Marvel’s Blade has a plethora of vampiric foes it could pit Eric Brooks against in Arkane’s dystopian Paris, France. Indeed, the setting Arkane has already revealed in Marvel’s Blade’s announcement teaser and concept art images reveals a futuristic playground vampires could wreak havoc in and, although some sort of governmental surveillance organization seems to watch over Paris, Blade seems like the only individual capable of thwarting the threat on his own when nightfall comes and the city’s curfew is in effect.

Few Marvel villains of Blade’s are incredibly well-known by anyone who hasn’t followed the dhampir’s exploits outside the source material. This could give Arkane an opportunity to shed light (pun intended) on Blade’s rogues’ gallery, but its distinct style would also be a fantastic setting and atmosphere for the anti-hero who is arguably Blade’s most iconic opponent: Michael Morbius, also known as the living vampire.

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Marvel’s Blade Can Redeem Morbius in All the Right Ways

Morbius may forever be the butt of every Marvel joke for as long as the character stays relevant. However, it would be absurd for related stories not to jump to include Morbius and take proper advantage of the character’s popularity. Morbius may not be popular for the most agreeable of reasons since the Sony spin-off movie essentially turned him into a meme and that’s ultimately sullied or diminished him, but if anything that should give future interpretations an opportunity to portray Morbius with genuine fervor and earnestness.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns’ Morbius wasn’t Afraid to Indulge in Memes

Marvel’s Midnight Suns hopped on the Morbin’ time meme with grace while also depicting him wonderfully as his own character, for example, and Arkane’s irrefutable sense of style and artistic vision could transform Morbius into one of the coolest characters Marvel’s ever had as it’ll surely do with Blade. Again, Marvel’s Midnight Suns had a terrific take on Morbius and allowed players to see him a bit more intimately behind closed doors at the Abbey, but Arkane casting Morbius in an antagonist role could be incredibly unprecedented.

If Anyone Can Make Morbius Cool Again It’s Arkane

If Arkane is known for one distinct element in its games it’s an authentic artistic flavor and it’s already clear that’ll permeate Marvel’s Blade as well. Releasing three pieces of concept art right around Marvel’s Blade’s announcement was arguably the smartest choice Arkane could’ve made because it establishes a brilliant tone for the game and illustrates what the world will look like.

It’s not difficult to imagine now what Morbius could look like as Blade’s cel-shaded foil, forgoing his classic gymnast tights for a look that could either resemble something scientific with a lab coat or something far more casual like Blade’s simple streetwear aesthetic. It would be all too easy for Arkane to perpetuate Morbius as a joke and yet its iteration could also redefine the character long after the Morbius movie has made its lasting and damning impact.

Otherwise, Arkane could be more interested in representing an obscure corner of Marvel pantheon lore as several other vampiric villains could be at the root of Paris’ invasion. Whomever Marvel’s Blade’s antagonists are will undoubtedly be stylish and significant, and while Morbius is certainly low-hanging fruit he might also taste the sweetest.

Marvel's Blade

Marvel's Blade is in development at Arkane Lyon, which developed Deathloop and Dishonored. It is a mature single-player third-person adventure game set in Paris, where players take on the role of the titular and beloved comic book hero.

Franchise

Marvel

Developer(s)

Arkane Studios

Publisher(s)

Bethesda Softworks