Baron Blood is the name of several appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first incarnation of Baron Blood, John Falsworth, first appeared in The Invaders #7 (July 1976), who has been part of the superhero Captain America's rogues gallery since World War II. The second incarnation, Victor Strange, debuted in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme vol. 3 #10 (December 1989). The third incarnation, Kenneth Crichton, made his first appearance in Captain America #253 (October, 1980).
Publication history
Created by
Roy Thomas and
Frank Robbins, the original incarnation first appeared in
The Invaders #7 (July 1976).
A second incarnation created by Thomas and
Jackson Guice appeared in
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme vol. 3 #10 (December 1989), and further incarnations, including a female version called Baroness Blood, were created by
Ben Raab and
John Cassaday for
Union Jack #1-3 (December 1998 – February 1999), based on characters originally created by
Roger Stern and John Byrne for
Captain America #253 (January 1981).
1970s publications
Roy Thomas and
Frank Robbins featured the original Baron Blood, John Falsworth, in
The Invaders #7-9 (July – October 1976); in the story flashbacks show him being turned into a vampire by Dracula on a trip to Transylvania and joining the German forces for World War I and World War II, while in the present day he stays at Falsworth Manor under the guise of his own son plotting to kill his niece, Jacqueline Falsworth, to get revenge against his elder brother, Lord Falsworth, until he is killed by
Captain America.
1980s publications
Roger Stern and John Byrne gave Falsworth a false identity as Dr. Jacob Cromwell for
Captain America #253-254 (January – February 1981); in the story, which features the first appearance of his successors Kenneth Crichton and Lilly Cromwell, he is defeated and killed by
Captain America and the new Union Jack Joey Chapman. Falsworth made a brief reappearance in
Tom DeFalco's
The Avengers Annual #16 (1987); in the story he is one of a group of villains brought back from the dead to battle the Avengers.
1990s publications
Kenneth Crichton made a brief appearance in
Fabian Nicieza and
Kieron Dwyer's story "The Establishment" for
Marvel Comics Presents #42 (February 1990); in a flashback to events following his debut appearance he is shown persuading his mother, Lady Jacqueline, to allow Joey Chapman to continue as Union Jack.
Dan Slott and Rita Fagiani featured Crichton and his mother again in "Young Blood" for
Marvel Comics Presents #89 (November 1991); in the story, he is kidnapped in an attempt to steal the secret of youth from the recently rejuvenated Lady Jacqueline. While
Ron Marz and
Ron Lim featured Falsworth in the World War II-era story "The Gift" for
Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #2 (1992); in the story Falsworth wins over the affections of
Namor's love interest.
Falsworth appears as a supporting character in Nicholas Vince and Mark Buckingham's four-issue (September 1993 – October 1994) miniseries for Marvel UK; the story reveals in flashback that while staying at Falworth Manor during World War II under his original assumed identity, he turned the spurned lover of the titular anti-hero into a vampire.
Crichton and Cromwell appeared as supporting characters in Ben Raab and John Cassaday's three-issue Union Jack (December 1998 – February 1999) miniseries; in the story Crichton is seduced by Cromwell as Baroness Blood, transformed into the new Baron Blood, and ultimately left to die. While Falsworth appeared as the principal antagonist in Bill Rosemann and Vince Evans' World War II-era Sgt. Fury back-up story for Captain America vol. 3 #20–21 (August – September 1999); in which he threatens to turn Fury and his team into vampires.
2000s publications
Cromwell appeared as the principal antagonist in Allan Jacobsen and C.P. Smith's
New Invaders #4-5 (January – February 2005); in which in she traps Lady Jacqueline using an image of Crichton and feeds her blood to their newborn vampiric son, while Falsworth made a brief appearance in
Steve Niles and
Rafael Garres's story "Self-Made Monster" for
Amazing Fantasy #17 (March 2006); in which a flashback shows him taking revenge against biochemist
Morbius for polluting the vampire bloodline.
2010s publications
Mike Benson and Paul Grist featured Falsworth in the World War II flashback story
Operation: Tooth Fairy for the 70th Anniversary Issue
Captain America #616 (May 2011); in the story Captain America is temporarily turned into a vampire by Baron Blood.
Fictional character biography
John Falsworth
John Falsworth first appears in the title
Invaders as an
England aristocrat. Although posing as the son of the first John Falsworth, it is revealed in flashback that the character is in fact the original, made possible due to the fact that he is now an ageless
vampire.
When the family fortune is left to his older brother James, John Falsworth leaves England to pursue an interest of his - vampire lore. Falsworth travels to
Transylvania and encounters the original vampire lord Dracula, who, after overpowering Falsworth, drains his
blood and turns him into one of the
undead.
Jeff Rovin (1987). 081601356X, Facts on File. 081601356X
[1] Dracula then commands Falsworth to return to England and cause havoc in revenge for the deeds of his former opponent
Jonathan Harker. Adopting the alias of "Baron Blood" (), the character allies with
German Empire during World War I and without either party realizing the identity of the other, battles his own brother, who is now the English hero Union Jack.
Blood is wounded by Jack with a silver dagger, and flees to recover.
The character reappears during World War II in his false persona, and once again aids Nazi Germany, with Nazi technology helping him to reduce his susceptibility to sunlight (a major vampire weakness). As Blood, Falsworth attacks and wounds his niece, Jacqueline Falsworth, but is driven off by the android Human Torch. Almost dead due to blood loss, Jacqueline Falsworth is saved when given a blood transfusion by the Torch. The artificial blood causes the character to develop superhuman abilities, and she becomes the heroine Spitfire. Blood captures Spitfire and takes her to a cavern below Falsworth Manor, and cripples his brother by breaking his legs with a boulder. Blood is then impaled through the back and chest by a silver-laced stalactite.[ The Invaders #7-9 (July – October 1976). Marvel Comics.]
Baron Blood reappears when Japanese soldiers sent by the spy Lady Lotus find the cavern and attempt to resurrect the character. The soldiers are driven off by Union Jack II (James Falsworth's son, Brian) and Spitfire, although Blood is accidentally revived. Blood travels to the United States of America and, after a brief skirmish with the Invaders, joins the Nazi team the Super-Axis for a final battle with the heroes. Blood is killed once again when impaled on a stake thrown by Namor the Sub-Mariner.[ The Invaders #39-40 (April – May 1979); #41 (August 1979). Marvel Comics.]
In Captain America #253-254, a servant of Dracula, Dr. Jacob Cromwell, is sent to revive Blood, whose bones are stored in the Tower of London. Although Cromwell is successful, Blood betrays and kills him and one of his daughters, turning the other one into a vampire (who later becomes Baroness Blood). Assuming Cromwell's identity, Blood commits a series of murders that arouse the suspicions of his now very elderly brother James. The older Falsworth requests the aid of Captain America, who with the third version of Union Jack battles Blood. After being tricked into thinking that Union Jack III was his older brother James, Blood is decapitated with Captain America's shield. The character's body is burned to ashes, with the ashes scattered in the morning breeze.[ Captain America #253-254 (January – February 1981). Marvel Comics.]
Baron Blood returns in the storyline as an inmate of Pleasant Hill, a gated community established by S.H.I.E.L.D.[ Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega #1. Marvel Comics.]
Baron Blood was seen at the Bar with No Name. He was having a drink with Count Nefaria.[ Daredevil vol. 6 #15. Marvel Comics.]
During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Baron Blood is recruited by Helmut Zemo to join the Army of Evil. Zemo found him inside a cave.[ Captain America: Steve Rogers #13. Marvel Comics.] As part of Hydra's rise to power, Baron Blood assisted the Army of Evil in their attack on New York City.[ Captain America: Steve Rogers #16. Marvel Comics.] Then he assisted the Army of Evil in their attack on Washington, D.C. to complete Hydra's conquest of the United States.[ Free Comic Book Day 2017. Marvel Comics.]
During the "Blood Hunt" storyline, Baron Blood takes advantage of the Darkforce blocking out the Sun enough for a vampire invasion to occur. He and the vampires with him use a commandeered Helicarrier to attack Captain America's Avengers with a Vortex beam. Revealing himself to Captain America, Baron Blood plans to have noble fascism started in North America before spreading it to the world.[ Avengers Vol. 9 #14. Marvel Comics.]
Victor Strange
The storyline "The Book of the Vishanti: Curse of the Darkhold" in the title
features a second version of the character.
[ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #10-11 (December 1989 – January 1990)] When a still-inexperienced Doctor Strange attempts to resurrect his dead brother Victor with a spell from the Book of the Vishanti, it revives him as a vampire. Given the costume and name of "Baron Blood" by a voodoo sorceress, Victor Strange attempts to control his bloodlust and become a costumed
vigilante called "Khiron". He attempts to only prey on criminals,
[ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #14-18 (February – June 1990)] and when criminals are not available, Victor utilizes his willing girlfriend, Morgana. However, his heroic impulses are used against him; Victor is preyed upon by Cagliostro, an ancient entity that needs vampire blood to live. Victor barely escapes this situation.
[ Dr. Strange Annual #2 (1992)] The bloodlust, however, forces the character to kill innocents and he eventually commits
suicide.
[ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #56 (August 1993). Marvel Comics.]
During the "Blood Hunt" storyline, Victor Strange returns as a ghost. Upon seeing Doctor Strange's vampire-converted body, he plans to make his entrance.[ Doctor Strange Vol. 6 #15. Marvel Comics.] It was revealed that Victor's ghost resided in the Crypt of Shadows behind the mirrors of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Blade visited him with knowledge of Victor's history and introduced himself as a "friend". Victor later possessed Doctor Strange's body and fought Wong, where he overwhelmed Wong enough to retreat.[ Doctor Strange Vol. 6 #16. Marvel Comics.]
Kenneth Crichton
The final version of Baron Blood features in the miniseries
Union Jack. Kenneth Crichton, the son of Jacqueline Falsworth and a sufferer of the medical condition
anemia, is estranged from his family after refusing to adopt the identity of Union Jack, deeming his close friend Joey Chapman to be a better choice.
Crichton encounters Baroness Blood, who offers to cure his anemia. The character accepts and is turned into a vampire, becoming the third Baron Blood. Baroness Blood then directs Crichton to steal the
Holy Grail from a museum and uses the artifact to become immune to all vampire weaknesses. The Baroness then betrays Crichton and her vampire servants, leaving them to die when exposed to sunlight.
[ Union Jack #1-3 (December 1998 – February 1999). Marvel Comics.]
Powers and abilities
The first Baron Blood possessed all the powers of a vampire, including superhuman strength and durability;
hypnotism and the ability to command bats, wolves, dogs, and rodents. Weaknesses included vulnerability to
sunlight,
garlic, and
silver; the presence of religious symbols; decapitation and a wooden stake through the heart.
Courtesy of Nazi science, Blood received treatment that allowed him activity in sunlight, at least for some length of time, although this also removed his shapeshifting abilities. His transformation into a vampire also activated a latent ability of self-levitation, which enabled Blood to fly without having to change into a bat.
Reception
Accolades
-
In 2021, Screen Rant included John Falsworth's Baron Blood persona in their "Marvel: 10 Most Powerful Vampires" list.
-
In 2022, CBR.com ranked John Falsworth's Baron Blood persona 4th in their "10 Most Important Marvel Vampires" list
Other versions
Earth-3931
An alternate universe variant of Kenneth Crichton / Baron Blood from Earth-3931 appears in
Exiles #31.
[ Exiles #31. Marvel Comics.]
Earth-65
An unidentified, original incarnation of Baron Blood from an unidentified universe appears in
Spider-Gwen #1. This version was a lover of Captain America during the 1940s.
[ Spider-Gwen Annual #1. Marvel Comics.]
Old Man Logan
An alternate universe variant of Baron Blood makes a minor appearance in
Old Man Logan #1.
[ Old Man Logan vol. 2 #1. Marvel Comics.]
In other media
Baron Blood appears in
, voiced by
Kazunari Tanaka in the original Japanese version and Steve Kramer in the English dub.
External links
