In these entries, we look back at the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition #16-20 from 1987 to 1988 – the ‘Book of the Dead’ issues – and venture into the Marvel Universe to find out if anyone has had the courtesy to stay dead since those OHOTMU issues were released!
Our third entry features a quartet of animal-themed villains empowered by the crooked Mayor of New York, Abner Jones, and have gone up against Daredevil, Iron Man, Spider-Man and the X-Men. So you get four for the price of one in this entry – well, technically seven – as we continue to look back at Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition #16.
See our BOOK OF THE DEAD: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? INDEX for more.
Note: These entries aren’t like our usual CHARACTER READING ORDERS with every appearance of each listed – it’s just the key stories as per their Handbook entry.
| Death | Captain America #254 (1981) |
| Return | Knights of Pendragon #10 (1993) |
| Years Dead | 12 |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event / Crossover |
| Invaders #7-9 (1976) In early 1942, the Human Torch (Jim Hammond) encounters a costumed vampire on the streets of London. After an update on the dangers of Baron Blood and his connect to the Nazi war effort from Lord John Falsworth, the Torch’s fellow Invaders and World War I hero Union Jack (Lord James Montgomery Falsworth) hunt the deadly Baron. The Invaders learn the familial connection between Baron Blood and Union Jack, how his attempt to control Dracula in Romania backfired and resulted in him becoming a vampire, and how the John Falswaorth betrayed England to the Germans during WWI. The vampire abducts Jack’s daughter, Jacqueline Falsworth. The final fight results in Baron Blood accidentally being impaled on stalagmites by Union Jack, leaving nothing but bones. | |
| Invaders #39-41 (1979) Baron Blood is accidentally resurrected by the second Union Jack’s electrokinesis in 1945. He joins the Nazi superhuman team Super-Axis alongside Lady Lotus, Master Man, U-Man and Warrior Woman. The Sub-Mariner hurls a broken piece of wood from a rollercoaster though Baron Blood, staking his heart and leaving him as withered remains. | |
| Captain America #253-254 (1981) Long after the war, in the present day, Captain America investigates Monty Falsworth’s suspicion that one of Dracula’s familiars has remove the stake from Baron Blood’s chest, resurrecting him. Discovering the Baron’s ruse, Cap ensured the vampire could never return by decapitating him with his shield. | |
| Doctor Strange #62 (1983) Some time later, Doctor Strange uses the Montesi Formula to end the existence of all vampires on Earth. | THE MONTESI FORMULA |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #14-18 (1990) Marie Laveau undoes the Montesi Formula, allowing vampires to rise again across planet Earth. |
| Knights of Pendragon #10-11 (1993) Someone matching the description of Baron Blood hunts men down after dressing them up as Union Jack. The third Union Jack (Joseph Chapman) and his fellow Knights of Pendragon break into the headquarters of sinister UK-based corporation Mys-Tech and sees that they’ve resurrected and technologically-enhanced Baron Blood. Union Jack impales the Baron who then falls onto a spike on a giant cross. |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event / Crossover |
| Alias #26 (2003) Baron Blood remains ‘dead’ for a number of years, but is eventually revealed to still be alive and incarcerated in the Raft supermax prison. | |
| Captain America #31 (2004) Baron Blood attends an auction to purchase the captive Captain America | AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED |
| All-New Captain America #1-2, 5-6 (2015) He steps to the fore once again as a member of Hydra’s High Sect and is confronted by the new Captain America (Sam Wilson). | AVENGERS NOW! |
| Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula #1 (2020) The Baron crosses paths with Dracula once more when they both become members of the Weapon Plus programme. | RUINS OF RAVENSCROFT |
| Avengers #14-16 (2024) Baron Blood returns to his roots as a Nazi villain when the Earth is cloaked in darkness, allowing vampires to run riot. The Baron makes a bid to bring fascism to America. | BLOOD HUNT |
| Interior Art | Credits |
| Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #16 – Baron Blood | Art: Alan Davis & Josef Rubinstein |
| Captain America #254 | Story: Roger Stern & John Byrne Art: John Byrne, Josef Rubinstein & Bob Sharen |
| Knights of Pendragon #10 | Story: Dan Abnett & John Tomlinson Art: Terry Clark & Sophie Heath |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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