Wein and artist Jim Starlin. The second version first appears in Showcase '95 #85 and was created by...
's destruction of Coast CityCoast CityCoast City is a fictional city created by John Broome and Gil Kane that appears in stories published by DC Comics. It is depicted most often as the home of the Silver Age version of the superhero Green Lantern, Hal Jordan.-Fictional history:...
" debuted in Green LanternGreen LanternThe Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
Annual #2 - Pax: "last of his race, space-shaman" debuted in L.E.G.I.O.N. Annual #4
- Prism: "light-manipulating scientist" debuted in EclipsoEclipsoEclipso is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. The character is the incarnation of the Wrath of God and the Angel of Vengeance that turned evil and was replaced by the Spectre...
Annual #1 - Razorsharp: "sword-armed hacker" debuted in RobinRobin (comics)Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
Annual #2 - Shadowstryke: "tragic hero, dark force energy" debuted in Justice League America Annual #7
- Slingshot: "African-American heroine, power to give anything she touches an acceleration factor" debuted in Justice League America Annual #7
- SparxSparx (comics)Sparx, is a fictional superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Adventures of Superman Annual #5, , and was created by Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett and Ed Hannigan.-Fictional character biography:...
: "lightning-wielding heroine from CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
", member of the Force Family, debuted in Adventures of Superman Annual #5 - Terrorsmith: "monster-making villain(?)" debuted in Justice League America Annual #7
List of later New Bloods
- Freight Train: "Black Canadian mercenary with the ability to absorb kinetic energy and give himself superdense skin, superspeed, and superhuman strength." debuted in OutsidersOutsiders (comics)The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
vol. 4 #30
Blood Pack
Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime, also known as Superman-Prime, or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain, and one of several alternate Supermen. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 , and was created by Elliot S...
in the final issue of 2005-2006's Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
event, incinerated by his heat vision. During the events of Blackest Night, all the slain members are reanimated as a members of the Black Lantern Corps
Black Lantern Corps
The Black Lantern Corps is a fictional organization of revenants appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The group is composed of deceased fictional characters that seek to eliminate all life from the DC Universe.-Publication history:...
and head for Earth Prime
Earth Prime
Earth Prime is a term sometimes used in works of speculative fiction involving parallel universes or a multiverse, and refers either to the universe containing "our" Earth, or to a parallel world with a bare minimum of divergence points from Earth as we know it...
to torment Superboy-Prime. He destroys them by using the black ring cycling through the power set of emotions resulting in a burst of colored energy that destroys Black Lanterns.
Blood Pack Members
- JadeJade (comics)Jade is a fictional character, a superheroine in the . Known affectionately as "Jennie" or "Jen", she is the daughter of Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern. Her mother is Rose Canton, the Golden Age villain known as Thorn...
- Jennie-Lynn Hayden is a living power ring, and the daughter of Green Lantern Alan ScottAlan ScottAlan Scott is a fictional character, a superhero in the and the first superhero to bear the name Green Lantern.-Publication history:The original Green Lantern was created by young struggling artist Martin Nodell, who was inspired by the sight of a New York Subway employee waving a red lantern to...
. Team leader. - BallisticBallistic (DC Comics)Ballistic is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Batman Annual #17 , and was created by Doug Moench and Michael Manley.-Publication history:...
- Korean-American hero Kelvin Mao has an invulnerable armored carapace, he is an armed and dangerous vigilante. (deceased; Infinite CrisisInfinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
#7) - Nightblade - Chinese-American with the ability to regenerate his entire body from even the smallest cell, he was also known as martial artist Nik Mayak. He was last seen on the cover of Superman/Batman #33. (deceased; Infinite CrisisInfinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
#7) - Loria - Super strong, metal skinned agent of the Quorum. (deceased; Blood Pack #4)
- Geist - Dwayne Geyer is a ghostly night-hero, becomes invisible when light is shone on him. (deceased; Infinite CrisisInfinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
#7) - Mongrel - Shadowforce blasting African American-Vietnamese hero named Josh Xan. (deceased; Infinite CrisisInfinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
#7) - SparxSparx (comics)Sparx, is a fictional superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Adventures of Superman Annual #5, , and was created by Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett and Ed Hannigan.-Fictional character biography:...
- Lightning wielding posthumanPosthumanPosthuman may refer to:*Posthuman, a hypothetical future being whose basic capacities so radically exceed those of present humans as to be no longer human by our current standards...
heroine from CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
named Donna Carol Force. - Razorsharp - Blade-armed hacker named Rae Sharp who could transform into living metal. (deceased; Infinite CrisisInfinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
#7)
A new Blood Pack was introduced in Faces of Evil: Prometheus
Prometheus (comics)
Prometheus is the name of three fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.The first Prometheus debuted in New Teen Titans vol. 2, #24 and was created by Marv Wolfman and Eduardo Barreto . The second version debuted in New Year's Evil: Prometheus Prometheus is the name...
, made up of surviving Bloodlines heroes. Led by Argus
Argus (comics)
Argus is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared during the Bloodlines crossover event in Flash Annual v2, #6 , and was created by Mark Waid and Phil Hester.-Fictional character biography:...
, the team included Gunfire, Anima, and Hook. Hook was killed by an impostor Prometheus. Gunfire's hands were amputated and Anima was killed in an ensuing encounter with the real Prometheus.
Chapter order
Bloodlines was divided into four "chapters": Outbreak, Earthplague, Deathstorm, and Bloodbath. The order of the storyline is as follows:Bloodlines: Outbreak
- Lobo Annual #1
- Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #2
- Batman: Shadow of The Bat Annual #1
- Flash Annual #6
- New Titans Annual #9
- Superman Annual #5
- Green Lantern Annual #2
- Batman Annual #17
- Justice League International Annual #4
Bloodlines: Earthplague
- Robin Annual #2
- Action Comics Annual #5
- Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #4
- Green Arrow Annual #6
- Detective Comics Annual #6
- Justice League America Annual #7
- Adventures of Superman Annual #5
- Hawkman Annual #1
Bloodlines: Deathstorm
- Deathstroke Annual #2
- Eclipso Annual #1
- Demon Annual #2
- Batman: Legends of The Dark Knight Annual #3
- Team Titans Annual #1
- L.E.G.I.O.N. Annual #4
External links
- Bloodlines at the DC Database Project
- DCU Guide: Blood Pack
- Vanishing Point: Bloodlines Checklist