There is no easy way to talk about “Five Ghosts” anymore. Hyperbole only helps so much, but the stark reality is that this comic has set the bar with creator owned comics so high that it’s difficult to draw comparison to anything else on the shelf. It combines the balls out pacing of Rick Remender with a visceral art style that elevates pulp comics to the modern day.

WRITTEN BY: Frank J Barbiere

ART BY: Chris Mooneyham

PUBLISHER: Image

PRICE: $2.99

RELEASE: April 8, 2015

Frank Barbiere pays special attention to the ebbs and flows of his storytelling. Chapters of “Five Ghosts” often strike a meticulous balance of exposition and action. However, issue #16 falls into an explanation heavy trap that it doesn’t really crawl it’s way out of until the final page.

If the expectation of well-motivated visual action with a flawless balance of dialogue, and exposition didn’t already exist than this issue would be easier to swallow. I know that sentence was a mouthful, but it articulates the point. A lot of this issue has characters stating their motivation outright. Subtlety is gone, and in the interest of speed each character tries desperately to catch the others up on the story.

As always, Fabian’s small personal beats are the moments that shine through. We learn a little more about his tormented past, and we’re treated to a moment of connection with the vampire. Moreoever, we’re treated to a Fabian in control. He almost ascends to a new level, and with that we’re carried out of the chapter. Just when it seems he’s unable to find any match Barbiere throws a curveball with the final page.

Chris Mooneyham is, as ever, on top of his game. He never ceases to command the page, and even in the most expository moments of this issue, his work never feels overwhelmed. He does a phenomenal job at bringing us closer to Fabian in the moments spent in his past and absolutely kills it on the final page.

“Five Ghosts” should defy on the nose dialogue. Frank Barbiere letters the book himself, and often his characters speak in short bated breathes. Here, every line feels like a first draft given to a team with the cautionary worry that they “wouldn’t get it.” Instead of feeling like a tribute to the horror genre – it plays as a hokey moment that never really nails the irony of the evil character’s over explanation.

This may sound like the plea of a butthurt fan, but the comic has come to create a certain expectation of quality. This has been especially true in the penultimate chapters of the last two arcs, so it begs the question as to why things feel apart this month, and what could have been done to prevent such a issue from happening.

Despite all of this, “Five Ghosts” #16 still proves to be a damn good comic, that will entertain from cover to cover thanks to stellar character work, and a brilliant final page reveal that will have you salivating for the next chapter.