Varnae

• Core Identity: Varnae is the first vampire of the Earth-616 dimension, an ancient and malevolent Atlantean sorcerer transformed by the demonic magic of the Darkhold who reigned as the undisputed Lord of Vampires for millennia before passing the mantle to Dracula.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: As the primeval vampire, Varnae is the progenitor of all vampiric life on Earth. His existence is intrinsically linked to the dark elder god Chthon and the corrupting influence of the Darkhold. He represents a raw, chaotic, and ancient evil that predates nearly all of Marvel's modern heroes and villains.
• Primary Impact: Varnae established the vampire race and its hierarchy, setting the stage for centuries of conflict between the living and the undead. His most significant legacy is his contentious relationship with his chosen successor, Dracula, creating a recurring power struggle for dominion over the night that has drawn in heroes like Blade (Eric Brooks) and Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange).
• Key Incarnations: Varnae is a creature purely of the comic book page; he has never appeared nor been referenced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). All lore, abilities, and history associated with the character stem exclusively from the Earth-616 continuity, where he serves as a foundational figure in Marvel's supernatural landscape.

Varnae's first full appearance in the Marvel Universe was in the black-and-white horror magazine Bizarre Adventures #33, published in December 1982. He was created by writer David Michelinie and artist John Bolton. However, his presence was foreshadowed earlier in the lore. His creation was a strategic retcon designed to deepen the mythology of Marvel's supernatural corner, which had been famously explored in the critically acclaimed series The Tomb of Dracula during the 1970s. While Dracula was established as the reigning Lord of Vampires, the writers sought to create a predecessor—a “patient zero” for the vampiric curse on Earth. This allowed for an even grander, more ancient history for the undead. Varnae's origin connected the vampire mythos directly to two other significant pillars of Marvel's mystical lore: the sunken city of Atlantis and the corrupting tome of elder magic, the Darkhold. By positioning him as an ancient Atlantean sorcerer, Marvel created a figure of immense power and historical weight, making Dracula's own considerable age seem recent by comparison. This narrative choice established a clear line of succession and a built-in conflict, providing a rich backstory for future supernatural tales.

The origin of Varnae is one of the foundational stories of Marvel's magical and monstrous history, a tale of ambition, dark magic, and the birth of a curse that would plague humanity for millennia.

Varnae's story begins in 18,500 B.C., during the glory days of pre-cataclysmic Atlantis. He was a highly respected, albeit ruthlessly ambitious, sorcerer. As his mortal life drew to a close from old age and a terminal illness, Varnae and a cabal of fellow sorcerers became obsessed with cheating death. Their quest for immortality led them to the most forbidden of all magical artifacts: the Book of the Darkhold, a tome of infinite evil transcribed from the words of the trapped Elder God, Chthon. Risking damnation, Varnae and his followers performed a powerful ritual from the Darkhold's pages. The spell was designed to grant eternal life, but as with all of Chthon's magic, it came at a horrific price. The ritual transformed Varnae, reshaping his body and soul. His blood was replaced with a supernatural ichor, his heart ceased to beat, and he was reborn with an insatiable thirst for the life force of others—the blood of the living. He had become the first vampire. Immediately after his transformation, a power struggle erupted between Varnae and the sorcerers who had aided him, as they too sought the gift of immortality. In a display of his newfound power and cruelty, Varnae slaughtered them, solidifying his unique status. His vampiric curse was his alone. Shortly thereafter, the Great Cataclysm struck, sinking the continent of Atlantis beneath the waves. Varnae, now a creature of the night, survived the destruction that claimed his civilization. For the next several thousand years, Varnae walked the Earth, spreading his curse and creating a race of undead followers. He was the undisputed Lord of Vampires, a monstrous god-king to his progeny. He battled ancient heroes, including Conan the Barbarian, and his influence was a dark shadow over human history. However, the millennia took their toll. Weary of his eternal existence and the constant struggle, Varnae began searching for a worthy successor. In the 15th century, he found one in Vlad the Impaler, a Wallachian warlord of legendary cruelty and ambition. After Vlad was mortally wounded in battle against the Turks, Varnae appeared and offered him the “dark gift.” Vlad accepted and was reborn as Dracula, the most infamous vampire in history. Varnae's plan was to have Dracula lead the vampire race while he himself sought the sweet release of death. He orchestrated a ritual suicide, ending his long reign. However, his spirit lingered, and his followers would spend centuries attempting to resurrect their original master, viewing Dracula as a usurper to the throne. This rivalry between the ancient progenitor and the ambitious successor would become a central conflict in Marvel's vampire lore.

Varnae does not exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As of the current phase of the MCU, there has been no mention of his name, his history with Atlantis, or his status as the first vampire. The MCU has only begun to explore its supernatural corner, and its version of vampire lore remains largely undefined. However, several key elements that are central to Varnae's origin have been introduced, providing potential pathways for his future adaptation:

• The Darkhold: The cursed book was a central plot device in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It was shown to be a source of immense, corrupting power derived from Chthon. Although destroyed, its legacy and the knowledge within could easily be used to explain the creation of vampires in the MCU, directly mirroring Varnae's comic origin.
• Blade (MCU): With a solo film starring Mahershala Ali officially in development, the MCU is set to introduce its premier vampire hunter. The introduction of Blade necessitates a deep dive into the origin and hierarchy of vampires. A figure like Varnae would be the perfect “final boss” or ancient evil for Blade to confront, providing a historical anchor for the MCU's undead.
• Atlantis: The MCU's version of Atlantis, Talokan, was introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While its people, the Talokanil, are not undead, their history is one of a surface civilization transformed by a powerful, unique resource (the vibranium-mutated plant). It would be a simple narrative step to introduce a faction of ancient Talokanil (or pre-Talokanil Atlanteans) who turned to dark magic like the Darkhold, creating Varnae as an outcast or a dark secret from their past.

If Varnae were to be introduced, he would likely serve as the ultimate “big bad” for the supernatural side of the MCU, an ancient threat whose power dwarfs that of a figure like Dracula, establishing a clear power scale for audiences.

As the first vampire, created through a direct ritual from the Darkhold, Varnae's powers are of the highest order, often exceeding those of his vampiric descendants, including Dracula.

• Vast Superhuman Abilities:
• Strength: Varnae possesses superhuman strength of an immense degree. While the upper limits are variable, he has been shown to be strong enough to challenge mystical powerhouses and physically dominant heroes like Spider-Man with ease. His strength is considered far greater than that of a typical vampire.
• Speed & Reflexes: He can move and react faster than the human eye can follow, appearing as a blur to even peak human athletes. This speed extends to his combat prowess, allowing him to strike multiple times in an instant.
• Stamina: As an undead being, Varnae's stamina is practically limitless. He does not tire from physical exertion and can fight at peak capacity indefinitely, so long as he is properly fed.
• Durability: His body is highly resistant to conventional forms of injury. Bullets, blades, and blunt force trauma that would kill a human are trivial to him. Only specific mystical or vampiric weaknesses can cause him significant harm.
• Profound Regenerative Healing Factor: Varnae can heal from almost any wound at an astonishing rate. He can regenerate lost tissue and even reattach severed limbs. This healing factor, fueled by the blood he consumes, makes him incredibly difficult to destroy.
• Vampiric Powers & Shapeshifting:
• Immortality: Varnae is functionally immortal. He does not age and is immune to all known diseases. He has lived for over 20,000 years.
• Shapeshifting: He is a master shapeshifter, a skill he wields with more creativity and power than most other vampires. His common forms include a giant bat, a large wolf, and a column of living mist, which renders him intangible. He can also alter his human appearance at will.
• Weather Manipulation: Varnae can summon storms, call down lightning, and command the winds, cloaking his presence in a supernatural tempest.
• Hypnotism & Mind Control: He possesses a powerful hypnotic gaze that can mesmerize and control the minds of humans and lesser-willed beings. He can command entire crowds, erase memories, and plant post-hypnotic suggestions.
• Summoning: He can summon and command nocturnal animals, such as rats, bats, and wolves, to do his bidding.
• Sorcery: Unlike most vampires, Varnae was a powerful sorcerer before his transformation. He retains this knowledge, giving him an arsenal of magical spells and rituals derived from the Darkhold, making him a dual threat of physical might and arcane power.
• Weaknesses: Despite his immense power, Varnae is subject to the traditional weaknesses of a Marvel vampire:
• Sunlight: Direct exposure to sunlight will cause him to rapidly incinerate and turn to dust.
• Silver: Silver is anathema to vampires, capable of burning them on contact and inflicting wounds that are slow to heal.
• Religious Symbols: The faith of a true believer wielding a holy symbol can repel him and cause him physical pain.
• Garlic: The scent of garlic is highly repellent and can weaken him.
• Wooden Stake: A wooden stake driven through the heart will instantly paralyze and can potentially kill him, though his raw power may allow him to recover if it is removed.
• The Montesi Formula: This magical formula, contained within the Darkhold, is the ultimate anti-vampire weapon. When successfully cast, it can eradicate every vampire on Earth, including Varnae.
• Personality: Varnae is the embodiment of ancient, predatory arrogance. Having lived since the dawn of human civilization, he views all other beings, including his vampiric progeny, as inferior. He is cruel, sadistic, and utterly without compassion. Unlike Dracula's aristocratic and sophisticated evil, Varnae is a more primal and monstrous force of nature. He is driven by an insatiable hunger for both blood and power, and he believes that the world is his rightful dominion. He is patient, cunning, and will stop at nothing to reclaim his throne as the one true Lord of Vampires.

As Varnae is not present in the MCU, his abilities can only be speculated upon. An adaptation would likely retain his core power set to establish him as a top-tier threat.

• Potential Power Level: To feel significant in a universe with characters like Thor, Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers), and the Hulk, an MCU Varnae would need to be portrayed as a threat on their level. His strength would likely be depicted as sufficient to engage in physical combat with an Asgardian, and his magical abilities would position him as a dark counterpart to Doctor Strange or the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff).
• Cinematic Adaptation: His shapeshifting and weather manipulation abilities would offer incredible cinematic potential, allowing for visually stunning and horrifying action sequences. The MCU might lean more heavily into the body-horror aspect of his transformation or the Lovecraftian origins of his power from Chthon, making him a truly terrifying villain. His weaknesses would likely be maintained to provide clear stakes for the heroes, making any confrontation a high-risk endeavor.

Varnae's immense lifespan and predatory nature have earned him a gallery of powerful enemies.

• Dracula (Vlad the Impaler): This is Varnae's most significant and defining relationship. Dracula is both his creation and his greatest rival. Varnae chose Vlad to be his successor, but he vastly underestimated the human's ambition. Upon Varnae's “death,” Dracula seized the title of Lord of Vampires and ruled with an iron fist, refusing to be a mere steward. Every time Varnae is resurrected, his primary goal is to destroy Dracula and reclaim what he sees as his birthright. Their conflict is a clash of two massive egos: the ancient, primal creator versus the sophisticated, modern conqueror.
• Blade (Eric Brooks): As the Daywalker, Blade is the ultimate nemesis of all vampires, and Varnae is the ultimate target. Blade's mission to eradicate every last vampire inevitably puts him on a collision course with their progenitor. They have clashed directly, most notably when Varnae was resurrected and attempted to become a “Lord of the Undead.” For Blade, defeating Varnae represents striking at the very root of the evil he has dedicated his life to fighting.
• Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange): The Sorcerer Supreme is the primary defender of the Earth dimension against mystical threats. A creature like Varnae, born from the forbidden magic of the Darkhold, falls squarely within Strange's jurisdiction. Doctor Strange was the one who successfully cast the Montesi Formula that temporarily wiped out all vampires, an act that made him a legendary figure of hatred among the undead. Any return of Varnae is a top-priority threat for the master of the mystic arts.
• Conan the Barbarian: During the Hyborian Age, Varnae was an active force of evil. He encountered and fought the legendary Cimmerian warrior, Conan. Their battles were epic clashes of primal might against heroic steel and cunning, establishing Varnae's presence in the deepest parts of Marvel's ancient history.

Varnae does not have “allies” in the traditional sense; he has subjects, tools, and worshippers.

• Vampire Clans: All vampires on Earth are technically Varnae's descendants. While most pledge allegiance to the current Lord of Vampires (usually Dracula), there have always been cults and sects fiercely loyal to their original master. These loyalists have often been the architects of Varnae's resurrections, believing him to be the only one fit to rule.
• The Adze: An African vampire sect that claims direct lineage from Varnae and worships him as a god. They are known for their distinct appearance and more monstrous nature, and they have clashed with heroes like the Black Panther and Blade.
• Deacon Frost: The vampire responsible for turning Blade's mother and, by extension, creating Blade. In some storylines, the power-hungry Frost has sought to resurrect or ally with Varnae to overthrow Dracula and gain more power for himself.

• The Vampire Nation: While Dracula is the architect of the modern, sovereign Vampire Nation (based in Chernobyl), Varnae is its symbolic progenitor. His return would trigger a catastrophic civil war within the nation, with factions loyal to him rising up against Dracula's rule. He is the historical and spiritual father of any such organization.

This is not a single storyline but Varnae's foundational myth, told through flashbacks across various comics, including The Saga of the Sub-Mariner and Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme. This “event” covers his mortal life as an Atlantean sorcerer, his obsessive use of the Darkhold to achieve immortality, his transformation into the first vampire, and his survival of the Great Cataclysm. It is the cornerstone of his entire character, establishing his immense age, power, and connection to Marvel's deepest magical lore. The key takeaway from this period is that Varnae's evil is so ancient that it predates entire civilizations.

This thematic arc, primarily detailed in The Tomb of Dracula and related titles, covers Varnae's decision to end his long existence and his search for a successor. It culminates in his selection of Vlad the Impaler in 1459 A.D. The story details Vlad's mortal defeat, Varnae's offer of the dark gift, and Vlad's rebirth as Dracula. Varnae then commits ritual suicide by exposing himself to the sunrise, believing his legacy is secure. This event is critical as it directly creates his greatest rival and sets up the central power struggle that defines Marvel's vampire mythology for the next 500 years.

In the 10-issue Blade series, a cult loyal to Varnae successfully resurrects their ancient master. Now in the modern era, Varnae finds the world and the vampire race changed. He immediately comes into conflict not only with Dracula's authority but also with the Daywalker, Blade. In a memorable encounter, he even faces Spider-Man. This storyline was significant as it brought Varnae into the present day as an active antagonist, showcasing his raw power against modern heroes and re-establishing his desire to reclaim his throne from Dracula. His ultimate goal was to become a “Vampire God” by sacrificing a powerful, unique vampire—Blade.

In the prelude to and during the massive Blood Hunt crossover event, the structure of the vampire world is thrown into chaos. A new, hyper-aggressive faction of vampires called the Structure emerges, orchestrating a plan to block out the sun with a darkforce storm and plunge the world into an endless night. While not directly led by Varnae, this event represents the ultimate fulfillment of the vampire race's ambitions—ambitions first set in motion by Varnae himself. The storyline deals with the deepest vampire lore, including the “Adversary” and the legacy of the Lord of Vampires, making Varnae's history and influence a critical backdrop to the entire crisis. His status as the original vampire is central to understanding the stakes and the ancient powers at play.

Varnae is not a character who frequently appears in alternate realities, as his role is typically to be the single, definitive origin point for vampires in the prime universe. However, he has appeared in other media.

• Marvel: Avengers Alliance (Video Game): Varnae appeared as a villain in the now-defunct Facebook and mobile game, Marvel: Avengers Alliance. He was featured as a powerful boss character in “Spec Ops 23 - The Darkhold.” In the game's story, he is resurrected by Baron Mordo and the vampire-worshipping Dark Legion. This version maintains his comic book identity as the first vampire and a master of dark magic, posing a significant threat to the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers.
• Conceptual Variants in Fiction: While not a direct Marvel variant, Varnae's character archetype—the ancient, monstrous progenitor of a vampire bloodline—is a classic trope in horror fiction. He can be compared and contrasted with figures like:
• The Master from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Strain: A physically monstrous and ancient vampire who represents a more primal, less human form of the curse.
• Caine from Vampire: The Masquerade: The biblical “first vampire” from whom all other vampires (Kindred) descend, establishing a complex mythology and clan structure.
• Comparing Varnae to these figures highlights his unique Marvel-specific origins, tying him not to religious myth but to cosmic/demonic forces like Chthon and lost civilizations like Atlantis.

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