Thunderbolts #22
Thunderbolts #22
Title: "Decisions part 3: Taking a Stand”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Hercules flies towards the Thunderbolts stewing about the time when the Masters of Evil beat him into a coma. He thinks about how he held his own against six super strong villains until a seventh entered the fight. Goliath strikes from behind and then laughs as the others beat Hercules into a coma.
At the Thunderbolts hideout, MACH-1 says that Hawkeye has to be kidding. He says that he has proven himself. He says that he helped saved the world and fought against Graviton and the Crimson Cowl. Hawkeye says that he also killed someone. Hawkeye says that Dr. Jared Goulding was a doctor that treated supervillain under the table and he ran up some big gambling debts, but that isn’t a good enough reason for Jenkins, as the Beetle, to kill him. Hawkeye says that if Jenkins is serious about reforming that he will turn himself in. Abe says that he has to think about this and flies off. Songbird says that Abe just told her that he would never leave her, and that she should go after him and try to help him. Atlas says that Abe just needs a little time to be alone and think this through. Atlas says that Abe will be back. Hawkeye says that if running away is there standard response that he isn’t surprised this is the shape they are in. Atlas says that from what he has heard that Hawkeye could teach them all some things about running from your problems. He also says that this team is important to him, and that if this is some sort of trick to take them down that he is going to devote his life to making Hawkeye sorry for it. Hawkeye says that they have fought before and that he is still here, but says that Atlas has nothing to worry about from him. Hawkeye says that he is being straight with them. Hawkeye says that murder is just one crime that can’t be swept under the rug, and that there will be no murderers on the team. Songbird starts to rat Moonstone out for killing the Kosmosian king, but Karla grabs Songbird’s wrist tightly. Moonstone covers by saying that she and Songbird were talking about heroes that kill like Wolverine and Punisher that the Avengers don’t go after. Songbird mumbles out her agreement. Hawkeye senses that they aren’t being truthful, but has nothing to go on. Hawkeye says that guys like Wolverine and Punisher aren’t Avengers, and they won’t be Thunderbolts either. Suddenly a fist breaks through the wall.
Hercules introduces himself and says that he has come for the one called Goliath. Hercules says that he has come for vengeance and godly retribution against the one that treacherously laid him low, and that no one is going to stand in his way. Hawkeye comes up to Hercules and says that this isn’t a good time. He suggests that they sit down and talk this out. Erik says that he should have realized that this day was coming. Hercules says that he doesn’t know why Hawkeye is there, but that “honorless knave” has done him grievous harm and that he is there to give him the beating he has earned. Hawkeye says that things have changed since then and he can’t just let him go pound on Atlas. Atlas steps forward to say something. He says that he was a real crazy jerk back then. He apologizes, but says that he knows that it doesn’t make up for it. Hercules says that he spent weeks at death’s door and then walked among the spire of Olympus with his peers looking on him with pity. Hercules says that he just found out yesterday that Goliath was posing as a hero. Hercules says that Atlas thinks to apologize to him, and that he assures him that his apologies are insufficient. Hercules decks Atlas and knocks him through the cabin wall. Hawkeye holds his head as Jolt leaps to Atlas’ defense. Jolt says that you don’t hit someone while they’re apologizing to you. Jolt and Hercules start to fight. Hercules says that he was content to just fight Goliath, but now… Songbird says, “Now nothing, Jerkules” she asks who he thinks he is that he can take on one of the Thunderbolts without the others standing up for him. Moonstone also blasts Hercules. Hawkeye tells them all to stop, but they aren’t listening.
Outside the cabin, Atlas starts to struggle to get up.
Moonstone is trying to psyche out Hercules and says that he isn’t as powerful as he used to be and is risking further brain damage. Jolt tells Moonstone to shut up and help them fight. Hawkeye tells Moonstone to stop goading Hercules and that he isn’t going to back down from three women. Hawkeye says that she is only making him angrier. Hercules punches Moonstone into Hawkeye and knocks him out. Moonstone thinks that she was hoping Hawkeye would calm Hercules down once she got him to hesitate. Moonstone says that there is nothing left to do now. Jolt blasts Herc in the back of the head with an electrical punch, and Songbird follows up with a sound construct hit.
In downtown Denver at the offices of the NTN Network, Gayle Rogers is being shown a photo from the previous night’s encounter with the Thunderbolts. The guy in charge says that he understands that Gayle is in charge of reporting on the Thunderbolts and that she is pulling big ratings. They say that they are going to digitally enhance the picture, but give her a magnifying glass so she can see what the picture is of. The magnifying glass reveals that it was Hawkeye that helped MACH-1 and Songbird get away from the National Guard. Gayle wonders why he would do that. One of the guys brings up that Gayle knows Hawkeye. Gayle says that she did a couple of interviews with him while Hawkeye was with the West Coast Avengers. Another guy asks if they should use the photo, and if they do what angle should they put on it.
Abe Jenkins stands on the top of a jagged cliff. He thinks about Dr. Goulding and the others that he had killed. He thinks about being the scared and desperate leader of the Sinister Syndicate. Abe had never wanted to be a leader, but felt like it was something he had to try to bring the Beetle respect. He thinks how he did what he had to do killing without hesitation hoping that they wouldn’t see how scared he was. Abe thinks that he doesn’t want to go to jail, and wonders if he could run. He thinks about ditching Melissa and costing the others their shot at winning respectability. He thinks about how he started just by looking for respect and to tell the whole world that he is a loser… he doesn’t know if he could do that. Abe wonders if he could restart with a new identity.
Back at the cabin, Hercules says that he is
going to best them all. Atlas returns and says, “No
Hercules”. He punches Hercules out the other side of the
cabin. 
Atlas charges
out after Hercules and tells the others to stay back. Atlas says
that Hercules’ problem is with him. Hercules says that Atlas
has found his courage. He says that he will deal with the others
later. Hercules and Atlas start to trade punches. Atlas says that
he did everything that Hercules says, and that he deserves
everything Hercules dishes out. Hercules says that Josten
proclaims his guilt and yet he keeps fighting back. Atlas says
that he is fighting for his teammates. He tells Hercules to kill
him if he wants, but to leave his teammates out of it. Hercules
says that Atlas doesn’t get to tell him what to do, and that
he is the villain here. Atlas says that Herc is right, but that
he won’t let Herc hurt his friends. Herc says that Atlas has
no say in it.
Hawkeye wakes up.
Hercules is about to deliver the killing blow to Atlas, but MACH-1 returns and blasts Herc off him. MACH-1 says that they are there to take their lumps as a team. Hercules is ticked. He says that they call for single combat and then violate it. They admit guilt and then dictate terms. Herc picks up a giant rock and says that he isn’t going to be insulted anymore. Hawkeye stands in front of Hercules and tells him to put the rock down. Hercules tells Hawkeye to move, but Hawkeye says that he can’t do that. He says that before Herc arrived he was giving the Bolts a speech about killing and said that Avengers don’t get to be killers. Hawkeye says that he is going to look like a chump if Herc proves him wrong. Hawkeye says that the Bolts were bad people, but they are changing. Hawkeye says that Herc can kill them, but that he has to go through him to do it. The Bolts are stunned that Hawkeye is putting himself on the line for them. Hercules yells at Hawkeye to get out of his way. When Hawkeye doesn’t move Hercules slams the rock down and says “Fine!” Hercules says that for the sake of their friendship he will put away his rage and give the lives of these “dogs” to Hawkeye. Herc warns Hawkeye that the next time they cross paths that it will not be as friends, but as bitter enemies.
Hawkeye drops to his knees and says that he wasn’t sure Herc was going to go for it. Jolt says that was incredible. Atlas says that he used to not think much of Hawkeye because he didn’t have any powers, but admits that he was wrong about him. Hawkeye says that the only real trick is doing what you know is right before you can talk yourself out of doing it. Moonstone wonders if Hawkeye might have set this all up with Hercules, but doubts it as Hercules isn’t that good an actor and Hawkeye isn’t that smart. MACH-1 announces that he is ready to turn himself in for the good of their cause. Hawkeye shakes Abe’s hand and says that he made the right decision.
Later that night, Songbird asks Abe if he is really going to jail. Abe says that he is, but that he will be back. He says that he is still her guy, and that he won’t ever leave her the way that it counts. Abe says that this is something he has to do to be the kind of guy that deserves Melissa. He says that Hawkeye is going to arrange the surrender with reporters so that nothing goes wrong. Melissa says that she doesn’t want to lose Abe, and says that they could run right now and start a new life together. Abe says that he would love to, but that it would be a mistake. He says that he is going to jail to give them all a chance at starting over. Abe says that he killed that doctor and a few others that he should pay for. Melissa says that Moonstone isn’t going to pay for her murder. Abe tells Melissa that she has to keep that quiet because it would ruin the chance for the others. Melissa says that it isn’t fair, but promises Abe that she won’t tell anyone about Kosmos. Abe and Melissa kiss.
Gayle Rogers goes on national television and asks if a hero has gone bad. She shows the photograph of Hawkeye helping MACH-1 and Songbird escaping from the National Guard. The news spreads from television to radio and eventually onto the headline of the newspaper that is dropped off in front of Avengers mansion.
Traitor’s rating: 8.5 out of 10
I was a little disappointed with this issue to tell you the truth. Fantastic premise for a fight between Hercules and Atlas, but Atlas’ heart isn’t in it as he knows that he is in the wrong. Great character development for Abe, Atlas, and Melissa this issue, but I just wanted to see them throw down and have an old fashioned slugfest. Bagely does a good job, but his Hercules looks a little odd at times.
Be sure to check out Thunderbolts #0 and Avengers vol. 3 #12 before moving on to Thunderbolts #23