Comic Review: Avengers (2018-) #8

Avengers (2018-) #8

Marvel Comics

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artist: David Marquez

The Final Host has been defeated, and Earth’s Mightiest are once more assembled. The Avengers are officially back, even though there were three separate teams at the start of the year. I know what you’re wondering, what’s next for the Avengers?

In this issue, The Avengers welcome their newest member to the ranks, Robbie Reyes aka Ghost Rider. Greeted by Captain America at the new headquarters, Avengers Mountain, located at the North Pole. The other members are going about their business, and we see other small interactions. Towards the end of the issue, we see Namor attack a Roxxon ship, setting the stage for the next story arc.

This is a bit of a slower issue, but I like it. The events of the “Final Host” story arc are big and literally world-ending, so it’s nice to take a breath between the stories. Being slower, this issue is carried by the interactions between the team members, and they work. Ghost Rider is nervous in front of Captain America (who wouldn’t be?). Thor and She-Hulk have a moment together, Black Panther and Doctor Strange, Iron Man and Captain Marvel. It all feels natural and builds off where the relationships are from the start of this series, and before.

David Marquez is a great artist, and his style fits this issue well. It doesn’t feel as busy, and softer than previous artists, which matches the slower pace. At the same time though, Marquez has done some of my favorite action scenes (The most recent Defenders series). The few panels that depict action are all great. Ghost Rider fighting Captain America looks cool. Namor at the end looks fantastic. I’ve got no complaints about the art in this issue.

As is usually the case, my problems with this issue are just some small nitpicks. Mainly, it’s hard to place any comic on a timeline these days. Namor is attacking Roxxon ships in this comic but is helping Jean Grey save the world in X-Men Red. Doctor Strange is in space, Black Panther and Cap are conducting raids on Hydra. Thor has an abundance of hammers in his solo book, but just the one hammer in here. It’s just my brain trying to place things in an order of some sort; I know that. So, while it bothers me a little bit, I don’t hold it against this (or any) comic, unless it completely breaks the continuity.

This is a good issue. It’s giving us a baseline for how this new Avengers team is and should operate. The art appropriately captures the mood of the story. The characters carry this issue, and they do it with ease, building on new or previous relationships. Also, Avengers Mountain being a dead celestial is such a cool concept. I’ve been on board with this series since day one, and I’m happy to say this issue doesn’t disappoint.