Thunderbolts #11
Thunderbolts #11
Title: “The High Ground”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Vince Russell
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
In Libertad, capitol of the Central America nation of Santo Rico, soldiers rise up and take control of the government. Similar events are taking place all over the world, from Oslo to Cairo. Most shocking perhaps is that, in Booth City Nevada, America soldiers rise up and take control all in the name of Zemo.
The Avengers and the Fantastic Four talk about where Zemo and the Thunderbolts could have gone. Thing says that nobody has seen them since they destroyed Four Freedoms Plaza a few weeks ago. Captain America just tells the Fantastic Four to remain ready to act and that they will attempt to do the same.
The Thunderbolts hover far above the Earth, orbiting the planet in a long forgotten AIM satellite. Jolt has remained out of sight in the ventilation shafts. She watches as MACH-1, Songbird, and Moonstone are talking. Abe says that he just doesn’t like this. Moonstone says, “You don’t like what, Beetle? Don’t like that if Zemo succeeds that you’ll be one of the masters of the world?” Abe tells Moonstone not to call him Beetle, and that everyone will fear and bow before him, but that he liked it better when people just liked them. Jolt wonders if Moonstone is trying to reassure Abe, or if she is trying to get him to realize his mistake. Jolt goes to check on Techno and Zemo.
Techno mentions that his body, that is merged with the station’s computers, is getting incoming data. Zemo says that he is growing weary of Techno’s crowing about his new body. He asks what the news is. Techno says that another four nations have fallen for a total of thirty-six so far. Zemo compliments Fixer. He says that this is working out much better than their original plan to plant a virus in the military’s computers would have. Zemo says that the recognition code they planted allows them access to the computers even after they were supposedly shut out. Techno reminds Zemo that it was his idea. Zemo says that no matter how it happened that it would have been nice to watch their faces as their programs caused the military’s computers to turn into mind controlling devices. Techno asks Zemo if he would like to address his subjects. Zemo tells Fixer that he thinks that he would. Techno asks Zemo to call him Techno since it seems to go with the new body, and then he starts to brag about how his new body can turn into a video camera. Baron annoyed says that it is very impressive and tells him to get on with it. Zemo appears on every television in the world. He tells everyone that if they just surrender to him that he will be merciful, but that if they insist on fighting him that he will crush them all.
The Premier of the Balkan nation of Carnelia decides that they must strike back. He orders missiles to be fired at the source of the transmission. The soldier tries to tell the Premier that the source keeps moving, but the Premier orders him to fire anyway. The launch button is pressed, but instead of launching, the missiles explode where they stand.
Zemo watches and remarks that even though they don’t control the army yet that they do control their missiles. He says that it is a good thing for Europe that Carnelia doesn’t have nuclear capability. Zemo says that should serve as a good demonstration that they are in control. Techno asks Zemo how he liked Techno’s instant translation so that every country in the world heard Zemo’s address in their own language. Zemo says that Techno’s body is very impressive and that there are no limits to its capabilities. Zemo asks if that is what Techno wants to hear. Techno says that it will do, but asks Zemo why they just didn’t take mind control of the world. Zemo says that it wouldn’t be enjoyable to rule a bunch of automatons. He says that it is more satisfying for everyone to know that they are being conquered. Techno tells Zemo that he is picking up an outgoing transmission.
Atlas calls in a video link to Gracie Mansion to talk to Dallas Riordan. They attempt to trace the transmission. Atlas tries to apologize and say that he didn’t want to hurt her, but Dallas goes off. She says that he acted like he loved her, and that he used and betrayed her. She says that he can’t apologize for trying to take over the world. Atlas is about to tell her that he wasn’t lying about being in love with her, but the transmission goes dead. Atlas is trying to call again when Zemo appears on a monitor. He asks Josten why he is endangering their location and disobeying a direct order. Atlas apologizes and says that he just wanted to see her again. Zemo says that women are a weakness. Zemo says that Josten knows that and had better not forget it again. Jolt overhears Techno telling Zemo that there was no harm done. He says that as long as they have the encryption cloaking module that no one will be able to trace any of their transmissions.
A little later Songbird and MACH-1 are
watching the battles on Earth. MACH-1 says that 53 nations have
fallen to them. He says that they are actually going to take over
the world. He asks why he feels so miserable. Moonstone says that
it is because none of them realized what it is that they wanted
out of life. Moonstone says that Abe just wanted respect. She
says that Songbird wanted to belong to something with someone.
She says that Atlas just wanted someone to tell him what to do.
Suddenly Atlas spots Jolt. Jolt says that she has been stowed
away with them all this time. Moonstone asks why she came forward
now. Jolt says that she thinks she knows how to take Zemo down,
but that she is going to need their help. Songbird and MACH-1 say
that Jolt must be crazy. They say that they wouldn’t stand a
chance. Jolt says that Zemo wouldn’t be expecting it. She
says that she knows that they aren’t the cold-blooded
killers that they are made out to be. She says that she knows
that they don’t want to be with Zemo and that they enjoyed
being heroes and doing the right thing. Moonstone says that there
might be possibilities in Jolt’s idea. Jolt freaks on
Moonstone and asks if this is a chance to free the world, or a
chance to throw Zemo over and rule in his place. 
Moonstone tries
to assure Jolt that she too can change, but suddenly Zemo and
Techno interrupts her.
Zemo says that Moonstone has never uttered a
word that wasn’t calculated to bring her advantage. He asks
how anyone could ever trust her. Zemo tells Josten to return to
his master. Jolt is stunned as Atlas walks away and stands behind
Zemo. Zemo tells the others to look at themselves being lead by a
little girl and asks if they truly believe that they could unseat
him. Moonstone says that they were just listening, but says that
she doesn’t know why they couldn’t unseat him, as he
has no powers. Zemo says that his mind is his power. He says that
he would have to be a fool not to have prepared for them turning
against him, and that he is no fool. Zemo holds up a machine and
suddenly Moonstone, Jolt, MACH-1, and Songbird are writhing in
pain. Zemo says to Moonstone that he had Techno make up this
agonizer to work on their energies and machinery. Moonstone says
that he found the plans for this long ago and has MACH-1 make up
a jammer. Zemo orders Techno and Atlas to kill them.
Atlas decks Moonstone. Zemo uses his sword to hit Songbird’s shield. Techno swings at Jolt but misses. Techno says that he never got a good chance to use his body’s combat capabilities. Jolt says that his new body might have all the “options”, but that he doesn’t have the moves. Jolt kicks Techno. Zemo says that this was really inevitable because none but Moonstone are fit to rule, and that Moonstone is untrustworthy. He says that this might as well come sooner than later. MACH-1 knocks Zemo off Moonstone. He says that Songbird is treating Zemo as a friend, but that he just admitted that he was going to turn on them all along. MACH-1 says that Zemo is going to die for that. Atlas smacks MACH-1 and says that he can’t let him do that. MACH-1 asks Atlas how he can stand beside Zemo. Zemo answers that Josten knows his place. He says that Josten is a good soldier and that he knows his loyalty will be rewarded. He says that Josten can even have the Riordan woman if he still wants her.
Techno blasts Moonstone. He says that she isn’t so smug now. Songbird says that Abe was right, but that Techno isn’t her friend anymore. She says that she can fight him. Techno says that the problem is that she can’t hurt him. He says that maybe he will make Songbird his reward. He says that he no longer has a human body, but that doesn’t have to stop them.
While the others are fighting Jolt runs off and smashes the cloaking module. Suddenly the wall tears open as Moonstone punches Atlas through the wall. MACH-1 blasts Atlas. Atlas tells him to blast all he wants because he isn’t hurting him. Jolt decides to attack Zemo. Techno blasts Songbird with 10,000 volts. MACH-1 is distracted and Atlas swats him out of the air. Moonstone dives into Atlas. Jolt tells Zemo that it is now between them. Suddenly Techno catches Jolt’s arm in a cable. He wraps her up in a number of cables. It is now Zemo, Atlas, and Techno against Moonstone. Zemo tells Moonstone that if she surrenders he will be merciful. Moonstone charges but is met with a stream of blasting from Techno. Moonstone keeps flying straight at Techno despite the pain that tears at her costume and blisters her skin. Zemo takes a step back when Moonstone is only inches away, but then suddenly the hull of the ship rips open. Everyone turns to look and sees the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Moonstone says that she never thought she would be happy to see the Avengers, but that she is willing to make an exception. Zemo asks Moonstone if she is really happy. He tells her to look more closely at them. Zemo says that his mind control got the heroes before they even docked on the satellite. He says that they are his.
Traitor’s rating: 10 out of 10.
The incredible thing about this book isn’t just the incredible action and the exciting story, but how well the story works within the outlines of the characters. At no point are the characters untrue and the entire thing works on every level. The art does its part to maintain the high quality of this book. Bagely is really a defining part of this book.