Brother Blood


Brother Blood

(pop culture)Acenturies-old murder has led to a savage bloodline and powerful cult led by the charismatic manipulator Brother Blood. First seen in The New Teen Titans #21 (1982), in a story by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Brother Blood was Brother Sebastian, the leader of the Church of Brother Blood in the European country of Zandia. Sebastian's life was extended and his strength grew with every new member to join his cult. Unbeknownst to his acolytes, Blood's fearsome costume—red and black with a white cloak and a bony skullcap—was wired with circuitry that allowed him to hurl bolts of energy. The first Zandian to use the name Brother Blood was a high priest named Sebastian who slew a monk during the Crusades. He took from the dying man a white garment that was purported to have been the prayer shawl of Jesus Christ, now filled with dark magic. Whatever the cloth really was, it gave Sebastian—now calling himself Brother Blood—a form of invulnerability, a slowed aging process, and power derived from the emotions of his followers. The monk cursed Sebastian, telling him that his son would slay him. Son did kill father and took on the mantle of Blood, and the curse continued through six others. Born in 1941, the seventh Sebastian eventually slew his father and took on the power of the cloak. Building up a worldwide religious cult, Blood placed his minions in positions of power as politicians, prominent businessmen, and media personnel. His needs were taken care of by Mother Mayhem and other perverse followers, even as he plotted eventual world domination. When a cultist attempted to flee one of the compounds, the Teen Titans came into conflict with Blood for the first time. Their battles would continue over time, with Blood using his media contacts to discredit them. He also brainwashed Robin and used Raven and the “angel” Azrael in “resurrection” schemes to solidify his power base. Eventually, Blood's mind was destroyed, and Mother Mayhem bore a daughter, apparently ending the curse. But years later, Blood would return to evil, until a young man claiming to be his son slew him and took on the role of cult leader. Blood's acolytes tried to make Raven into the Bride of Blood, but a new group of Teen Titans intervened. They learned that the Church of Blood was founded on the worship the demon Trigon—Raven's father—and that an ancient prophecy foretold Armageddon if Blood and Raven were to wed. This newest Blood has the power to absorb a man's power through a bite. Although seemingly defeated by the Titans and Deathstroke, Brother Blood has recently returned from an evil dimension, consorting with hordes of demons that resemble Trigon, and swearing vengeance on the young heroes. DC Direct released a modern Brother Blood action figure in 2005. Although he might seem macabre for a kid's cartoon, Brother Blood appeared on Cartoon Network's Teen Titans series (2003–2006) in 2005. As the new headmaster of the HIVE Academy, Blood used his charisma and mental abilities to twist teenage students to evil. He clashed with the Titans multiple times, but was always defeated.