BARON BLOOD

Real Name: John Falsworth

Identity/Class: Human, vampire (English, World War I era to modern day)

Legal Status: British subject, member of the aristocracy, legally dead

Occupation: Vampire, former assassin for German intelligence

Group Membership: Legion of the Unliving, Super-Axis (Lady Lotus, Master Man, U-Man, Warrior Woman)

Affiliations: The Bane, Baroness Blood, Dracula, Grandmaster, Adolf Hitler, Mys-Tech, Siobhan, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Ormond Wychwood
Bitten and/or vamped by him: Katherine Ainsley-Jones, Baroness Blood, Earle Bowman, Jenny, William Poprycz, Siobhan, Spitfire, unnamed train engineers

Enemies: Avengers (Wasp, Wonder Man), Kenneth Crichton, Freedom's Five (Crimson Cavalier, Phantom Eagle, Silver Squire, Sir Steel, Union Jack (Montgomery Falsworth) ), Grace, Howling Commandos (Timothy "Dum-Dum" Dugan, Nick Fury, Gabe Jones, Robert "Reb" Ralston), Invaders (Bucky, Captain America (Steve Rogers), Human Torch (Jim Hammond), Miss America, Spitfire, Sub-Mariner, Toro, Whizzer (Bob Frank)), William Poprycz, Union Jack (Montgomery Falsworth), Union Jack (Brian Falsworth), Union Jack (Joey Chapman)

Known Relatives: Jacqueline Falsworth Chrichton (Lady Crichton, Spitfire, niece), Kenneth Crichton (Baron Blood, grandnephew, deceased), Lord Crichton (nephew-in-law, deceased), Montgomery Falsworth (Lord Falsworth, Union Jack, brother, deceased), Brian Falsworth (Union Jack, nephew, deceased), John Crichton (great-grandnephew), William Falsworth (father, deceased), Lady Falsworth (sister-in-law, deceased), Katherine Ainsley-Jones (distant niece)

Aliases: John Falsworth, Jr., Dr. Jacob Cromwell

Place of Birth: Falsworth Manor, England

Base of Operations: Mobile in England, including Falsworth Manor (while masquerading as John Falsworth, Jr.)

First Appearance: Invaders I#7 (July, 1976)

Powers/Abilities: Baron Blood possessed all of the abilities of a vampire, including flight, the ability to transform into mist, enhanced strength and durability, the ability to mesmerize humans and control mice, rats, bats and wolves, the ability to control the weather, and the ability to gain strength by sucking blood from victims; he could also transform others into vampires. Thanks to experiments performed by German scientists, he could withstand the effects of sunlight for brief periods of time.

Height: 5'10"
Weight: 180 lbs.
Eyes: Red
Hair: Black

History: (Invaders I#9 (fb)) - In the early 1910's, John Falsworth's father passed away, and his brother Montgomery became Lord Falsworth. Jealous of his brother, John set out to make his own fortune, and wound up traveling to Transylvania to seek out Dracula, who John believed to be a real person. John found Dracula asleep in his coffin at Castle Dracula and tried to control him with a cross, but Dracula used his hypnosis to make John drop the cross, then killed him. Three nights later, John arose from the dead as a vampire. Dracula sent him back to England to wreak havoc on the homeland of his enemies, the Harkers.

(Invaders I#8 (fb)) - By 1918, Falsworth had adopted the identity of Baron Blood, and entered into the service of Kaiser Wilhelm II to assassinate enemies of Germany during World War I. News of Blood's existence reached Prime Minister David Lloyd George, who dispatched Union Jack-- Montgomery Falsworth himself-- to stop Baron Blood from claiming his next victim. Union Jack fought Baron Blood atop a bridge, and managed to stab him with his silver dagger, causing him great pain. Blood fled without completing his mission, and when the war ended weeks later, he was left without a master.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16 - Baron Blood entry) - Baron Blood was also known to have fought Union Jack's comrades in Freedom's Five during the war.

(Invaders I#9 (fb)) - When Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany, Baron Blood offered his services to him. Hitler's scientists performed experiments upon Blood which allowed him to resist sunlight for extended periods of time. Baron Blood finally returned to England in the identity of John Falsworth, Jr., claiming to be his own son, and telling the Falsworths that his "father" had died in Asia.

(Mortigan Goth: Immortalis#2 (fb)) - In 1940, the Falsworth's distant cousin Katherine Ainsley-Jones came to live with them, and she fell in love with the immortal Mortigan Goth. When Goth spurned Katherine, Baron Blood came to her and transformed her into a vampire so that she would be immortal as well.

(Invaders I#7) - In 1942, Baron Blood attempted to feed on his niece, Jacqueline, but was interrupted by the Human Torch. He used his control over weather to temporarily put out the Torch's flame, and created a hurricane to prevent him from following. Later, he assaulted Namor's flagship and fought with Captain America, Bucky and Toro, but Toro drove him off with his flames. Blood returned to Falsworth Manor, assumed the identity of John Falsworth, Jr., and discovered that the Invaders were the guests of his brother.

(Invaders I#8) - John listened as his brother recounted his sole encounter with Baron Blood to the Invaders. The next morning, Captain America met with Jacqueline, and they wondered why they so seldom saw John during the day, but he appeared with a butterfly, and claimed that he was collector of rare butterflies that were more easily caught at night. That night, the Invaders split into three teams to find Baron Blood, but Blood had prepared traps for all of them; the Human Torch and Toro were tricked by a dummy of Baron Blood that had been filled with explosives that snuffed out their flames; the Sub-Mariner ran into a dummy filled with poison gas that knocked him out; Captain America and Bucky found the true Baron Blood, only to fall into an electrified net he had prepared for them. Baron Blood brought the 5 Invaders together to kill them, but then Union Jack appeared, and fought him. Blood managed to steal Union Jack's pistol and tried to shoot him with it, but instead it released an explosion of silver dust that blinded him, as Union Jack had planned. Baron Blood fled, and the Invaders were set free.

(Invaders I#9) - When the Invaders returned to Falsworth Manor, they found that Jacqueline had been fed on by Baron Blood. Blood appeared again as John Jr., and had to leave the room when the sun began to rise, weakening him. When all of the Invaders except for Union Jack had departed, Baron Blood confronted Union Jack, and used his mesmerism to make him drop his gun. He decided to leave his brother alive, and feast upon Jacqueline first. Baron Blood visited Jacqueline in her room, and revealed his true identity to her, but then the Human Torch entered, having remained behind, and drove Blood off with his flame, but Blood took Jacqueline with him as he set off to the caverns beneath Falsworth Manor. Union Jack caught up to Baron Blood in the caverns, but Baron Blood was his physical superior, and crushed his brother's legs with a boulder. Before he could feast further upon Jacqueline, the other Invaders arrived, and Captain America rescued Jacqueline from him. Union Jack then rolled a boulder on top of Baron Blood that knocked him on top of a stalagmite, which slew him like a stake through the heart.

(Invaders I#39) - Japanese soldiers under the command of Lady Lotus were sent to the caverns beneath Falsworth Manor to revive Baron Blood, but were interrupted by Spitfire and Union Jack (Brian Falsworth), Blood's own niece and nephew. However, Union Jack accidentally destroyed the boulder pressing down on Blood, and he soon revived to face the heroes.

(Invaders I#40) - Baron Blood defeated Union Jack and Spitfire, then left with the Japanese aboard their plane, creating a thunderstorm to cover their tracks. He was brought to New York's Chinatown to meet Lady Lotus, and tried to mesmerize her, but her hypnotic powers proved superior. Lady Lotus provided Blood with a coffin lined with English soil, and gave him a new costume. Later, he set out to an airfield in Idlewide, and fed on the air-traffic controller Earle Bowman. Blood took command of the traffic tower, allowing a plane piloted by Master Man and Warrior Woman to land. He was confronted by Captain America, the Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, Whizzer and Miss America, and was nearly defeated when the Human Torch created a fiery cross, but with no one to control the traffic tower, the Invaders had to leave him to stop two planes from crashing. Blood created a fog to conceal his escape, and returned to Lady Lotus.

(Invaders I#41) - Lady Lotus gathered together Baron Blood, U-Man, Master Man and Warrior Woman as the Super-Axis. While waiting for Lady Lotus to provide their next assignments, Blood went to sleep in his coffin. The next evening, the Super-Axis assaulted a train in the Chicago Railroad Center, and Blood feasted on the train's engineers. When the Invaders arrived, Blood assaulted Miss America, but was struck down by Captain America's shield. Their battle brought them to the Riverview amusement park, where Blood threatened some of the roller coaster passengers, but the Whizzer prevented him from attacking them, and the Sub-Mariner impaled Blood with an immense wooden post.

(Namor Annual#2/2) - In 1943, Blood became the lover of Siobhan, a woman living in Ireland who had been in love with the Sub-Mariner. When the Sub-Mariner found out, he fought with Blood, even breaking Blood's neck, but Blood repaired the injury almost immediately. When Namor realized that Siobhan no longer love him, he left her to Baron Blood.

(Captain America III#20/2 (fb) - BTS) - Baron Blood became active in the frontlines in Europe, feasting upon Allied soldiers. Among the troops he preyed upon was the 5th infantry, including Colonel William Poprycz. Blood tortured Poprycz and his men, and had soon feasted upon all of them, save Poprycz himself.

(Captain America III#20/2-21/2) - Sgt. Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos were sent on a mission to kill Baron Blood, but Blood brought the commandos down with a gas attack, then imprisoned them in cells with Poprycz. He began to torture Fury, attempting to sway him with the promise of eternal life. Finally, Poprycz seemd to break, and begged Blood to turn him. Blood complied, but when Poprycz had become a vampire, he turned on Blood and his men, killing most of them, and tore open the base's doors, driving Blood off with the sunlight. Poprcyz was killed by the sunlight. Fury and the commandos were able to escape thanks to Poprycz.

(Captain America I#253 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Baron Blood was slain again, but because he was a member of British aristocracy, there was some concern about the disposal of his body. His body was sealed up inside of a coffin in the Tower of London with a stake in his heart, and surrounded with garlic and religious icons to prevent him from reviving until the matter could be settled.

(Captain America I#254 (fb) - BTS) - In recent times, Dr. Jacob Cromwell, a human thrall of Dracula's, was sent to the Tower of London to revive Baron Blood.

(Captain America I#253 (fb)/Union Jack#2 (fb)) - Wanting to remain close to his family, Baron Blood assaulted the family of Dr. Cromwell, who lived nearby. He slew Cromwell and one of his daughters, transforming the other into a vampire. The deceased daughter was dressed in Blood's costume and placed in the Tower of London so that he would still be thought deceased. Blood assumed the identity of Dr. Cromwell, and destroyed Cromwell's home in a fire to cover his tracks. As Dr. Cromwell, he began to feed off of his patients, including Jenny, lover of his great-nephew Kenneth Crichton. Next, he began a series of murders to arouse his brother's suspicions that he had returned.

(Captain America I#253) - Montgomery brought in Captain America to help him, because he couldn't convince the authorities that Baron Blood had returned. Captain America soon discovered that Blood's body was missing, and stayed at Falsworth Manor while he began his search. Baron Blood attempted to assault the Captain while he slept, but Captain America was ready for him. Baron Blood summoned a horde of rats to assault the manor while they fought, and Blood managed to hypnotize Captain America, then attempted to bite him.

(Captain America I#254) - Blood broke his teeth on the Captain's neck trying to pierce his chainmail. Kenneth Crichton came to aid Captain America against Baron Blood, and he was forced to flee when the sun rose. Blood returned to the identity of Dr. Cromwell, and fed again on Jenny. After Montgomery suffered a heart attack, Dr. Cromwell was summoned to take care of him, and found who he believed to be his brother dressed in the Union Jack costume. Blood revealed everything to him and intended to vampirize him, turning him into a feeble vampire for an eternity, but the man in the costume was actually Joey Chapman, a friend of Kenneth Crichton's. The new Union Jack was joined by Captain America in fighting Blood, and the Captain tried to drive him off with sunlight, but the sun was setting, and Blood could endure the pain long enough for it to set. As Captain America felt Blood growing stronger as they fought, he realized that the only way to stop him was to kill him, and drove his shield through the vampire's neck. Blood's body was separated, burned, and the ashes were scattered on the winds.

(Marvel Comics Presents#42/3 (fb) - BTS) - After his brother's death Montgomery Falsworth, the original Union Jack, passed away.

(OHotMU Deluxe Edition#16) - Baron Blood's ashes disappeared due to the Montesi Formula.

(Avengers Annual#16) - Baron Blood was one of the deceased villains who was resurrected by the Grandmaster while he possessed the powers of Death to serve in his Legion of the Unliving. Baron Blood joined Hyperion and Bucky in attacking the Wasp, Captain America and Wonder Man on an icy planet, charged to prevent the heroes from defusing one of the Grandmaster's Life-Bombs. Blood fought with the Wasp and Captain America, and was slain again when Captain America impaled him on an icicle. Death ultimately regained its power and undid the Grandmaster's actions.

(Knights of Pendragon II#11 (fb) - BTS) - Baron Blood was resurrected by Ormon Wychwood of Mys-Tech, using the power of the Bane. Wychwood sent Baron Blood to collect human sacrifices for him so that they could be used to hasten the coming of the Red Lord.

(Knights of Pendragon II#10) - Baron Blood hunted down his human sacrifices and forced them to wear Union Jack costumes. When Grace of the Knights of Pendragon investigated Wychwood's dealings, she was confronted by Baron Blood, who wanted her to be the last of the human sacrifices.

(Knights of Pendragon II#11) - Grace managed to fend off Baron Blood, then pretended to have become part of the Bane again to trick Wychwood, and contacted Union Jack, telling him that Baron Blood was back, seemingly drawing him into Wychwood's trap. Union Jack wound up being more than a match for Blood, and struck him down into the place where the last human sacrifice was meant to be. This tainted Wychwood's sacrifice, and caused a mystical explosion, runing Wychwood's plans.

(Alias#26 (fb) - BTS) - Baron Blood somehow returned to his unliving state.

(Alias#26) - Baron Blood was incarcerated at the Raft. (see comments)

(Captain America IV#31) - Baron Blood attended the Serpent Society's auction where Captain America was sold. (see comments)

(Amazing Fantasy II#17/2) - A boat pulled up alongside the harbor and out onto the harbor stepped a group of vampires, led by Lord Falsworth. They accused Morbius of tainting the line of vampire everywhere, and said that he shall die for this crime. Morbius then saw that one of these accusers was his old partner Nikos, who Lord Falsworth said he had resurrected from the grave just to torment Morbuis. The vampires told Morbius they shall come back for him soon, and they leave.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, Frank Robbins and Vince Colletta.

Baron Blood appeared as a hallucination caused by the Interrogator in Captain America IV#16.

In Alias#26, Baron Blood was said to be incarcerated at the Raft. Following this, someone who looks like the John Falsworth Baron Blood was among the enemies of Captain America who attended the Serpent Society's auction in Captain America IV#31. If this is the John Falsworth Baron Blood, then his resurrection has not yet been explained.

Knights of Pendragon II#10-11 was a pretty crummy story, bringing Blood back so that Union Jack can obtain closure by destroying him ('cause once wasn't enough). It also fudges the details of the original story, with Wychwood claiming he found Blood "decaying corpse." He didn't leave a corpse-- he was burned into ashes, remember?

Just a reminder...Lord John Falsworth is not correct. It's John Falsworth; Lord Falsworth.--Snood

Thanks to Per Degaton for pointing out the info from OHotMU Deluxe Edition#16 and Amazing Fantasy II.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Baron Blood is connected to, but should not be confused with:

• Baron Blood, Victor Strange, vampire brother of Dr. Strange, @ Dr. Strange III#15
• Baron Blood, Kenneth Crichton, his grand-nephew, @ Union Jack#2
• Baroness Blood, Cromwell, a vampiress he created, @ Union Jack#1

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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