Thunderbolts #16
Thunderbolts #16
Title: “Thunder and Lightning”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
In Mexico, Baron Zemo works at the dimensional scanner. He says that he has the frequency isolated, and that now all he needs is greater resolution and a means to tap into it. Techno appears in the doorway and asks Zemo if he has a second. Zemo says that he told Techno not to disturb him unless he was having trouble with the dimensional probes. Techno says that he finished them long ago. Zemo asks why Techno can’t obey a simple order. Techno tells Zemo to watch how he talks to him. He says that he is Zemo’s ally not his lackey, and that he just heard a broadcast out of Colorado regarding the Thunderbolts. Zemo gives Techno his commendation for bringing it to his attention. He says that this could be the opportunity that they have been waiting for.
The Thunderbolts are fighting the Lightning Rods. Flatman says that the Thunderbolts face the wrath of the Great Lakes Avengers. Moonstone figures it out that the GL Avengers changed their name to the Lightning Rods, and that now they want vengeance. Big Bertha says to blame Mr. Immortal. She says that he figured that it would be good for them to be linked to a hot new team, but that when the Thunderbolts went bad everyone just assumed that they had too. Everyone is arguing, but Moonstone decides that she has had enough. She goes to hit Big Bertha, but her fist is trapped in Bertha’s body. Bertha hits Moonstone into a cliff. Moonstone is on the ground thinking how embarrassing that was when Bertha jumps into the air and lands on Moonstone.
MACH-1 is fighting with Flatman. Flatman is holding MACh-1, but MACH-1 says that his armor is too tough for Flatman to even hurt him. Doorman pops up behind MACH-1. He makes a door over MACH-1’s helmet, which allows Flatman to punch Abe in the face.
Songbird is facing off against Dinah Soar. Songbird is blocking Dinah’s attacks with a sound shield, but Dinah uses her own sound power to dissolve Songbird’s wings and shield. Dinah swoops in and hits Songbird.
Jolt is fighting Mr. Immortal. He tells her that the other three are down, and that if she just surrenders that it will go better for her because she doesn’t have a record yet. Jolt says that they don’t know the Thunderbolts like she does and that she isn’t giving up on them.
In Madison Wisconsin, Erik Josten walks into a bar. He walks up to a man and asks if he is Carl Josten. Carl asks who want to know. Erik tells Carl that it is him. Carl says that Erik doesn’t look like that or sound like that. Erik says that he had his voice and face changed. Erik reminds Carl of the time that Carl dared him to jump into a hayrick even though there was a pitchfork in there. Carl says that he begged Erik not to tell their mother and that he never did. Carl believes Erik is his brother. Erik asks what happened to the farm. He says that he went out there and that the place was all boarded up. Erik asks where ma, pa, and Conrad are. He says that Billy said that Carl had moved into town and something about old bills. Erik says that he wanted to find their parents and apologize for the way he left them, but Erik is interrupted when Mister Dirkson and two of his goons step up to Carl’s table. Dirkson says that he wasn’t sure Carl would remember him after it had been so long since he paid any of the interest on his loan. Erik gets up in Dirkson’s face and says to mess with him if he wants to mess with his family. Erik forgets that he no longer has superhuman strength while at normal height because he gets knocked out from behind.
Mr. Immortal tells Jolt to give it up and that she can’t even touch him. Jolt says that she isn’t trying to touch him. Jolt zaps Doorman. MACH-1 uses the advantage to punch Flatman. MACH-1 asks who needs help. Songbird says that she doesn’t want any help, but Dinah dodges one of MACH-1’s blasts and that as she does so Songbird hits her. Songbird asks MACH-1 if she is supposed to swoon for her “hero”. MACH-1 says that he was just trying to pitch in.
Big Bertha is watching all of this and says that she has a bad feeling about this. Moonstone phases up through Bertha’s chest. She says to imagine what it has been like for her. Bertha says that she didn’t know Moonstone could do that. Moonstone says that she just needs a second to concentrate. Moonstone says that she can do something else too as she blasts Bertha in the face. Bertha falls unconscious and Mr. Immortal, realizing that he is the only one left, says that they can’t kill him and that is why he is called Mr. Immortal. Moonstone decks him and says that it is a good thing they don’t call him Mr. Conscious.
Moments later outside the valley GW Bridge is worried about what is happening. From a distance the Lightning Rods tell Bridge that they left the Thunderbolts defeated in the valley. They say that they have to rush off to fight Dr. Demonicus. GW Bridge says good riddance.
Minutes later Abe Jenkins takes off Mr. Immortal’s suit. Abe says that it is a good thing that Bridge didn’t get a good look at Moonstone because he doubts that Doorman has Moonstone’s curves. Moonstone says that the important thing is that they got away. Songbird releases her bubble and Big Bertha shrinks into the Thunderbolt’s real uniforms. Moonstone tells them to meet back at the hideout in half an hour.
Down in Mexico, Baron Zemo listens to the report about the Thunderbolts escaping SHIELD capture. He says that they must be trying to regain respectability if Jolt is still with them. He says that it’s so amusing that it would almost be worth it to watch them fail, but decides against it. Zemo asks Techno how his robotics are. Techno asks Zemo how his German is. Techno asks what Zemo needs. Outside the window the shadowed figure continues to listen to Zemo.
The next day the Bolts are in their hotel room listening to the report of their fight yesterday. Abe says that maybe they ought to lay low for a while until the intense feelings cool down. Jolt says that they can’t give up now. Abe says that he didn’t say give up. The news report starts to report how the Avengers are saying that the Thunderbolt rebelled against Zemo, but the anchor is interrupted by a report that the Hulk is rampaging in Wyoming. Moonstone says that they ought to go after the Hulk again for some good press. MACH-1 points out that there were six of them last time and that they lost, and that now they are down to four. Moonstone barrels ahead. As Jolt and Songbird go to follow Moonstone Abe pulls Songbird over to the side. He says that he isn’t sure that they should be following Moonstone after the incident on Kosmos. Songbird yells at Abe that if he is scared that he can remain behind, but that Screaming Mimi doesn’t play that game.
Erik Josten wakes up in the back of an old
car next to his brother. The car starts to crush and Erik
realizes that they are in a car crusher. Erik grows up and rips
right through the roof of the car. 
Erik palms
Dirkson and yells at him. Erik says that the only reason that he
doesn’t kill Dirkson on the spot is because he wants him to
spread the message that Carl Josten is under his protection.
Dirkson and his goons run for it. Erik goes back to the cart and
says that they shouldn’t be bothering Carl again. Carl
thanks Erik but says that it is too little too late. Erik
realizes that Carl has been shot. Erik asks how it all went
wrong. Carl says that it all started the first time the Avengers
arrested him. The story made the local papers as a “local
boy makes bad” story. Suddenly the Josten’s found their
credit cut. It was only a matter of time before the farm went
bankrupt. Soon after Ma and Pa died. Carl says that Conrad ran
away and he heard that he changed his name. Erik apologizes and
says that he failed him just like he fails everyone. Carl says
that at least Erik was there for his end. Erik grabs Carl and
runs him to the hospital as Carl’s breathing gets more
labored.
In Cottonwood Wyoming, the Hulk is tossing
aside cars. Hulk says that he is sick of being attacked. A
bystander says that Hulk just showed up trashing stuff and
complaining about an attack that didn’t happen. Suddenly the
Thunderbolts swoop in. Moonstone, MACH-1, and Songbird all blast
him. Hulk throws a rock at Moonstone, but she phases through it
as she flies at Hulk. Moonstone says that she knows she reacts to
the Hulk this way because he is the first one to defeat her. She
says that she knows that she should get over it, but she doesn't
care. Moonstone decks Hulk.
Hulk palms
Moonstone’s face. Jolt kicks Hulk in the back of the head
and Moonstone starts blasting Hulk in the face. Jolt latches onto
the Hulk’s back and starts frying him with her electricity.
Hulk says that this is like fighting Zzzax. Suddenly Jolt is no
longer hurting Hulk. He claps his hands and knocks Jolt and
Moonstone away. MACH-1 blasts Hulk, but when Hulk leaps at MACH-1
Songbird punches Hulk to the ground with a giant Thing hand.
MACH-1 notices that something is wrong with Songbird. Songbird
says that the Hulk is absorbing the energy of her shield.
Moonstone says that something is wrong there. She decides to see
if Hulk can absorb her blast. She lays it on real thick, and when
she gets close enough she punches him in the face. Moonstone rips
part of Hulk’s face off, and the team discovers that they
have been fighting a robot.
Zemo and Techno are watching the fight. Techno says that they were bound to discover the truth. Zemo says that it doesn’t matter as they have found out too late. Techno goes to man the controls. Citizen V steps forward into the light of Zemo’s window. He says that the Thunderbolts are his.
Traitor’s rating: 8 out of 10
Above average story and art. There is a lot going on in this issue, Lightning Rods, SHIELD, Erik Josten’s story, the team’s development, Zemo and Techno, and Citizen V to boot. Things are starting to fly around here making Thunderbolts a nice quick paced read. Bagely’s civilian shots continue to impress. It’s fun to see a guy dressed in regular street clothes growing out of a car crusher as opposed to the standard superhero fare.