What happens to Marvel heroes that didn’t register or have had their registration revoked? You are about to find out in Moon Knight #21, and it doesn’t look good for Marc Spector, especially when the Thunderbolts show up.
Marvel has sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek of the issue, that not only features art by Mark Texeira, but als a variant Marvel Apes cover! YES MORE MONKEYS!
Or - “There Is NO Escape From Ellis! You Will Be Assimilated!”
I was going to make the Sonny Corleone joke about being “pulled back in,” but I think I’ve leaned on that particular chestnut a bit too often. Quitting Thunderbolts has been a lot like quitting smoking for me, repeatedly enjoying that “last one” before giving up the habit altogether. The problem is that the last one tends to be an enticing thing, and before long, you feel the urge to pick up another, and another, and by that time you’re realizing that you haven’t quit at all, and have to rebuild your resolve from the ground up… So, the question becomes, if it’s all going to boil down to a matter of willpower, why did I ever drop the book in the first place?
Or - “Radioactive Man, Radioactive Man, Doing The Things An Active Radio Can…”
When Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato took over Thunderbolts last year, I had my reservations. After all, most of the original cast was going to be gone, replaced with characters who seemed chosen for their popularity, and Mike’s art has done little to nothing for me since his Wonder Woman stint (during which Wizard tried to force him down my throat as the ‘Best Thing Ever.’) Now, don’t get me wrong, the series started off strong, with amazing interplay between the characters, some entertaining Norman Osborn bastardry, and muted cheesecakeyness in the art. But then the shipping delays began, and then we started seeing the one-shot filler issues by other teams (of varying quality) and I was wavering on dropping the series entirely. Then, this issue came out, and made my decision for me… Wanna know which side I fell on? Click ‘er and weep.
The fallout from Marvel’s Civil War forced every power to register or be considered a target for capture. But what happens when the powers come hail from a different country, and they are doing work in foreign lands? That is the question the Thunderbolts face as Radioactive Man (hailing from China), and the Swordsman (all the way from Germany) must head overseas to follow a scientist who has attacked Atlanta.
Marvel has sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek of the one-shot that arrives February 27, 2008.
Or - “Leonard Samson Is My New Hero…”
Since Warren Ellis took over the Thunderbolts several months ago, we have watched, month after month, as the only really honorable team members have been sidelined, and petty viciousness has ruled the day. Norman Osborn has ruled with a Prozac-fueled iron fist, Moonstone has manipulated everyone in the most blatant manner possible, Venom bit off a superhero’s limb, and with the notable exception of American Eagle, we haven’t really seen a much in the way of truly heroic moments. With Robbie Baldwin popping his cork, Normie has been forced to call in assistance, and Doc Samson is about to change the nature of the Thunderbolts dramatically by his very presence…
Or - “Seven Shades Of Bug%#@^ Crazy? Penance Knocks That Out By Lunch…”
The first issue of Penance’s limited series had a couple of revelations in it, but the most shocking was the implication that Robbie Baldwin wasn’t nearly as much of a wackjob as he seemed, instead biding his time and working towards an unknown goal. When a Latverian freighter crashed, Penance took out all the foreign nationals by himself, but made sure to let one escape home to announce that Penance is coming. Soon after, he slipped his leash, escaping from ‘protective custody’ and going off on his own… The surprise isn’t that Robbie isn’t absolutely crazy, but the fact that’s he’s Hannibal-Lecter-crazy and not Daffy-Duck-crazy.
Or - “Living Proof That You Shouldn’t Throw Everything On The Dryer…”
Here at Stately Spoilers Manor East, I have a few rules of thumb that serve me well. Always buy just enough gas to get by, because by Friday, the Kwik Shop on 45th street will have dropped their price 10 cents. Writing is best done while watching ‘Scrubs’ on DVR. Don’t argue with the little girl when she wants to eat at ‘Pirate Hat Store.’ And when I get home in the dead of night, I tend to drop my stuff in the kitchen. This seemingly aimless tangent is a roundabout way of explaining how the bag containing this issue got shuffled in with insurance papers, some sort of flyer for a Big and Tall Men’s Store and a wooden Chrismas sleigh that my wife inherited from a favorite Grandma. But, I believe that there’s no such thing as being TOO late, only irresponsible and kinda stupid. So, I got that going for me…
It’s the Thunderbolts v. Penance in Thunderbolts #117. The Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato storyline features Doc Samson as he tries to put Robbie Baldwin back together again.
Take the jump for the preview, sent to us by Marvel Comics.
Or - “Sometimes Hating The Protagonists Is The Most Fun Ever…”
I admit it. I vacillate back and forth on my opinion of some titles every month, like a slightly more out-of-shape version of the Zodiac Man. “Yes! No! Yes! NO! Crapcakes!” Thunderbolts is a special case, though, as I was a fan of the original title, loved Speedball before he was a headcase, think that the awesomeness of Warren Ellis can actually bend spoons from across the Atlantic, and even have a soft spot for Moonstone, bless the arid, sand-blasted Machiavellian waste that serves for her soul. I have scores of reasons to dig this title, and many times when if fails to engage me, it’s less a case of not being good as it is a feeling that the book should be that much better. But, as if by magic, every time I raise a new complaint, it seems that Ellis and company have planted it there for me to whine about, and it becomes the center of a new storyline…
The sneak peeks from Marvel Comics continues with Mystic Arcana: Scarlet Witch, Sensational Spider-Man 40, The Order 2, Thunderbolts 116, Ultimate Fantastic Four 45, World War Hulk: Gamma Corps 2, X-Men 202, and X-Men: First Class 3.
Warren Ellis has really given the Thunderbolts team a beating in the last several issues. It only get’s better as Thunderbolt Mountain is converted into a prison for superhumans, and it all kicks off in a brand new arc starting in Thunderbolts #116.
Marvel has sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek of the issue that arrives August 22.
Or - “The Very Existence Of This Issue Puzzles Me Greatly.”
The new Thunderbolts title has been hit and miss for me, with the art bordering on obnoxiously photo-referenced, and the story reveling in the personal excesses of some VERY unpleasant psycho-slash-sociopaths. Penance, especially, has been a hard nut to crack in terms of characterization, ranging from whiny to suicidal to strangely upbeat when he tried to convince Rich to join the Initiative. For me, the most successful Thunderbolts moment may not actually be in continuity, coming when Squirrel Girl confronted Penance about his new ‘emo’ identity in the GLI/Deadpool Special. Either way, it seems kind of early to have additional creators chime in with their version of the ‘Bolts, and the use of Americop when they just fought Jack Flag (and, now that I think about it, American Eagle… They only seem to attack people who are openly patriotic. Think they’re trying to tell us something?) makes the issue feel strangely like Deja Vu…
We’ve hit the jackpot with Marvel, finally getting on their advanced previews/review list, which means we have a whole slew of sneak peeks to share of the Marvel titles arriving this week (July 18).
Take the jump for The Order, Super-Villain Team-Up/MODOK’s 11, Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #111, WOLVERINE: ORIGINS ANNUAL #1, WOLVERINE: ORIGINS ANNUAL #1, WORLD WAR HULK: X-MEN #2 , and World War Hulk: Front Line.
UPDATE: Oops - We made a mistake! We accidentally posted the first couple of pages from World War Hulk #2. Totally my fault in misunderstanding a communication from Marvel. Those pages have been taken down and are no longer available on this site. World War Hulk #2 looks spectacular and arrives in stores on July 18. - stephen
Or - “Final Proof That We’re Not Supposed To Be Supporting The Protagonists.”
Thunderbolts is one of those titles that I’m always torn about. I’ve gone from hating the art to finding it appropriately unpleasant, from being irritated at the story to thinking I get it to being lost again. The only thing I can say for certain: it evokes a response. Even if that response is a gut-level, lizard-brain hatred for most of the membership (and yes, that includes Venom) it’s getting me talking and thinking every issue. These are some of Marvel’s most horrible villains, doing things that no one should be allowed to get away with, and their comeuppance is well and truly overdue. American Eagle, Steel Spider, and Nocturne are an unlikely trio in any case, but despite their flaws and personal issues, they are heroes to a man, and for the first time the ‘Bolts have a challenge on their hands.
Or - “It’s Always Sad When You Grow Up Faster Than Your Friends…”
I’ve always said that the original New Warriors series could be read as a metaphor for young adulthood, the time when we’re figuring out who we are and what we can do to screw up the world as an adult. If we read the Warriors as being like a super-hero college experience, (and if my experience was at all representative, it is even more so then “Freshmen”) then we can view the surviving members of the New Warriors as being roughly age 23 to 25, when the effects of the decisions you’ve made really start to catch up with you. But, is Richard Ryder going to take the path that leads to the little plastic retirement home, or will his game of Life end up flat busted?
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