Thunderbolts #1

Title: “Justice…Like Lightning”

Writer: Kurt Busiek

Penciller: Mark Bagely

Inker: Vince Russell

Colors: Joe Rosas

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Megan McLaren stands admidst the chaos and destruction caused by the Onslaught fight. She talks about how all the greatest heroes sacrificed themselves.

Helen “Hallie” Takahama watches the news crew across the street from the shadows. She thinks that she would only have to reach them to be safe, but she would have to cross open space. Hallie has come to fear open space recently, but she is starving and desparate. Just as she is about to make her move a masked figure, one of the Rat Pack, grabs her from behind. He puts chloroform over her face and drags her away. He says that she is just what he needs- she is alone, helpless, and nobody will miss her.

Megan Mc Laren continues to point out that our heroes are gone and asks who is going to protect the people from the various groups of super-villains like the Lava Men, the Frightful Four, and the Masters of Evil. Later while editing the work Kenny asks Megan if she thinks that she might be hitting people too hard. He says that it might scare people. Megan says that people are already scared and everyone is wondering who is going to save them now.

Elsewhere the Rat Pack is looting the wreckage of the Onslaught battle. One of the operatives tells his boss about one of the dead bodies that has a mouth full of gold teeth. He asks if he should go get it. His boss tells him to note the location and maybe they will go back for it later. He reminds the Pack that their employer sent them out to get what he needs. He tells them to make one more sweep and then they will head in. Suddenly the Rat Pack is interrupted by Citizen V. He says that they are desecrating corpses. They ask what he is going to do about it. Citizen V says that he is making a citizen’s arrest. The Rat Pack say that he will have a hard time doing that with just a sword. Citizen V points out that he isn’t alone. The Thunderbolts fly up over a pile of rubble on the V-Wing.

The Rat Pack open fire, but make the mistake of firing upon the biggest target- Atlas. Atlas isn’t at all phased by the bullets as the others charge in. MACH-1 fires “mercy bullets” at the Rat Pack. Citizen V dodges some attacks as he tells Atlas to take out a group “at nine o’clock” and for Techno to take out the ones on the high ground. Atlas is doing what he is told, but Techno gets in front of Atlas and asks why he should get to have all the fun. Techno tells Atlas to go find his own to fight. Because Techno didn’t follow orders Atlas id left open for an attack from a rocket launcher into the back. Meteorite flies by and punches out the guy holding the rocket launcher. As the fight goes on a traffic helicopter starts to capture the fight on camera.

Dallas Riordan gets a phone call in her office letting her know that there is a superhuman battle happening in one of the destroyed areas. She asks who is involved and is told that they are new heroes.

“Number One” of the Rat Pack realizes that the fight is lost, but manages to send off their shipment to the boss via remote control. Citizen V figures that the shipment must be very important and orders MACH-1 and Songbird to fly after it. They start to go but MACH-1’s armor is blasted by an electrical disruptor. Songbird has to remain behind the catch MACH-1 in a solid sound bubble. MACH-1’s armor reboots and he fires rockets at the Rat Pack that shot him. The rockets explode and the gas inside knocks out most of the Rat Pack. Number One is looking for a way to escape, but he comes face to face with Citizen V. Citizen V suggests a surrenders. Number One pretends to agree, but calls out “mousehole”. The Rat Pack drop into arranged underground tunnels, and then use explosives to prevent being followed. The Thunderbolts hear the police coming, but without any prisoners to turn over they leave to go back to their headquarters.

Techno is still bummed out that they have to use such a dump as their headquarters. He says that Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus have hideouts all over the city and suggests using one of them. Citizen V says that they don’t have the money to maintain a high tech complex and says that only their mission is important.

MACH-1 thanks Songbird fir saving him. Songbird confesses that she is very scared out there. MACH-1 suggests maybe they go out back and he could show her some combat manuevers. Songbird says that she would like that. As they walk off MACH-1 puts his arm around Songbird.

Meteorite is watching as they walk away and thinks to herself that “that” was fast even for Songbird. She wonders if Songbird knows that she does that. Meteorite figures that she will go check in on the others as long as they are in downtime. Meteorite goes and visits Atlas. Atlas is brooding because Techno’s showing off was almost very costly to them. Meteorite tells Atlas that she and Citizen V will deal with Techno and worry about the big picture. Techno is relaxing on his couch while his new little robot is serving him a cold frosty beverage. Meteorite asks Techno why that thing is there when they discussed this sort of thing earlier. Techno says that it isn’t hurting anything, but Meteorite blasts the robot into pieces. She says that news helicopter followed them back to their headquarters and now the press knows where they live. Citizen V appears and tells Meteorite that the press has arrived.

Outside the press is asking numerous questions at once so Citizen V starts with a statement. He says that he is the grandson of the original Citizen V. He says that the team is operating without government sanction. He introduces Techno, MACH-1, Songbird, Atlas, and Meteorite. One reporter asks if they are there to replace the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. Citizen V looks solemn for a moment and then says that they could never replace them and that they are just there to do what they can. Another reporter asks Atlas if his growth powers are related to Hank Pym at all. Atlas stumbles for an answer, but says that they are trying to keep their backgrounds and identities a secret so they can keep an upper hand on the bad guys. Citizen V explains that the Thunderbolts name is inspired by a poem by Thomas Randolph. One reporter asks why there is no established hero with them, and Citizen V explains that they are all very busy. Citizen V suggests that they break up into smaller groups. MACH-1 tells them that he is essentially a smaller version of a fighter jet. Songbird is very nervous about speaking but says hello to her mother. Techno is bragging about what a genius he is and says that if it wasn’t for him that some of the group wouldn’t even have powers. They are about to give a tour of the headquarters, but word comes in that the Rat Pack has been spotted again. The Thunderbolts fly off on the V-Wing.

The Thunderbolts find the Rat Pack, but the Rat Pack starts running away on jetpacks. MACH-1 says that he and Songbird can catch them, but Citizen V tells them to stay close because this looks like a trap.

Dallas Riordan gets a call from the mayor and he tells her that he wants the Thunderbolts to be the official team of New York City. He says that the public loves them and that he wants her to get them.

The Rat Pack lead the Thunderbolts out to Liberty Island where the Wrecking Crew is laying in ambush. Atlas and Meteorite plow into the Crew. Wrecker squares off against Citizen V while Moonstone faces Thunderball. Piledriver hits the ground and knocks Techno off his feet. Songbird protects the bystanders with solid sound shields. Bulldozer charges her, but MACH-1 plows right into him. Wrecker is still sparring with Citizen V when Atlas comes up behind and clobbers Wrecker. Thunderball hits Atlas with a hard shot from his ball and chain. Atlas falls into the water. Piledriver pastes Meteorite with a giant slab of concrete that also breaks the arm off the Statue of Liberty. Wrecker starts to smash the Statue more and calls for their surrender. Citizen V tells them to hold back. Wrecker, Thunderball, and Piledriver are all laughing. MACH-1 shoots three gas balls into their mouths. Bulldozer watches in disbelief as the Crew all fall. Suddenly Atlas emerges from the water furious. Citizen V says that he never saw him get that big before. Atlas says that he almost died down there. He says that wants Thunderball, but that Bulldozer will do. Atlas punches Bulldozer and sends him flying right off the island. Citizen V tells Songbird to catch him as he will probably damage the South Bronx. The team suddenly realizes that the tourists are all cheering for them.

Dallas Riordan gets off a police boat and greets the Thunderbolts. As Dallas says that she is there for the mayor and offers to assist them Atlas thinks to himself that she is gorgeous. Citizen V say sthat they will talk in time, but that they still have work to do. Atlas holds the Statue’s arm in place while Techno welds it back on.

Later back at their headquarters the Thunderbolts watch the news and listen to their phenominal approval rating. Citizen V walks in without his mask. His face is horribly scarred. He walks to the closet and puts on his true mask…that of Baron Zemo. Zemo congratulates Fixer, Beetle, Screaming Mimi, Goliath, and Moonstone on the great work they did today.

In a cell far away, Hallie sits praying that someone will save her, but her prayers remain unanswered.