<P> Blade (Eric Brooks) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . Created by writer Marv Wolfman and penciller Gene Colan, his first appearance was in the comic book The Tomb of Dracula #10 (July 1973) as a supporting character . </P> <P> The character went on to star and co-star in several comic book series as well as a Blade film series and television series . Actor Wesley Snipes portrayed the vampire hunter in the Blade film series while Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones took on the role for the television series . </P> <P> Blade was introduced as a supporting character in Marvel Comics' The Tomb of Dracula #10 (July 1973), written by Marv Wolfman and penciled by Gene Colan . The artist recalled in 2003, "Marv told me Blade was a black man, and we talked about how he should dress, and how he should look--very heroic looking . That was my input . (...) The bandolier of blades--that was Marv's idea . But, I dressed him up . I put the leather jacket on him and so on". Colan based the character's features on "a composite of black actors" including NFL football star - turned - actor Jim Brown . He initially sported 1970s style afro hair and wielded teak bladed knives . Blade appeared in most issues #10--21, with additional appearances in #24 and 28 (altogether ranging from July 1973--Sept. 1974). </P> <P> Wolfman recalled in 2009, </P>

When did the blade comic book come out