Bloodscream (originally Bloodsport) is a

supervillain A supervillain, supervillainess or supercriminal is a major antagonist and variant of the villainous stock character who possesses Superpower (ability), superpowers. The character type is sometimes found in comic books and is often the primary ...

appearing in

American comic book An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...

s published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

. The character is usually depicted as an enemy of

Wolverine The wolverine ( , ; ''Gulo gulo''), also called the carcajou or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species, member of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. The w ...

Publication history

Bloodscream first appeared in ''

'' vol. 2 #4 (February 1989), and was created by writer

Chris Claremont Christopher S. Claremont (; born November 25, 1950) is an English-born American comic book writer and novelist. Claremont is best known for his 16-year stint on ''Uncanny X-Men'' from 1975 to 1991, far longer than that of any other writer,Clarem ...

and artist

John Buscema John Buscema ( ; born Giovanni Natale Buscema, ; December 11, 1927 – January 10, 2002)Social Se ...

Fictional character biography

Bloodscream was originally a

naval surgeon A naval surgeon, or less commonly ship's doctor, is the person responsible for the health of the ship's company aboard a warship. The term appears often in reference to Royal Navy's medical personnel during the Age of Sail. Ancient uses Specialis ...

who served in Sir

Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake ( 1540 – 28 January 1596) was an English Exploration, explorer and privateer best known for making the Francis Drake's circumnavigation, second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition between 1577 and 1580 (bein ...

's pirate fleet between 1577 and 1580. After being mortally wounded in an attack on a Spanish galleon, he is treated by the Native American

necromancer Necromancy () is the practice of magic involving communication with the dead by summoning their spirits as apparitions or visions for the purpose of divination; imparting the means to foretell future events and discover hidden knowledge. ...

Dagoo, who transforms him into a vampire-like being. Learning that his condition can only be reversed by the blood of an immortal, Bloodscream travels the world in search of one, fighting in any war he can. In the process, he becomes a mercenary, ally of Hydra, and enemy of Wolverine. Bloodscream later appeared as a member of the Nightstalkers where they attacked the vampires residing on North Brother Island. He also reanimated and controlled

Frank Drake Frank Donald Drake (May 28, 1930 – September 2, 2022) was an American astrophysicist and astrobiologist. He began his career as a radio astronomer, studying the planets of the Solar System and later pulsars. Drake expanded his interests ...

's corpse to assist them. When the Avengers Emergency Response Division fought the Nightstalkers, Frank Drake was freed from Bloodscream's control and assisted in defeating the Nightstalkers. Bloodscream and the rest of the Nightstalkers were left for the vampire sheriffs to stand trial in the vampire nation of Vampyrsk.''Avengers Assemble'' Vol. 3 #3. Marvel Comics.

Powers and abilities

Bloodscream is a vampire-like being who possesses the abilities of vampires without any of their weaknesses. He possesses superhuman physical traits, is funcitionally immortal, and can drain the life forces of other and revive corpses as mindless, zombie-like beings under his control. Bloodscream can also transform into a monstrous form with elongated claws and teeth, but reduced intelligence. Bloodscream is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and has many connections throughout the criminal underworld, adding to his reputation as a mercenary for hire. His extended lifespan has granted him great experience in matters of naval warfare and piracy.

In other media

Television

Bloodscream makes a cameo appearance in the '' X-Men: The Animated Series'' episode "Whatever It Takes".

Video games

Bloodscream appears as a boss in '' Wolverine: Adamantium Rage''.

References

External links

UncannyXmen.net Character Profile on Bloodscream
{{Chris Claremont Characters created by Chris Claremont Characters created by John Buscema Comics characters introduced in 1989 Fictional characters from the 16th century Fictional English people Fictional pirates Fictional Royal Navy personnel Fictional sailors Fictional surgeons Fictional vampires Marvel Comics shapeshifters Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds Marvel Comics characters with accelerated healing Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength Marvel Comics supervillains Marvel Comics male supervillains Marvel Comics Nazis Marvel Comics vampires