Blade's true identity is revealed as Varnae, the first vampire, possessing the Daywalker's body and manipulating events. Varnae's name references the 1845 penny dreadful Varney the Vampire ...
In 1847, Scotsman James Malcolm Rymer added to vampire lore with his pulp novel Varney the Vampire. Ryder’s corpse-like protagonist had fangs, superhuman strength, and powers of hypnosis.