Blade #2 features another striking cover painting from Marko Djurdjevic.  Meanwhile, on the inside, Blade finds himself "invited" to the castle of Dr. Doom, who sends Blade back in time to rescue his mother, Cynthia Von Doom, imprisoned by vampires.

In a letter to readers published in #1, write Marc Guggenheim promised that he'd give readers two Blade stories per issue.  "Bargains in Time" is mostly one self-contained flashback story (via time travel), but there are many threads that lead from the main story to a large Blade epic.  Though not as manic as the first issue, #2 doesn't disappoint and certainly left me asking for more.

The art team of penciler/inker Howard Chaykin and colorist Edgar Delgado have given this book its own vibe, and that's a good thing.  It has a catchy visual rhythm like a cranked up videogame that knows it has an audience won't be ignored.  This issue also contains of a four-page ad insert for the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter comic book coming from Dabel Brothers Productions and Marvel.  If only that vampire comic book was as good as our Blade.

7/10