Thunderbolts #17
Thunderbolts #17
Title: “Matters of Gravity”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
The Thunderbolts stand there astonished that they have been fighting a robot. The people on the streets are all wondering what is happening. Some think that maybe the Thunderbolts created the Hulk robot to try and trick everybody into thinking they are heroes again.
The robot leaps at Jolt and Songbird.
Songbird puts up a shield, but the robot absorbs it. Moonstone
says to let it absorb her punch as she knocks the robot into a
building. Jolt says that is kinetic energy, and as the robot gets
back up she says that it seems to absorb it fine. Moonstone says
to finish it off, but MACH-1 says to back off. He says that the
robot is gathering power, and that it must be for a purpose. He
tells them all to back off before they give it the energy it
needs. Suddenly the Lightning Rods arrive on the scene. MACH-1
warns them not to attack the robot, but the Lightning Rods
aren’t listening. Moonstone starts to tell the Bolts to make
sure the Lightning Rods aren’t allowed to attack, but as she
does the Hulk robot leaps up and grabs her. Moonstone screams as
the robot sucks all the energy that it needs right out of
Moonstone as she produces it. Suddenly the robot is gone, and in
its place is Graviton. 
Graviton revels
in being back on Earth.
Zemo and Techno are watching from the castle in Mexico. Zemo says that he wishes that the camera they have down there could see the Thunderbolt’s reactions. Techno asks Zemo what the point of all this was. Zemo says that if Graviton kills them then they are punished for going against him. If they escape nobody will believe that they didn’t have anything to do with it and their hopes for acceptance will be dashed. Techno says that they get revenge that way too. Zemo says that it would be the first taste of it anyway. Zemo asks Techno why he created his Hulk robot in such a dated manner. Techno starts to say that he only had old footage to work with, but he is stopped when he is hit with a device that gives him an electrical shock. Citizen V steps forth. He says that Techno is not dead, but merely rendered useless by an electronic scrambler. Citizen V says that he will be down for a half-hour, which should be enough time to deal with Zemo.
In Wisconsin, Erik Josten sits with the just deceased body of his brother. Erik tells Carl that he knows they have probably called the police by now, but that he just wanted to say that he is done running. A report comes over the news about the Thunderbolts fighting the Lightning Rods, and that a costumed man identified as Graviton has appeared. Erik listens and the report doesn’t sound good for the Thunderbolts. Erik remembers his words to Carl about running and decides that he really isn’t going to run anymore.
Graviton lets loose a ripple that sends the Thunderbolts and Lightning Rods away from him. Graviton says that he is back on Earth, and that nobody is going to stop him from reveling in it. Graviton says that he controls gravity and that they can’t stop him. Big Bertha is about to leap onto Graviton and says that she has used gravity before as well. Graviton says that he doesn’t use gravity, he controls it. Graviton redirects Bertha to land in another direction on the ground. Songbird nails Graviton and says that he doesn’t look so tough to her. Graviton congratulates Songbird on managing to surprise him, but then he sends a giant chunk of the street below hurtling up at her. MACH-1 shields Songbird, but his wings are damaged ad he falls to the ground. Mr. Immortal leaps at Graviton, but Graviton crushes Mr. Immortal between two large pieces of concrete. Moonstone phases up through the ground behind Graviton. Graviton turns around and says that you can’t sneak up on someone who feels disturbances in the gravimetric field. Graviton says that her intangibility won’t save Moonstone either because if she has any mass at all that she is affected by gravity. Jolt says that Graviton might be a big deal but they are the Thunderbolts and they won’t give up while they are still breathing. Graviton says, “Is that who you are?” Graviton has a wave of rocks knock Jolt out. Graviton stands over the defeated teams and says that was invigorating.
In Mexico, Zemo is fighting with Citizen V and asks what the meaning of this charade. He says that his father choked the real Citizen V to death. Citizen V says that wasn’t enough for Zemo, as he had to besmirch Citizen V’s name worldwide. Zemo asks so what. Citizen V says that he is the grandson of the original Citizen V. Zemo says that isn’t possible, as Citizen V had no offspring, but that he will kill him anyway. Citizen V says that he can try.
Graviton recalls his origin and all his defeats. He recounts how the Vision caused his body to collapse upon itself into a black hole and out of reality. When Graviton woke up he found himself in some sort of micro-dimension. The locals were so astonished by his appearance that they figured that Graviton was a god. The Ptah worshipped and gave Graviton everything that he needed, but their limited intelligence made Graviton feel as though he were ruling a planet of cocker spaniels. Graviton used his scientific knowledge to try and get back to Earth, but he found that dimensional travel was beyond him. Instead Graviton built a beacon for anyone who might be scanning the dimensions hoping that they would bring him home. Graviton says that he doesn’t even care who brought him back. All of the Thunderbolts are pressed into the wall. As they watch a figure come into sight above Graviton, Graviton notices and instinctively causes whatever is above him to increase in mass tenfold. Atlas comes crashing down on Graviton’s head at his increased density. The others are freed, as Graviton’s concentration is broken. Atlas starts pounding on Graviton saying that he isn’t going to desert his team. Graviton manages to get a moment’s thought and lets loose with a barrage of power.
Graviton says that they think they have gained an advantage, but he will just defeat them all again as easily as he did before. Moonstone asks him what he will do then. She says that she believes that he has the power to kill them, maybe even the Avengers and Fantastic Four. She says that then there will just be more and more heroes to fight. Moonstone says that Graviton has the power and the ambition, but he has no vision. Jolt keeps trying to interrupt but Karla tells her to be quiet. Moonstone says that until Graviton has a goal in mind that he will always eventually be defeated. Graviton’s anger turns into the realization that Moonstone is right. He says that he is going to figure out what he wants and that he will return then.
Songbird leaps onto Atlas’ neck for a hug, and MACH-1 says that Atlas really came to the rescue for them. Atlas says that it’s just nice to belong somewhere.
Jolt starts yelling at Moonstone again. Jolt says that Moonstone didn’t solve anything. She just put it off until later when it will be worse than ever. Jolt says that this is just like Kosmos. Moonstone puts their needs ahead of all else even letting Kosmos become a paranoid warlike place determined to conquer humanity. Karla says that she had nothing to do with Kosmos as Abe and Melissa told her, and that as far as Graviton is concerned that he could die tomorrow or perhaps he will decide that his ultimate goal is to own a full set of 1957 Fleer Rookie Cards. She says that the important thing is that nobody was killed and they will deal with Graviton if he comes back. As the Lightning Rods are in no shape for a fight the Thunderbolts take their leave.
After the Bolts leave the reporting begins. They say that they will never know if the Hulk robot was just another on game gone wrong or how Graviton came to be there, but they do know that five wanted criminals came to the town and got away.
In Mexico,
Citizen V says that Zemo appears to be tiring. Zemo says that
same of Citizen V, but takes the time to compliment Citizen
V’s skills. Zemo says that experience will win in the end.
Suddenly there is an explosion behind Zemo. Citizen V says that
he has planted explosives through the entire castle. He says that
fighting Zemo was just a way of being face to face with him when
he realized that he had been outsmarted. Citizen V says that he
is going to take everything from Zemo for taking his
grandfather’s honor. Citizen V tells Zemo to run and wonder
where he will strike next. Zemo congratulates Citizen V and says
that he has earned his enmity, but adds that he is a Zemo and
they never run. Zemo turns around and walks into the crumbling
castle. Outside Citizen V watches the castle fall. He says that
Zemo must have an escape route inside. He says that Zemo will
fall, as will the Thunderbolts.
Traitor’s rating: 9 out of 10
How cool can this title get? The return of Graviton, Atlas reaffirming his place on the team, the manipulative intellect of Moonstone, and the set up of what should be a classic rivalry: Baron Zemo against Citizen V.
Bagely’s art really shines in this issue. Graviton radiates the power that he possesses. Atlas’ rampage is amazing. I think Bagely’s ability to capture the scale of Atlas’ size is one of the keys of his art on this title.
Both art and writing fall just short of perfection.