Avengers/Thunderbolts #5

Title: “Five: Truth and Consequences”

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza

Penciller: Tom Grummett

Inker: Gary Erskine

Colors: Brian Reber

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Moonstone asks the Avengers where they get off calling themselves “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”. She asks what they have done that the Thunderbolts haven’t. She says that they defeated Graviton, Nefaria, and the Masters of Evil ironically enough. She asks what more they would have them do. Atlas says that Moonstone and asks Dallas what they do. Vantage says that for some reason only the Avengers were affected by Moonstone’s blast. Songbird says that she protected the Liberator. Hawkeye floats in Karla’s aura of power. He tells her that it is okay and to just calm down. Zemo tells Hawkeye to be quiet and that it was his betrayal that lead to this. Songbird tells the two of them that it is real smart to play ping pong with Karla’s brain. Vantage uses her NYPD hostage negotiation skills. She says that Zemo is right in that the Avengers instigated all of this, but that Hawkeye is right too because fighting does nothing to prove her point. Zemo takes Cap’s shield and whispers to Fixer and asks if he can reverse the power flow and drain Karla’s excess energy. Fixer whispers that she would still have her two moonstones. Zemo says to deal with one problem at a time. He says that they have to stop this from getting out of control.

Parsons Minimum Security Prison, the news is reporting a massive gravimetric storm. A guard calls out to Abe that his “loser pals’re messin’ with gravity or somethin’…” Abe immediately realizes that it is Moonstone. He tells the guard that he has to get in touch with Warbird fast. He says that if that is Moonstone going crazy that there may be only one person that can stop her.

Hawkeye tells Karla that everyone is saying that she has to stop. He says to trust him. Karla says, “Trust you?” and tightens the gravity around Hawkeye crushing him. Zemo tells Karla that it is over. He says that no matter how well executed the Liberator plan was that they would never have let them succeed. He says that they are too jealous. Atlas asks Moonstone what Zemo is doing. Songbird says that she thinks that Zemo is buying them time.

The Avengers start getting up. Yellowjacket says that he is ready to take the fight to Moonstone. Wasp says that they can’t get through her gravimetric force field. Hank says that he thinks that he can if he shrinks down to microscopic size and slips through the atoms, but Yellowjacket can’t handle the strain.

Vantage wonders what the Avengers are doing.

Zemo tells Karla that they can still make this work. Another outfit washes over Karla as she says, “Yes, yes…regroup… lay low… plan for a while…” Songbird wonders if Zemo and Karla’s plan is really to run and hide. Zemo shields himself as Karla creates a gravity rift to shift them into null space.

Stark says that they don’t have time to fix the Liberator. He says that they will have to stop her by force. Songbird wonders if that is really Tony’s plan. Vantage tells Tony to let Zemo play this out. Stark asks if she trusts him. She says that he knows Moonstone better than any of them, even Hawkeye. She says that he doesn’t pluck her strings he strokes them.

Zemo tells Karla that null space is an excellent idea. Hawkeye tells Zemo to shut up and that running only gives the Avengers a reason to hunt them down. Karla says that she will bring the Avengers with them. Zemo says, “Yes! And they don’t return.  A terrible accident… the world mourns their loss… and the Thunderbolts endeavor to honor their memory…” Karla stops and thinks that might work. Songbird wonders if this is Zemo spinning or planning. Hawkeye says that Karla can’t do this. Karla shouts that she can do anything. She says that she can hold every Avenger in stasis. She says that she can phase sections of their headquarters into null space and prepare a haven to salvage this whole mess. Songbird wonders if she runs and hides or fights. Karla says that the headquarters is anchored as if the ground were fighting her. Karla sees the roots holding it down and knows that it is Blackheath. Karla asks Blackheath what he thinks he is doing. Blackheath says that she is not in control of her powers and that her powers “threaten the…” Karla hits Blackheath and tells him not to say “the Green”. She tells him not to even think it. She says that she is sick of his “ludicrous delusions”. She says that he is Plantman. She says that he wore a costume with a leaf on his head. The smell of mulch and sap fill the air as Karla tears Blackheath apart. Zemo tells her that she can stop now. Atlas keeps the wall from collapsing on them. Tony tells them to help the Avengers, distract Moonstone, and buy them more time. Songbird thinks to herself that if she attacks Moonstone that it will be the end of the Thunderbolts, but wonders if they don’t if it will mean the end of what the Thunderbolts were meant to be. Karla carries the torn off upper torso of Blackheath. Zemo asks if he is dead and Karla asks who cares. Songbird thinks about how the Avengers screwed this up and how the Bolts can never get is quite right. She thinks that this isn’t the group she wanted to be in. She says that Bolts aren’t about saving the world. She thinks that it is about saving themselves. Songbird drives a sound bar into Karla’s stomach. Karla starts to ask her what she is doing, but Songbird uses the sound of her screams into solid sound. She clogs her mouth and throat all the way down to her lungs.

Atlas says that it seems Songbird picked her side. Vantage asks what he is going to do. Atlas says that he doesn’t know.

Zemo asks Songbird if she is demented and tackles her from behind. Songbird picks him off with a sound claw causing Zemo to drop Cap’s shield. Songbird turns back, but the moment is all Karla needs. She blasts Songbird unconscious and asks how dare she. She calls her trailer part trash and says that she is pretending to be more than she ever will be. She says that Songbird hated her because she was always jealous. Suddenly, Cap’s shield hits Karla and flies back into Cap’s hand. Karla tells him to go ahead and say it. She tells him to give her even more of a reason to tear them apart. Cap shouts, “Avengers Assemble!” Karla curses them. She says that she is tired of trying to live up to a lofty standard that none of them meet. She says that she is tired of finding herself wanting in their eyes.

Vision says that he thinks a frontal attack will be pointless. He asks if her chaos-magic can disrupt her powers. Wanda says that she doesn’t know, but that Plantman gave her an idea. Cap shouts to push on. Zemo shouts for them to pull back. He says that she can’t be beaten this way. He says that they have to trust him and asks if they are so unwilling to believe that they know their business.

Yellowjacket, Fixer, and Stark have deleted the X Protocol out of the Liberator. Fixer says that it would drain Karla’s stolen power, but that they don’t have the power to fire up the equipment.

Wanda says that Plant-Man used the power of the Green to fight gravity. She says that her magic should generate random chaotic growth from his unconscious form to tangle her. Karla says that is a delaying tactic at best. Moonstone drives Vision into Wanda.

Atlas says that he thinks that Melissa is okay. Vantage tells Atlas that it is over and to stop hedging his bets. She tells him to take a stand. She says that she knows that he is used to avoiding choices, but that it is time to make one. She says that she has made hers. Vantage swipes Moonstone with her sword. Moonstone blasts Vantage and says that she was never truly one of them. She says that at least her treachery at least isn’t surprising. She says that her lapdog allowing her to be subjected to pain is. Atlas sees Dallas hurtled back and says that does it. He says that he wanted to keep it together. As he grows and grows, Erik says, “You’re sick and tired, Karla? You have no idea how hard it’s been… to keep from just crushing everyone like ants!” He punches her in the back.

Stark says that the ferocity of his attack caught her off guard. He says that might buy the time they need. Yellowjacket says that he has grown over a hundred feet tall and that it is too much strain. He says that there is no way to maintain that size and his sanity at the same time. Fixer says that Josten was half crazy to begin with… no matter how hard Vantage tried to domesticate him.

Atlas keeps beating on Karla. He shouts, “I tried! Everyone knows that! But what’s the use? It all gets taken away! Always! It all falls apart!”

Captain America tells Zemo that Atlas is killing her and asks if he can’t control his people. Zemo says that it is Cap’s fault, but Hawkeye interrupts and tells them to get a room. He pulls out an arrow. He tells Atlas that he is sorry, but that he has to stop him from doing something that he will regret. Hawkeye fires the arrow, filled with Pym Particles set to small, and Atlas shrinks back down. Hawkeye asks Karla if she is ready to talk yet.

Stark says that this is their chance. He says that the Cobalt Man armor may not have enough juice to run the Liberator, but that Iron Man’s might. He opens his suit case and his armor forms over him.

Karla says that this is almost over. She asks if there are any more betrayals. She asks Zemo. Zemo says that he only seeks to protect the integrity of the Thunderbolts. Karla blasts at him and shouts, “Oh, shut up, you Nazi pig!” Cap leaps in front of Zemo and protects them both with his shield. Karla says, “Oh, isn’t this adorable, the two of you… different sides of the same coin… so driven by fear… one of failure, the other success… Helmut, I told you ruling the world was too much work. But saving it is merely a different kind of madness. They don’t deserve it. None of you do. Time to put you all out of my misery… starting with the biggest fool of them all!” Zemo shouts no. Karla fires at Captain America, but Zemo leaps in front of him and takes the hit. Cap holds Zemo up and asks him why. Zemo says that he doesn’t know. He says that maybe saving the world includes everyone on it… even flag-draped fools…

Fixer says that they are past the “bits of teeth” stage and have moved on to the “smell of burning flesh” part. He says that this isn’t enough and that they need more electricity. Suddenly a bolt of electricity fills the air. Everyone is stunned, including Karla, to see Jolt standing there. Jolt asks what is going on. She says that Abe got a message to Counter Earth and said things were getting “wiggy”. Karla says that Jolt understands and has come to support her. She says that she was always like a mother to her. Fixer says, “Hey, cheerleader! Make yourself useful for a change! We need some juice over here!” Karla says that they only wanted to do what Jolt believed in… to save the world. Jolt takes it all in within three seconds and launches herself into the Liberator. The stolen transnormal energy rips out of Karla and she screams. Stark says that he has bypassed the Liberators block against Moonstone’s energy signature. He says that the machine can draw off her gemstones permanently. Fixer says that her gems were almost taken from her once, but that they realized it would kill her or at best leave her a vegetable. Stark asks Cap what they do. Cap says that she is vulnerable and that the world is in danger. Hawkeye draws an arrow and aims it. He thinks about how he fought for her to allow her to make her own choices. Karla is in the fetal position. She says, “Clint… please…” Zemo tells Hawkeye to shut her down. Karla says, “Clint… my mind… don’t take my mind…” Hawkeye releases the arrow.

Traitors rating: 9 out of 10

Review and pictures by the Leader

RETURN TO ISSUES PAGE

RETURN TO MAIN PAGE

RETURN TO LEADER'S LAIR