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Thunderbolts

Team » Thunderbolts appears in 465 issues.

What began as Baron Zemo's plan for world domination became a superhero team comprised of super-villains seeking redemption only to be later reshuffled to act as Norman Osborn's personal hit squad before finally becoming a Government-sponsored prison reform project. Now, revamped again, they serve as General Ross's anti-terror vigilante group.

Thunderbolts #138 Early Review

Posted by G-Man (25948 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

What are your thoughts on the Thunderbolts.  I've always been fascinated by the concept.  They were the Dark Avengers before the Dark Avengers were formed.  What made them different is they actually started becoming heroes.  They ended up wanting to fight the good fight.  The other importance of the Thunderbolts is with Norman leading them during Secret Invasion, that position is what gave him access to 'winning' the Skrull war.  Currently there seems to be a divide among the team.  How long can this team survive?
 

  
The hardest part for me with this current team is the fact that I don't really care or like these guys.  When the current Ant-Man is my favorite member of a team, that's not a good sign.  I will admit I'm curious about Scourge Paladin has had some interesting moments in the past.  As for Ghost, Headsman and Mister X, I'm not too interested.  Although I guess I do want to see what Ghost's overall plan is.  
 
Jeff Parker does a great job jumping in and taking over the writing duties.  As I mentioned, if you read issue #137 and then 138 right away, you don't really feel a difference.  I can't put the blame on him over the fact that I'm not interested in some members of the team.  He does show some signs of delving into Scourge's character.  Miguel Sepulveda's art and Frank Martin's colors fit nicely.  In my opinion, it's not always easy drawing a battle scene in the jungle.  Often the art and color are too much and it comes across as too cartoony.  The battle is pretty sweet here.
 
The way I'm looking at this team is anyone is 'killable.'  Besides Ant-Man, I'd be okay with any of them getting killed if it was done well and made a good story.  I'm not usually a fan of killing for killing's sake.  In issue #139 we will see the beginning of the Thunderbolts vs the Agents of Atlas.  I'm sure people will dig that.  While I did like this issue, a small part of it just felt like a set up for the Agents of Atlas story.  Either way, it's worth getting.
Staff
#1 Posted by King Quisling (1980 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

Oh man, guess it's time to drop T-Bolts. The last arc was and Remenders Iron Fist & Power Man issue were fantastic but this team fails to compare to any former Thunderbolts team and I really don't care for the Agents of Atlas. Z-Listers vs. Z-Listers.....Who even cares? :P 

#2 Posted by Mr. Dead Pool (2625 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

Scourge looks like Jason with guns

#3 Posted by Agent Buttons (13478 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
I stopped reading Thunderbolts after issue 134. Lamest....ending....ever.
#4 Edited by Archetype (731 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

Oh Zemo won't you come back and relcaim what was yours?
 
Tbolts should be like Marvel's version of Secret Six ...kinda.

#5 Edited by DMC (1524 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

My T-Bolts run started with issue #122 and ended last month.   
This book wasn't as vital to Dark Reign as I thought it would be, compared to Secret Invasion. After Songbirds return (^_^) and the Secret Warriors arc, there's nothing left to keep me hooked...........even the fate of the real Yelena Belova.  
.

#6 Posted by PrinceIMC (5348 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

I started getting this again when I saw the cover with Black Widow, Songbird, Fixer and Mach-IV (or is it V now?) They should be the Thunderbolts. They could maybe keep Ant-Man and Paladin but the others don't do anything for me. Imagine Fixer and Ant-Man working together though, and hilarity ensues.

#7 Posted by G-Man (25948 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

I do have to say that I want to know where Scourge is coming from.  Mostly due to my nostalgia from the original.  "Justice Is Served!"

Staff
#8 Posted by rpaolasso (30 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

i'm begining to wonder if I'll ever see a negative review. . . . I want to like the Thunderbolts, but I just can't and this positive review makes me want to like them less now
#9 Posted by PrinceIMC (5348 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@G-Man: I liked Nomad Scourge from the Thunderbolts with all the weapons stored in his gauntlets with Pym Particles. He killed Jolt, Zemo, Techno and Atlas.
#10 Posted by G-Man (25948 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@PrinceIMC: That was pretty cool.  Unexpected, but cool.
Staff
#11 Posted by chris thompson (858 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@G-Man:
Thanks for the review G-man.
#12 Posted by HaloKing343 (1251 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@DMC:
seems like a lot of people are dropping it
#13 Posted by Gambler (80655 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

Nice review G. I just haven't been able to get into the Thunderbolts once they dropped all the original members. Radioactive Man, Moonstone, Songbird, and Swordsmen were badass. I cant wait for Zemo to eventually return (if he ever does). Scourge looks like a beast now a days.

Moderator
#14 Posted by Media_Master (2189 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

Sounds good but the last arc sounded better.

#15 Posted by G-Man (25948 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@Gambler: Hopefully after Dark Reign we'll see the return of some of those characters.  I agree it hasn't been the same.
Staff
#16 Posted by victorvndoom (82 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

or we see a complete new team, seeing the avengers are to change aswell
all teams are changing i think
read somewhere of the paladin entering in T-Bolts or is he already there ?

#17 Posted by Closure (8275 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

I miss the Thunderbolts from the Initiative V_V 
 
Still keeping this book until the end of Dark Reign.  T-Bolts are my favorite team, never going to give up lol

#18 Posted by Meteorite (3306 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
#19 Posted by Gambler (80655 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@G-Man said:
" @Gambler: Hopefully after Dark Reign we'll see the return of some of those characters.  I agree it hasn't been the same. "
Is Dark Reign ever going to end? It doesn't feel like it.
Moderator
#20 Posted by G-Man (25948 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@Gambler: Let's hope that Siege puts an end to it or at least starts it down that road.
Staff
#21 Posted by Argantyr (245 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

Wow, people are touchy aren't they, dropping the book for almost nonexistent reasons? Why? Would you like to see the old Cast of Thunderbolts as Thunderbolts for the next 50 years? I don't. I actually love the current team, I love the fact that Ghost is keeping the group together and so what if he's tugging the strings in the background - if he didn't, 137 would conform that the whole team would get killed off. I'm looking forward to the Thunderbolts Vs. Agents of Atlas story, and imo Ghost is just being written awesometastically.

#22 Posted by MichaeltheFly (6555 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

When are they gonna make  Agents of Atlas vs. JLA, or maybe  Agents of Atlas vs Black Lantern Corps.

#23 Edited by The Sanguine Psychotic (39 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

I think that the reason that everyone on the team may be ' killable' is that they'll be wiped out and replaced by some of the members of the Dark Avengers when Dark Reign is over.  That would be okay in my opinion.  Heck, most of the DAs were TBs before dark reign anywho.
 
I am digging this run they've got going though.  Love the cover art.

#24 Posted by InnerVenom123 (27557 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

Does anyone else think Scourge is basically Jason Vorhees if he knew how to use guns? :D
#25 Posted by G-Man (25948 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@The Sanguine Psychotic: I've wondered from the beginning, how long can Dark Avengers last?  Once Dark Reign is over, I can't see them trying to still be "Avengers."
Staff
#26 Posted by InnerVenom123 (27557 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@G-Man:
Here's what'll happen to each of them (hypothetically speaking anyways, all IMO) 
 
Gargan - Goes to a "Gentlemen's club" and stays there, after eating the previous manager. He gets all the hookers he wants... and all the free meals. Which are the hookers, by the way. (and then eventually gets dumped by the symbiote - which goes to Brock (Who for some reason lost Anti-Venom... what? A fan can dream!!))
  
Moonstone - Gets herpes. 
 
Bullseye - Slinks into the shadows and takes on time as a mercenary (Occasionally meeting up with Deadpool for fights, for fun) 
 
Daken - Goes back to making daddy angry (Or whatever it is he does) 
 
Ares - Beats the crap out of thousands of nameless thugs. 
 
Osborn - Holds a press conference as the Iron Patriot, takes off the helmet, and it has a goblin outfit underneath, then he flies out on a glider and kills as many press people as he can before being arrested and/or killed.
 
I think I forgot some of 'em... oh well.
#27 Posted by victorvndoom (82 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

siege ends dark reign after that is doomwar

#28 Posted by The Sanguine Psychotic (39 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio
@G-Man said:
" @The Sanguine Psychotic: I've wondered from the beginning, how long can Dark Avengers last?  Once Dark Reign is over, I can't see them trying to still be "Avengers." "
I completely agree.  I guess we'll find out.  Maybe Doom or Loki has some use for them before/after/during Siege and Doom Wars.  That'd be neat-o.
#29 Posted by victorvndoom (82 posts) - 3 years, 6 months ago - Show Bio

if the dark avengers arent killed yet 

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