Reaper (Blade)

In the Blade film continuity, the Reapers are a mutant breed of Hominus Nocturna. The Vampire Nation conducted extensive research on their race's own genome, specifically the arbovirus that causes vampirism, in order to create a new breed of vampire free of the weaknesses common to their kind; silver, garlic, et cetera. Vampire overlord Eli Damaskinos subjected his own son Jared Nomak to these experiments, but the results were not what he expected. While Nomak did become immune to silver, garlic and even anticoagulant agents, he remained vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation and still could not walk in the sun. Worse still, the experiments mutated and severely distorted Nomak's blood chemistry; he became more bloodthirsty than normal and needed to feed daily, or his body would begin consuming itself. Outraged that his father had turned him into what vampires would call a monster, Nomak fled the Vampire Nation and took to the streets, feeding not just on humans but vampires as well, turning them into what would later become known as "Reapers.”

Biology
The Reaper virus infects humans and vampires alike, altering their bodies and transforming them into fully mature Reapers within minutes of infection. Reapers can be easily distinguished from humans and vampires; those infected undergo clear physical mutations, such as loss of hair, skin and eye pigmentation. The subject's mouth also becomes radically altered; while vampires only grow elongated canines to facilitate feeding, the Reapers' lower jaws split apart and stretches open into a large maw, like an insect. Each mandible ends in a curved fang that secretes a paralytic agent into a victim's bloodstream, preventing them from struggling while the Reaper feeds. The Reaper's tongue is mutated into a large, muscular tube lined with fangs that is used to suck the blood from a victim. The tongue's barbs carry the virus and inject it into the victim during the feeding process. Ideally, a Reaper will continue feeding until the victim has been completely drained of blood, though this is not always possible. Regardless, a single bite is enough to infect and turn a victim, no matter the length of time spent at the Reapers mercy.

Reapers also possess a number of internal mutations. An autopsy on a blood-starved Reaper revealed several major alterations of the body's organs and bone structure. The most noteworthy of these alterations was the heart, becomes encased within a thick shell of bone; The only gaps in this shell were a few small slits on either side -presumably related to the feeding process- which would be extremely difficult to penetrate.

Behaviour
With the exception of Nomak, the Reapers seem to lose much of their former intelligence, becoming savage and bestial. They do not speak and adopt a sort of pack mentality, hunting in large groups. They seem to be intelligent enough to understand Nomak and carry out his commands, though it is unclear as to how Nomak controls them. A likely possibility is that Reapers respond to certain pheromones that Nomak secretes, allowing them to recognise him as their "alpha.”

Reapers need to feed almost constantly. If they do not feed on human or vampire blood once every few hours, they resort to cannibalism and will start to eat each other. Feeding on themselves appears to provide no nourishment, however, as Reapers have been seen eating the flesh of their own, yet still succumbing to brain-death. Reapers that succumb to starvation do not disintegrate and their bodies remain intact but unable to function. During an autopsy, it was revealed that the body still tries to feed even after the brain has stopped functioning; a drop of blood was introduced into the Reaper cadaver's "stomach,” which momentarily caused the other organs to reactive and begin feeding.

Abilities
Reapers are physically stronger than vampires and humans. They possess superior dexterity, reflexes and stamina, and are also capable of adhering to some surfaces, allowing them to climb walls and ceilings. Unlike normal vampires, Reapers are not allergic to garlic, and their flesh does not burn at the touch of silver. Their hardened skeletal structure allows them to shrug off gunshots and even precise strikes to the heart. Even the blood-thinner EDTA, which coagulates the blood in heaven the veins and has been seen to cause vampires to burst like balloons, has no apparent affect on Reapers.

Weaknesses
While immune to silver and garlic, Reapers are still incredibly vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation and cannot survive in open sunlight. Ultraviolet rays will quickly reduce a Reaper to ash, as will piercing the heart, if one is able to breach the small vents in the bony shell surrounding it. Aside from sunlight, the Reapers' only other major weakness is their own need to consume fresh blood on a frequent basis; trapped and contained, a Reaper will starve to death within a matter of hours.