BARON BLOOD

Real Name: Kenneth Crichton

Identity/Class: Human, vampire (English)

Occupation: Vampire, former art student

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Baroness Blood, Christopher Sinclair
(former) Captain America, Jenny, Nigel Peters, Spitfire, Union Jack (Montgomery Falsworth), Union Jack (Joey Chapman)

Enemies: Baron Blood, Black Queen (Selene)

Known Relatives: Jacqueline Falsworth Chrichton (Lady Crichton, Spitfire, mother), Lord Crichton (father, deceased), Montgomery Falsworth (Lord Falsworth, Union Jack, grandfather, deceased), Brian Falsworth (Union Jack, uncle, deceased), John Crichton (son), John Falsworth (Baron Blood, great-uncle, deceased), William Falsworth (great-grandfather, deceased), Lady Falsworth (grandmother, deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Falsworth Manor, England

First Appearance: (as Kenneth Crichton) Captain America I#253 (January, 1981); (as Baron Blood) Union Jack#2 (January, 1999)

Powers/Abilities: Baron Blood possessed the normal abilities of a vampire, including mesmerism, the ability to transform into mist, enhanced strength and endurance, and the ability to gain strength by feeding on the blood of others. He could also transform others into vampires.

History: (Captain America I#253) - Kenneth came home from art school alongside his friend Joey Chapman to be with his family at Falsworth Manor, and discovered that Captain America was visiting to investigate reports of the return of Baron Blood, Kenneth's great-uncle. When Baron Blood invaded Falsworth Manor one evening, Kenneth witnessed him attack Captain America.

(Captain America I#254) - Kenneth tried to help Captain America against Baron Blood, who finally fled when the sun rose. Kenneth and Joey aided in the search for Baron Blood the next day, and Kenneth finally learned that Baron Blood was impersonating Dr. Jacob Cromwell when his girlfriend Jenny turned up with bite marks on her neck.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#42/3 (fb)) - Against his mother's wishes, Ken declined donning the Union Jack costume to face Baron Blood, and instead offered up Joey as the new Union Jack, believing he represented common people better than the Falsworth family.

(Captain America I#254) - Joey donned the Union Jack costume to help draw Baron Blood out, and Baron Blood was slain by Captain America. Kenneth stood by with Joey, his mother, Captain America and Montgomery Falsworth as Baron Blood's body was burned into ashes. His grandfather died quietly as Baron Blood was destroyed.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#89/3) - Kenneth attempted to set his newly-youthened mother up with Nigel Peters, a pub owner, as he had her sit for a portrait he had begun of her when she still looked her natural age. When Jacqueline went to confront Peters on the issue, Kenneth was kidnapped by agents of the Hellfire Club, serving the Black Queen (Selene). Selene attached Kenneth to a bomb in Easthill Commons and threatened to set it off unless Spitfire turned herself over for vivisection. Spitfire refused and ran to untie Kenneth, just as Selene detonated the bomb. However, Kenneth wasn't injured. Afterwards, Kenneth showed his completed portrait of his mother to Peters, and Jacqueline joined them for a drink.

(Union Jack I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Proving to have anemia, Kenneth became a patient at St. Mary's Hospice, and befriended another victim of anemia, Christopher Sinclair. Sinclair eventually died from anemia.

(Union Jack I#1) - At Christopher's funeral with Joey, Kenneth was approached by the Baroness, a vampire created by his great-uncle. Later, he went out drinking with Joey, and complained about the way his mother had been behaving since her rejuvenation, and how he resented Joey for becoming Union Jack. They got into a fight in an alley, but Joey ended it quickly and brought Kenneth home to Falsworth Manor. Later that night, Christopher, now a vampire, tried to draw Kenneth away to his mistress, the Baroness, but Sinclair was driven off by Union Jack.

(Union Jack I#2) - Kenneth was treated for his anemia at Falsworth Manor, and complained at how blessed his mother was for gaining superhuman powers. Later, he went out with Joey as he met with Romany Wisdom for aid in deciphering a vampire plot to obtain the Holy Grail, and was again approached by the Baroness, who invited him to join her cult. Frustrated by his disease, Kenneth went to her one evening, and begged her to heal him. She agreed. Kenneth became the new Baron Blood, and fought Union Jack at the Museum of Natural History while the Baroness' vampires took the Holy Grail. He mesmerized Joey, and prepared to bite him.

(Union Jack I#3) - When Baron Blood bit Union Jack, it released a packet of holy water from the lining of his costume. Union Jack tried to help Kenneth, but he refused him, revelling in his new strength. Baron Blood returned to the Baroness, and slept with her, impregnating her with his son. Later, he joined with the Baroness and her cult at Glastonbury Abbey as she drank from the Holy Grail, rendering her immune to all the vulnerabilities of the vampires. She then destroyed the Grail rather than share it, and the entire cult was destroyed by the rising sun. As Kenneth turned to dust, Union Jack tried to save him, telling him to "be strong." Kenneth replied "I am" and disintegrated into ashes. A grave was set up for Kenneth in the Falsworth family plot.

(Blade III#12) - Kenneth was one of the many vampires that returned after Blade had fulfilled an old prophecy.

Comments: Created by Roger Stern, John Byrne and Josef Rubinstein.

by Prime Eternal

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

• Baron Blood, John Falsworth, his great-uncle, @ Invaders I#7
• Baron Blood, Victor Strange, vampire brother of Dr. Strange, @ Dr. Strange III#15

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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