The Power of a King.....
Joseph Watkins Da Watcha
At DreamCon in Austin, Texas, King Vader unveiled his latest project: Strange Blades: Blade vs. Ghost Rider - Part 1. If you were there, his project was met with applause and unwavering support for the film and for those that were absent from the Black-owned anime and gaming convention’s premiere, many had to wait for the YouTube upload which premiered on July 30th, 2023. After immersing myself in the one-hour feature, King Vader's ongoing ability to astonish through his creativity, visuals, and passion for pop culture remains evident to this day.
King Vader
Born Dominique Barrett, King Vader weaves his love for comics, anime, and pop culture into the fabric of the entire film. His focus on the details becomes apparent as he immerses himself in the Blade persona, injecting it with anime-inspired speed and lighthearted instances that highlight its identity as a tribute by fans. For those unfamiliar, it's worth remembering the origins of Deadpool’s cinematic debut. At first, it started as a YouTube fan film, gaining worldwide attention, then turning from a fan film into a multimillion-dollar franchise on the big screen.
Cassandra Played by Eden Marie Gordley
From the very first frame, the movie plunges us into Blade’s universe, encompassing hostage vampires, vampire blood dealing, and captivating mini boss battles. Yet, through it all, we see that unmistakable “Vader Touch” with the help of writer Chad Edward Lee Evett (C.E.L.E.) and cinematography’s Touch Blevins. I also have to acknowledge Blade’s love interest Cassandra, played by Eden Marie Gordley. In true Vader fashion, Blade may not have had a women in his life, but with Vader, his rizz game is always ‘over 9000’.
What sets this fan film apart from many others is its approach to the supernatural. Rather than just focus on vampires, Vader takes you into the world of Marvel’s occult highlighting major figures who are either forged from the depths of Hades, trained in the mystics, or reformed vampires (Hannibal King, played by Levi B. Foster, kills it as the famed vampire detective). Ghost Rider’s Robbie Reyes, played by Raul Calderon, is epic as he brings a dynamic energy to the character embracing a more stylized outfit, covered in red, then blue flames toward the end, and drives a Dodge Charger instead of the famed motorcycle. This approach not only breathes new life into the character, it also gives Marvel a wealth of information to explore for upcoming films for the character, aside from his appearance in AGENTS OF SHIELD.
In the middle of the film’s dark and gritty nature lay the comedic talents of Dr. Strange, Wong and Agent Woo, played by C.E.L.E., Christopher LY and Theo Tiedemann respectively. As brief as they were in the film, their actions were memorable as they created lighthearted moments effectively integrating magic (with a K”), some hilarious parlor tricks, and a kitchen mixture scene that is both hilarious and intriguing. But nothing was more memorable than the embodiments of both Spawn and Mephisto and the battles that followed with Blade and Ghost Rider.
In the battle between Blade and Spawn (portrayed physically by Demetrius Holt and vocally by Chris Jai Alex), viewers were treated to a live hypothetical showdown between these iconic characters. While online discussions consider alternate outcomes between the two, the film's perspective also established a definitive hierarchy between Spawn and Ghost Rider, as evidenced by the line, "Serves me right for sending a pawn to do a king's work," echoing Spawn's stance against Ghost Rider. A burn to the spirit of vengeance? Most definitely.
Yet, the ultimate confrontation that speaks volumes is Blade's final encounter with the "puppet master" himself, Mephisto, played by Alex Drastal. Collaborating with the fiery spirit of vengeance, they deliver a defeat to Mephisto that transcends anime vibes and they not only overpower him, they reaffirm their status as forces to be reckoned with in the dark world of demons, vampires, and the occult.
Overall, King Vader’s approach to creating a fan film not only transcends the fandom, it also serves as a love letter to both the Blade franchise and the Marvel universe as a whole. Vader and the cast carefully incorporate storytelling, visual effects, and character dynamics, elevating the fan film genre to a new level, drawing in not only the enthusiasts, but new fans as well. Here, Vader demonstrates how fan films can be a medium for artistic expression as well as a platform for demonstrating how particular characters can be represented and showcased through a particular lens.
Additionally, this Blade “fan film” is even more amazing as it lays tribute to Blade’s original actor, Wesley Snipes. If he ever gets a chance to watch this film, he would applaud Vader’s efforts as he has expanded the vampire multiverse just a little bit more as he showcased the famed film event around Snipes’ birthday, July 31st.
Well Done, Vader. Well Done.
