Crimson

• Title — Crimson • Schedule — Monthly • Publisher — Cliffhanger WildStorm (DC Comics) • Startmo — May • Startyr — 1998 • Endmo — February • Endyr — 2001 • Issues — 24 plus one special • Main Char Team — Alex Elder • Writers — Brian Augustyn Francisco Haghenbeck Oscar Pinto Humberto Ramos • Pencillers — Humberto Ramos • Inkers — Chris Elarmo Sandra Hope • Colorists — Alex Bleyaert Ian Hannin Rob Ro • Letterers — Amie Grenier • Editors — Scott Dunbier • Creators — Humberto Ramos Oscar Pinto Francisco Haghenbeck • Tpb — Loyalty and Loss • Isbn — 1-56389-532-3 • Tpb1 — Heaven & Earth • Isbn1 — 1-56389-647-8 • Tpb2 — Earth Angel • Isbn2 — 1-56389-768-7 • Tpb3 — Redemption • Isbn3 — 1-56389-790-3 • Subcat — Wildstorm Publications • Sort — Crimson

The series debuted in 1998 and ran for twenty-four issues. The first seven issues were published as part of the Image Comics' Cliffhanger imprint of creator-owned comics and then the final seventeen at DC Comics' WildStorm imprint. Also published were a Crimson Sourcebook special issue as well as a one-shot starring Scarlet X. Scarlet X - Blood on the Moon was set in Mexico and featured the origin of Joe the Indian.

Crimson revolves around a young man named Alex Elder who is attacked by a gang of vampires while out late with his friends. Bitten, Alex is saved by Ekimus, the last of an ancient race pre-dating humanity, who claims Alex is "The Chosen One". Alex becomes the first and last of his kind, gaining powers beyond that of a normal vampire, who is destined to bring the end to vampirekind. The series follows Alex as he adjusts to life as a vampire and shoulders the responsibilities of being a hero. The comic features not only vampires, but werewolves and other supernatural beings and elements, as well as Biblical themes and deities.

• Alex Elder is the protagonist and a sixteen-year-old teenager who on a night out with friends is ambushed by a savage vampire gang. He is saved by Ekimus, who feeds Alex his blood and turns him into "The Chosen One": a vampire endowed with magical powers so as to destroy all other vampires, and who is chronicled to save the world from the coming apocalypse. • Ekimus is a wise, repentant, and ancient being known as a "Grigori", who guides Alex in his new life as a vampire. He is known as the source of all vampirism throughout the world. • Scarlet Thinbault X is a female operative and daughter of "The Order of the Red Hood", a family-led organisation dedicated to hunting and destroying demonic creatures. She befriends Alex and later becomes his love interest. • José, nicknamed "Joe", is a Mexican Indian vampire who becomes Alex's street mentor and best friend. • Lisseth is the main antagonist, and Ekimus' former lover. She is coined "The Mother of All Vampires", bent on bringing about the apocalypse and ruling all of creation. • Victor Van Fleet is a U.S. senator and powerful vampire lord with aspirations for the presidency. He is allied with Lisseth.

Palisades Toys released toys based on the series.