Vampires have been a staple of the Marvel Universe, with almost every hero facing one (or many) at one point or another. The bloodsuckers’ efforts at taking over the world are usually sporadic and unfocused. However, in Marvel’s Blood Hunt, the various vampire factions have rallied together to use the Darkforce energy to block out the sun. With the world in perpetual night, they can finally take over. The only thing standing in their way are the heroes of the Marvel Universe.
These big summer comic book events always have a lot of moving parts. As a result, they can be confusing to new readers and those who haven’t been following comics closely. Luckily, this reading order checklist is here to make reading Blood Hunt easy. It details everything you need to know – with background reading, details on the tie-ins, and heaps more – so you can bite into this comic event.
Do you need to read all the tie-ins?
Like most comic book events, Blood Hunt is told through a core miniseries. Then many supplemental comics tie into it, telling side stories and exploring how the main story affects other characters. It’s up to you as to whether you read these tie-in issues.
Tie-in issues written by Blood Hunt scribe Jed Mackay – such as Vengeance of the Moon Knight, Avengers, and Doctor Strange – link to the main events closely, portraying background events focusing on core characters. Others go in their own direction, giving readers some vampire action without being too consequential.
In the end, it’s up to you how you want to read Blood Hunt. For some readers, the core series will be enough. That’s totally fine. You’ll get a complete story by reading the five-issue limited series. Others will want a more expansive reading experience – which is where the tie-ins come in. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most, whether based on story aspects, characters involved, or the creators behind those issues.
What are the Red Band editions?
While variant covers are commonplace, it’s rare for Marvel to release two different versions of a series at the same time. With Blood Hunt, the publisher is taking advantage of the bloody nature of the story to produce a secondary version referred to as the “Red Band” edition.
The Red Band editions take the regular version of Blood Hunt and add the gore and blood you’d expect from an action-packed vampire tale. As a result, it’s a more explicit version of the comic that will appeal to readers who want something a bit more blood-soaked. The Red Band editions for each issue of Blood Hunt will be polybagged – as a way to contain the gore. It’s worth noting that they will only be found at comic book shops and will not be available digitally.
It’s up to you which version you read. The Red Band editions do not include any additional story – just blood and gore – so you won’t miss out on any story details if you don’t read them.
Background reading
The seeds of Blood Hunt have been planted in Marvel stories in recent years. Check out the following recommendations to see how you can read them.
Marvel has put together this quick guide on the Vampire Nation if you happen to be short on time or don’t want to do all the background reading.
Avengers (2018 series) #14-17
Written by Jason Aaron. Art by David Marquez.
The Avengers and Blade get drawn into a vampire civil war, which will sees a shake-up to the vampire power structure.
Blade: Vampire Nation #1
Written by Mark Russell. Art by Mico Suayan and Dave Wachter.
This one-shot picks up from the Avengers story, delving more into Dracula’s recently established Vampire Nation.
Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio’s Moon Knight run
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Alessandro Cappuccio and others.
Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio’s Moon Knight run has vampires throughout. This includes the details on the inner workings of the Vampire Nation in Moon Knight (2021) #13-18. Check out are reading order if you want to delve deeper into this Moon Knight run.
Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #1-5
Written by Danny Lore. Art by Karen Darboe.
This limited series sows the seeds of what’s happening with vampires in the Marvel Universe.
Blade (2023 series) #1-6
Written by Bryan Edward Hill. Art by Lee M. Ferguson.
Blade becomes the sheriff of Dracula’s Vampire Nation.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022 series) #11
Written by Cody Ziglar. Art by Federica Mancin.
Blood Hunt’s seeds are sowed with a team-up between Miles Morales and Blade.
Blood Hunt reading order
Take a look below to see the Blood Hunt reading order. This includes the main series and tie-ins, along with creative teams and release dates to help make reading this comic book event as easy as possible.
Free Comic Book Day 2024: Blood Hunt/X-Men #1 (Prologue)
Written by Jed MacKay and Gail Simone. Art by Sara Pichelli and David Marquez.
Note: Free Comic Book Day 2024: Blood Hunt/X-Men #1 is a free comic that was given away at comic book shops for Free Comic Book Day 2024. It acts as a prologue, teasing the event. It also includes a story made to hype the X-Men: From The Ashes relaunch that begins in July 2024. Read the digital version for free.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight (2024 series) #5 (Tie-in)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Alessandro Cappuccio.
On sale 1st May.
Note: The majority of Vengeance of the Moon Knight (2024 series) #5 is set just before Blood Hunt #1. It also winds up the story started in Vengeance of the Moon Knight (2024 series) #1.
Blood Hunt #1 (of 5)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Pepe Larraz.
On sale 1st May.
Note: Blood Hunt #1 is available in a Red Band Edition.
Doctor Strange (2023 series) #15 (Tie-in)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Pasqual Ferry.
On sale 8th May.
The Avengers (2023 series) #14 (Tie-in)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by C.F. Villa.
On sale 8th May.
Blood Hunters #1 (of 4) (Tie-in)
Written by Mark Russell, Christos Gage, and Erica Schultz. Art by Bob Quinn, Javier Garrón, and Bernard Chang.
On sale 8th May
Dracula: Blood Hunt #1 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Danny Lore. Art by Vincenzo Carratù.
On sale 8th May.
Strange Academy: Blood Hunt #1 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Daniel José Older. Art by Luigi Zagaria.
On sale 8th May.
Venom (2021 series) #33 (Tie-in)
Written by Al Ewing. Art by Juan Ferreyra.
On sale 8th May.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2022 series) #49 (Tie-in)
Written by Zeb Wells. Art by John Romita Jr.
On sale 8th May.
The Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Justina Ireland. Art by Marcelo Ferreira.
On sale 15th May.
Union Jack The Ripper: Blood Hunt #1 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Cheryl Lynn Eaton. Art by Farid Karami.
On sale 15th May.
Blood Hunt #2 (of 5)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Pepe Larraz.
On sale 22nd May.
Note: Blood Hunt #2 is available in a Red Band Edition.
Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt #1 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Bryan Hill. Art by Germán Peralta.
On sale 29th May.
Black Panther: Blood Hunt #1 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Cavan Scott. Art by Kev Walker.
On sale 29th May.
Blood Hunters #2 (of 4) (Tie-in)
Written by Kaare Andrews, Ann Nocenti, and Erica Schultz. Art by Alex Lins, David Baldeon, and Bernard Chang.
On sale 5th June
Venom (2021 series) #34 (Tie-in)
Written by Al Ewing. Art by Juan Ferreyra.
On sale 5th June.
Wolverine: Blood Hunt #1 (of 4) (Tie-in)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Juan José Ryp.
On sale 5th June.
Blood Hunt #3 (of 5)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Pepe Larraz.
On sale 12th June.
Note: Blood Hunt #3 is available in a Red Band Edition.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight (2024 series) #6 (Tie-in)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Alessandro Cappuccio.
On sale 12th June.
The Avengers (2023 series) #15 (Tie-in)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by C.F. Villa.
On sale 12th June.
Doctor Strange (2023 series) #16 (Tie-in)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Pasqual Ferry.
On sale 12th June.
Fantastic Four (2022 series) #21 (Tie-in)
Written by Ryan North. Art by Ivan Fiorelli.
On sale 12th June.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022 series) #21 (Tie-in)
Written by Cody Ziglar. Art by Travel Foreman.
On sale 12th June.
Strange Academy: Blood Hunt #2 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Daniel José Older. Art by Luigi Zagaria.
On sale 12th June.
The Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #2 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Justina Ireland. Art by Marcelo Ferreira.
On sale 12th June.
X-Men: Blood Hunt – Jubilee #1 (Tie-in)
Written by Preeti Chhibber. Art by Enid Balám.
On sale 12th June.
Wolverine: Blood Hunt #2 (of 4) (Tie-in)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Juan José Ryp.
On sale 19th June.
Dracula: Blood Hunt #2 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Danny Lore. Art by Vincenzo Carratù.
On sale 19th June.
Black Panther: Blood Hunt #2 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Cavan Scott. Art by Kev Walker.
On sale 19th June.
Blood Hunt #4 (of 5)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Pepe Larraz.
On sale 26 June.
Note: Blood Hunt #4 is available in a Red Band Edition. Additionally, you’ll want to pay attention to this issue if you have been reading Jed MacKay’s Moon Knight run.
Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt #2 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Bryan Hill. Art by Germán Peralta.
On sale 26th June.
Union Jack The Ripper: Blood Hunt #2 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Cheryl Lynn Eaton. Art by Farid Karami.
On sale 26th June.
X-Men: Blood Hunt – Magik #1 (Tie-in)
Written by Ashley Allen. Art by Jesús Hervás.
On sale 26th June.
X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke #1 (Tie-in)
Written by Steve Foxe. Art by Lynne Yoshii.
On sale 3rd July.
Blood Hunters #3 (of 4) (Tie-in)
Written by Sean McKeever, Josh Trujillo, and Erica Schultz. Art by Lan Medina, Robert Gill, and Bernard Chang.
On sale 3rd July
Dracula: Blood Hunt #3 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Danny Lore. Art by Vincenzo Carratù.
On sale 3rd July.
Werewolf by Night: Blood Hunt #1 (Tie-in)
Written by Jason Loo. Art by Adam Gorham.
On sale 3rd July.
Black Panther: Blood Hunt #3 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Cavan Scott. Art by Kev Walker.
On sale 3rd July.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022 series) #22 (Tie-in)
Written by Cody Ziglar. Art by Travel Foreman.
On sale 3rd July.
Doctor Strange (2023 series) #17 (Tie-in)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Pasqual Ferry.
On sale 3rd July.
The Avengers (2023 series) #16 (Tie-in)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by C.F. Villa.
On sale 10th July.
Hulk: Blood Hunt #1 (Tie-in)
Written by Philip Kennedy Johnson. Art by Danny Earls.
On sale 10th July.
Union Jack The Ripper: Blood Hunt #3 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Cheryl Lynn Eaton. Art by Farid Karami.
On sale 10th July.
Wolverine: Blood Hunt #3 (of 4) (Tie-in)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Juan José Ryp.
On sale 10th July.
Blood Hunters #4 (of 4) (Tie-in)
Written by Fabian Nicieza, Mary SanGiovanni, and Erica Schultz. Art by Patrick Zircher, Giada Belviso, and Bernard Chang.
On sale 17th July
X-Men: Blood Hunt – Laura Kinney The Wolverine #1 (Tie-in)
Written by Stephanie Phillips. Art by Robert Gill.
On sale 17th July.
The Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #3 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Justina Ireland. Art by Marcelo Ferreira.
On sale 17th July.
Fantastic Four (2022 series) #22 (Tie-in)
Written by Ryan North. Art by Ivan Fiorelli.
On sale 24 July.
Note: Fantastic Four (2022 series) #22 contains a back-up story, which is a chapter to the Deadpool/Wolverine: Weapon X-Traction crossover. See our reading order if you’re interested in reading it all.
Strange Academy: Blood Hunt #3 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Daniel José Older. Art by Luigi Zagaria.
On sale 24th July.
Wolverine: Blood Hunt #4 (of 4) (Tie-in)
Written by Tom Waltz. Art by Juan José Ryp.
On sale 24th July.
Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt #3 (of 3) (Tie-in)
Written by Bryan Hill. Art by Germán Peralta.
On sale 24th July.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight (2024 series) #7 (Tie-in)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Alessandro Cappuccio.
On sale 24th July.
Blood Hunt #5 (of 5)
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Pepe Larraz.
On sale 24th July.
Note: Blood Hunt #5 is available in a Red Band Edition.
Buy Blood Hunt issues on…
After Blood Hunt
What can readers look forward to after Blood Hunt? Marvel has begun to reveal some of the comics spilling out of it. These include:
Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu (2024 series) #0
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Alessandro Cappuccio.
This comic follows up on the developments in Blood Hunt #4 and acts as prelude to Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu (2024 series) #1, launching in Ocotober.
Blood Hunters #1 (of 5)
Written by Erica Schultz. Art by Robert Gill.
On sale 7th August
This five part miniseries that sees Elsa Bloodstone, Dagger, White Widow, and Hallows’ Eve hunting down the remaining vampires. Unfortunately, that will have Miles Morales caught in the crosshairs.
Avengers (2023 series) #17
Written by Jed MacKay. Art by Valerio Schiti.
On sale 7th August
The Avengers pick up the pieces after Blood Hunt. Also, Storm joins the team.
Doctor Strange (2023 series) #18
Written Jed MacKay. Art by Pasqual Ferry.
On sale 7th August
Want to know what’s next for Doctor Strange? Read this issue to find out.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022 series) #23
Written by Cody Ziglar. Art by Frederico Vincentini.
On sale 14th August.
What happens to Miles in Blood Hunt will continue to be explored in his own series.
Werewolf by Night: Red Band #1
Written by Jason Loo Art by Sergio Dávila.
On sale 14th August.
Find out what’s next for Jack Russell in the Red Band series.
Blade: Red Band #1 (of 5)
Written by Bryan Hill Art by C.F Villa.
On sale 9th October
See how Blade deals with the fallout of Blood Hunt.
Something Doctor Doom related
Marvel hinted at San Diego Comic-Con that something Doctor Doom related spin out of the conclusion of Blood Hunt #5. It appears that it will have ripples throughout the Marvel Universe and set up 2025’s big comic book event.
Amazing Spider-Man (2022 series) #61
Written by Joe Kelly. Art by Ed McGuinness.
On sale 13th November
One of the first of the Doctor Doom ripples will be seen in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man with a story called “8 Deaths of Spider-Man“.
Collected editions
Prefer to read Blood Hunt in a collected format? Here are the collections that have been announced that you can track down.
Blood Hunt
Collects: Blood Hunt #1-5 and material from Free Comic Book Day 2024: Blood Hunt/X-Men
Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt #1-3, Amazing Spider-Man (2022 series) #49, and Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2023 series) #21-22
Doctor Strange by Jed MacKay Volume 3: Blood Hunt
Collects: Doctor Strange (2023 series) #11-18
Avengers by Jed MacKay Volume 3: Blood Hunt
Collects: Avengers (2023 series) #12-16
Dracula: Blood Hunt
Collects: Dracula: Blood Hunt #1-3 and Union Jack the Ripper: Blood Hunt #1-3
Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt
Collects: Midnight Sons: blood Hunt #1-3 and Werewolf by Night: Blood Hunt #1
Blood Hunters: Once More Into the Darkness
Collects: Blood Hunt: Blood Hunters #1-4 and Hallow’s Eve: The Big Night
Fantastic Four Volume 4: Fortune Favors the Fantastic
Collects: Fantastic Four (2022 series) #18-22
Incredible Hulk Volume 3: Soul Cages
Collects: Incredible Hulk (2023 series) #12-14, Giant-Size Hulk #1, and Hulk: Blood Hunt
Have your say
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Hope to be entertained with this crossover, as so far marvel is giving me only disappointments… Since I luv vampires, hope they will be up to the task, to make me feel interested , btw thx for the efforts about the reading order list 🙂