Avengers #16: Ghost Fighter

I don’t know how many times I can say “this is the Avengers book I’ve wanted all along” buut THIS IS THE AVENGERS BOOK I’VE WANTED ALL ALONG! Let’s knock off some positives; the team is actually in the book, the plot progresses, The Shadow Colonel finally has a plan that makes sense, a plot device is actually resolved, and Blade isn’t talking like a 1970s blaxploitation detective, it’s just SO much better. More like this, and lastly no more BC Avengers ever. I loved Captain Marvel resisting the Penance Stare that was solid.

The scene with Red Widow squeezing Dracula for information was pretty ridiculous and gave the ancient bloodsucker a moment to stop being a condescending d***. It is a little funny that Dracula is playing the angle he’s playing with plants in government and such, as that was his plan in Tomb of Dracula #10, which is Blade’s first appearance, interestingly.

The art by David Marquez and Erick Arcienega remains fantastic and a lengthy fight between Ghost Rider, Captain Marvel and Thor is definitely the centerpiece of the issue. Also wanted to note a final page appearance of *redacted for spoiler* is pretty good, although it’s weird that he’s wearing the same jacket as Robbie, as classically he did not.