Thunderbolts #149
Words by Jeff Parker
Arting by Declan Shalvey
Well isn’t THIS the little book that could. Easily one of the most underdog revamps of the year, Thunderbolts has been (pleasantly, from what I hear) surprising people left and right since the most recent status quo change post-Siege. From my perspective, what makes this book work is that Parker has taken elements from every era of the ‘Bolts (the awful AWFUL fightbolts excluded of course) into account while building this status quo. You have the original idea of villains looking for redemption through heroic deeds of the original Busiek run (and Nicieza’s New Thunderbolts), the government sponsored angle of the Ellis run, the not looking for redemption at ALL angle of the Diggle run on the book and even a remnant of his brief pre-Heroic Age run on the book with the inclusion of the former USAgent as the warden of the Raft. By acknowledging what came before, Parker adds a whole level of credibility to his run…and that’s not even taking into account the “wouldn’t have seen it coming but still works great” line-up he’s assembled. So how does this issue stack up? Clickity click below!
First off, one has to admit that this book has certainly suffered from “crossover-itis” like nobody’s business. Six issues under its belt and three of them have been neck deep in crossover madness, first with Avengers Academy and again now with Shadowland. That having been said, Parker manages to make this issue stand mostly on its own, investing far more time into his Thunderbolts than into the ongoing Shadowland epic. However, I feel what Shadowland parts WERE included took time away from advancing the ongoing story of this group on the whole…that did not stop some amazing character moments for nearly every character from coming through though. Moonstone’s true love of the program, despite her nonchalant exterior, came through immensely as she keeps the group focused on completing the mission given to them last issue in order to ensure government approval for the program. Meanwhile, Ghost’s creative thinking as well as Juggernaut’s intelligence were both given key moments to shine, however the character with the most tangible evolution seen this issue has to be Crossbones. We finally get a taste of what those Terrigen mists did to him a few issues back as this deadly assassin is finally given true power, albeit momentarily. However, it was long enough to prove that not only is he not learning anything from his time in the program, but that he is just as big a threat to it as everyone (both in the book and amongst the readership) expected him to be since Day One. I have to admit, the man that killed Captain America mutating into something not only more powerful, but also more monstrous has to be one of the best sub-plots of the series thus far. My only complaint is that Parker once again found a way to take the original Thunderbolts off the table to showcase the new team. Yes, I know that Songbird, Mach-V and Fixer are only “support staff” on this book, but while he HAS them he might as well USE them.
On the art side, Shalvey is much less consistent as he was last issue when I didn’t even notice that Kev Walker didn’t draw it until I saw an interview with Shalvey on Newsarama talking about how HE drew that issue. Admittedly, for a fill in artist, he manages to replicate the look and feel of this book established by Walker almost perfectly, but his line work and composition this time around feels a little sloppier than last issue. While it’s not BAD, it’s just not at the level established last issue.
When all’s said and done though, I’m really really enjoying this book…far and away more than I would have expected to at this point in my comic reading history. I’m going to stick with it for the time being, despite next issue’s bump up to the 3.99 price point that the industry is growing fonder and fonder of. Oh well…will an extra dollar really = a throwdown with The Avengers? I guess we’ll have to see.
Final Verdict: 8.1 – Buy
