I Can’t Get Over How Unique This New Avengers Villain’s Powers Are

Summary Get ready for a dark twist in the Marvel Universe with the introduction of the powerful villain Smoke Eater in Blood Hunt #1.

Smoke Eater's ability to consume ghosts and grow in power poses a unique and formidable challenge for the Avengers and other heroes.

With Smoke Eater's insatiable hunger for power, the Avengers must find a way to stop death itself in order to have a chance at surviving the Blood Hunt event.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Blood Hunt #1!!The Avengers have faced many tough villains over the years as they struggled to save the universe from constant threat. Now, things are beginning to get dark (literally) as Marvel’s massive Blood Hunt event gets into full swing, bringing with it one of their most remarkable villains to date. Smoke Eater, who consumes ghosts to supplement his own power, has already taken out Captain Marvel...and the hunt is just beginning.

In Blood Hunt #1 - by Jed MacKay, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia, and Cory Petit – the Avengers are forced into a surprise confrontation with the grotesque Bloodcoven, who are heading the operation to put vampires at the top of the food chain.

The Bloodcoven consists of six members in total, and while they all earn bragging rights for taking down a top-tier superhero team so quickly, Smoke Eater is a standout in the fight. Along with a chilling design consisting of multiple limbs and eyes, his abilities seem practically limitless. He absorbs ghosts, and a vampire invasion supplies plenty of death to supplement him.

Smoke Eater’s Power Could be Limitless

He Took Out Captain Marvel With Ease

The Bloodcoven members all have unique abilities, but Smoke Eater offers a morbid twist on a familiar idea. He steals power. Rather than drain the life out of people to get it, however, he takes it after their death by inhaling ghosts. When necessary, he summons the dead to aid him in battle, and they physically manifest through changes to his body. The more limbs and eyes he sprouts, the more ghosts he's drawing upon. It's a horrifying visual that will likely grow as Blood Hunt results in more death, creating a bountiful feeding ground for the new villain.

And Smoke Eater makes it clear that he plans to begin his feast with Carol Danvers, one of Marvel's biggest powerhouses. Smoke Eater is remarkably quick in neutralizing her, despite her usual resistance, and seems eager to add Captain Marvel to his collection of ghosts to draw upon. Even the undead are not made equally, and he benefits even more from a superpowered ghost than an ordinary one. Smoke Eater doesn't absorb powers directly, like Rogue, but his sinister approach is far more disturbing. Any hero (or villain) the vampires kill could be food for him, making him potentially unstoppable.

To Stop Smoke Eater, the Avengers Need to Stop Death

They Already Failed to Win the First Battle

Since Smoke Eater's remarkable ability is tied to ghosts, he could theoretically continue to fight as long as he is in some proximity to death. It's unclear how he absorbs the ghosts or how long he is able to "use" them once they're absorbed, but as long as his supply is plentiful, he'll continue to get stronger. He is only one of six Bloodcoven members, too, and while Smoke Eater is named as one of their heavy hitters...there's plenty more where that came from. The Avengers, and Marvel's other heroes, need to get creative if they hope to survive Blood Hunt.

Blood Hunt #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.