Warning! Spoilers for Green Arrow 2024 Annual #1!One ofDC Comics’best forgotten 1990s events has returned, suggesting the possibility of a brand-new sequel. WhileCrisis on Infinite Earthsby Marv Wolfman and George Pérez is constantly referenced in continuity, not many fans - or characters, for that matter - remember major events likeZero HourorBloodlines- which is a shame, considering DC seems to have hinted at a sequel for the latter.
DC hints ata surprisingBloodlinessequel inGreen Arrow 2024 Annual#1by Joshua Williamson and Sean Izaakse - which is no surprise, given how crucial Oliver Queen has been in many DC events, including the recentAbsolute Powerby Mark Waid and Dan Mora. While talking to the children he’s babysitting,Green Arrowtells them of the major events he’s been part of, many of which are set in the future and haven’t been shown in comics yet - like a follow-up to the long-forgottenBloodlinesevent.
The other teased events include an invasion from Apokolips, Count Vertigo becoming an ambassador, and Oliver being trapped in both the past and the future. But the most interesting by far is Oliver’s statement that “those damn alien parasites returned for revenge.” While the parasites in question might not seem notable to new readers, they were actually a majorantagonist in the 1990s.
DC’s ForgottenBloodlinesEvent Returns in a Single Panel, Teasing Big Possibilities
Green Arrow 2024 Annual#1 by Joshua Williamson, Sean Izaakse, Amancay Nahuelpan, Romulo Fajardo Jr, and Troy Peteri
DC is no stranger to major crossover events, and one of the many'90s-era DC events wasBloodlines. It took over every Annual in 1993 and was a huge event, spanning such titles asSuperman: The Man of Steel, Batman: Shadow of The Bat, The Flash, New Titans, Green Lantern,and many more. The story involved the titular Bloodline parasites arriving on Earth and immediately attacking random people. Theparasites brutally sucked fluids from the victims' spines, causing excruciating pain and often death, but there was another interesting side effect.
The Bloodlines concept briefly returned for a New 52-era miniseries,Bloodlines,by J. T. Krul and V. Ken Marion, available now from DC Comics.
The Bloodline parasites were terrifying and killed a lot of people, but they also surprisingly gave rise to a new group of heroes. The feeding process of these parasites had the ability to activate the metagene in people who had it. If the victims survived, they manifested superpowers. Many beloved DC characters were born from this process, with the most popular beingTommy Managhan, who went on to star in the fan-favoriteHitmanseries by Garth Ennis and John McCrea.Bloodlineswas DC’s attempt at launching a new wave of superheroes known as New Bloods, but the concept never really went anywhere.
The Bloodline Parasites Will Eventually Return for Their Revenge Against DC’s Heroes
But Will a New Era of Heroes Return with Them?
The hint that the Bloodline parasites will return for revenge is significant for a few reasons, despite only showing up in a single panel in a one-off annual story. The Bloodline parasites created a new generation of heroes with the New Bloods. While this initiative wasn’t successful or particularly long-lasting, with only Tommy gaining any traction, that doesn’t mean DC can’t try again. It’s pretty common forDC to try launching new heroes, which they did a few years ago with the Silencer, Sideways, and the new Damage. But these characters, too, were eventually forgotten over time.
After 83 Years, Green Arrow Lore Changes Forever As Oliver Queen Returns To The Island That Created Him
Oliver Queen being a grandpa/babysitter to a gaggle of children isn’t the only major revelation promised in Green Arrow 2024 Annual #1.
The Bloodlines parasites weren’t just sucking spinal fluid for the fun of it. They were actually gathering the fluid for their God: the Taker, a massive parasite that could produce more parasites. The New Bloods used their combined powers to defeat the Taker, but there’s no reason that the Bloodline parasites couldn’t attempt to create a new Taker. The Taker didn’t get much page time, only appearing in two issues before being killed, meaning DC has a great chance toreally show what the monster is capable of if the publisher decides to return to this event.
The Bloodline Parasites Aren’t Finished With Earth Just Yet
When Might These Adversaries Officially Return to the DC Universe?
With the dozens and dozens of events that DC has had over the years, it makes sense to revisit some of the less popular. The DC Universe is a big place, sothere’s no reason to assume that all the Bloodline parasites are gone, and the return of these monsters' meta-creating powers would be a chance for DC to try and get some fresh blood in their superpowered rosters.
With DC launchingJustice League Unlimitedby Waid and Mora soon, there’s never been a better time for new heroes. Right now it’s unclear ifDC Comicswill revisit this old event beyond this tease, but one thing is clear: if the Bloodline parasites ever return to Earth, Green Arrow will be front and center leading the defense against them.
