The initial installment of Marvel’s Blood Hunt event hints at the Montesi Formula as a potential resolution to the vampire issue, but a previous event has rendered it unattainable.
The month of May’s comics have started off with a thrilling start as Blood Hunt takes over the Marvel Universe with an army of vampires.
Although the event has already started with a potential solution that pays homage to a classic Doctor Strange tale, there is a predetermined explanation for why it will not be successful this time around, despite its previous success in The Montesi Formula’s previous encounter.
Caution: The following contains spoilers for Blood Hunt #1.
The Deadly Power of The Montesi Formula Against Vampires
In the 1974 comic book Dracula Lives, the Montesi Formula is formally introduced. It is an incantation from the Darkhold that was uncovered by a priest named Giuseppe Montesi. Despite successfully using the formula to vanquish a vampire in the tale, Giuseppe is murdered and Dracula destroys the note on which the incantation was written.
The Marvel landscape during the ’70s was vastly different from what it is today. In fact, a significant portion of their content was dedicated to vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings, as the company’s origins were rooted in horror comics. However, as the industry evolved, Marvel began to feature new and recognizable characters such as Blade and Moon Knight.
However, the era of vampires and Dracula within the Marvel Comics universe would come to an end in 1982. During a four-part Doctor Strange storyline, the Sorceror Supreme uncovers the Montesi Formula and learns that by using it alongside the Darkhold, he can cast a powerful spell that will eliminate the curse of vampirism from existence.
With the help of the Darkhold, Doctor Strange was able to eradicate vampires from the Marvel Unvierse.
Doctor Strange #62 marked the Sorceror Supreme’s successful casting of the spell, resulting in the removal of vampires from the field for several years. It wasn’t until Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #18 in 1990 that the Lord of Vampires, Varnae, was revived and they made their return.
Following Varnae’s resurrection, vampires, including the infamous Dracula, began to reappear throughout the Marvel universe. While they made sporadic appearances in books related to the mystical elements of Marvel, it was not until the mid-2010s that they truly thrived. This was due to their involvement in the Curse of the Mutants arc, where they crossed paths with the X-Men.
Why Blood Hunt can’t be stopped with The Montesi Formula
The Montesi Formula may have some potential to assist the heroes of the Marvel Universe in Blood Hunt, but it is not a complete solution. This is due to the absence of the Darkhold itself.
The Montesi Formula may be the solution to the vampire problem, but it can’t fix Blood Hunt’s invasion.
Despite being a powerful sorcerer, Doctor Strange required the genuine Darkhold in order to successfully perform the spell and eliminate the vampirism curse. Nevertheless, during the 2022 event The Darkhold, the book met its demise as the Scarlet Witch consumed it and its power to prevent the resurgence of Chthon.
Since then, the Darkhold has been deemed missing. In 2023’s Contest of Chaos event, Agatha Harkness attempted to recreate her own version, but both she and the Darkhold’s living embodiment have not been sighted since.
Without access to the Darkhold, it appears unlikely that the Montesi Formula can be fully utilized. Its maximum potential may only result in the elimination of a small number of vampires in close proximity. This task may prove challenging, especially since the story begins with Blade impaling Doctor Strange.
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