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Created by John WagnerAlan GrantCarlos Ezquerra Team affiliations Previously Strontium Dogs Notable aliases RedThe Blood QueenEmpress RedwinaSaint ScarlettThe AbominationThe BlasphemyBrite Red Abilities Super-strengthSuper agilityBloodlustRegenerative powersLong LifespanSuperhuman senses Similar Strontium Dog, Judge Anderson, Tharg the Mighty, Middenface McNulty, Nikolai Dante | ||
Durham Red is a British comics character, originally created in 1987 as a female sidekick and lover for Johnny Alpha in the long-running comicbook series Strontium Dog in 2000 AD. She was a sexy bounty hunter with a mutation that gave her a vampiric lust for blood.
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Publication history
When the character was first devised, there was some debate over Durham Red or Chelsea Blue as the character's name. The creators settled on Durham Red, and the character immediately proved popular from her first appearance. Following the death of Johnny Alpha, she was given a leading role in the spin-off series Strontium Dogs. Following the departure of writer Peter Hogan, the series was handed to Dan Abnett. Abnett's first action was to place Red in suspended animation and have her awake a thousand years after Strontium Dog continuity, in a universe where she was worshipped as a mythical saint of mutants.
With art by several artists including Mark Harrison, the series enjoyed a long run. The final story of the arc was printed in 2004, envisioning Durham Red surviving another thousand years, watching over the end of the human race and the beginning of a mutant-populated universe.
Other media
Peter J. Evans has written a number of Durham Red novels that have been published by Black Flame:
Similarity with BloodRayne
Critics said that Rayne, from the videogame series BloodRayne shows a strong similarity to Durham Red, having the same weapons and distinctive red hair. The claim has been denied by the TRI representatives. In a posting on the BloodRayne.co.uk forums Joe Wampole, a developer for BloodRayne declared:
Durham Red looks like a cool character but we've never heard of her. It is coincidence that her and BloodRayne look so similar.
The symbol on the hair is similar but looks more like a target, while Rayne's looks a little like Prince's symbol. Also, it looks like Durham is set in some alternate super sci-fi future.
I think it is just natural to put a vamp chick in black leather and either color her hair black or red."